מִגְרָשׁ

From the study of Joshua 21:2

Range of meaning

The open belt of land immediately surrounding a town, used as common pasture and open space; not sown fields and not built-up housing. It probably derives from the root garash, “to drive out,” perhaps as the land where livestock were driven out to graze, though the etymology is debated. Num 35:4–5 defines the Levitical migrash by measurements (1,000 cubits out from the wall; 2,000 cubits along each side). Lev 25:34 forbids selling “the field of the pastureland” of Levitical towns, because it is their permanent holding. Ezek 45:2 and 48:15–17 use it for an open zone around the sanctuary and the city.

Against the English

KJV and YLT have “suburbs.” BSB and WEB have “pasturelands/pasture lands,” and ESV, NIV and NASB say much the same. “Common land” or “open land” would also work.

How it drifted

The Greek translation (Septuagint) of Numbers renders migrash with proasteia, “areas before the city,” and the Latin Vulgate uses suburbana, “lands under/near the city.” In 1611 English “suburbs” still meant the outskirts just beyond a town wall. Since then it has come to mean residential neighbourhoods of commuters, which is almost the opposite of grazing land kept free of buildings.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used about 110 times in the Hebrew Bible, most of them in the parallel lists of Levitical towns in Joshua 21 and 1 Chronicles 6. Also found in Num 35, Lev 25:34, Ezek 27:28 (the “shorelands” of Tyre) and Ezek 45; 48. The Septuagint of Joshua 21 usually renders it with perisporia (“surrounding lands”). James Barr's study (JSS 1984) argues that the core sense is an open, unbuilt area attached to a settlement, not specifically “pasture.”

From the study of Joshua 21:13

Range of meaning

Open land just outside a town wall, held in common and used mainly for grazing livestock. It is probably related to the verb garash, 'to drive out', so the idea may be land where animals are driven out to pasture. In Ezekiel 48:15–17 it is the open strip around the city, separate from the town itself.

Against the English

KJV: 'suburbs'. BSB, ESV, NASB, WEB: 'pasturelands' or 'pasture lands'. NIV: 'pasturelands'. In 1611 'suburbs' meant the land lying just outside a city wall. Today it means outlying residential neighborhoods, which is quite different.

How it drifted

KJV took 'suburbs' from the Latin Vulgate's suburbana, 'the areas just below or outside the city'. The English word later came to mean housing developments, so the KJV now gives the wrong picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

Numbers 35:2–5 sets the size of the Levites' migrash (1,000 cubits out from the wall and 2,000 cubits along each side) and says it is 'for their cattle, their flocks and all their animals'. Leviticus 25:34 forbids selling 'the field of the migrash of their cities', because it is their permanent possession. The Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation, usually renders it aphōrismena ('set-apart areas') or perisporia ('surrounding lands').

From the study of Joshua 21:11

Range of meaning

Open land attached to a town, used especially for grazing livestock. It was common land, outside the walls and distinct from both houses and cultivated fields. Most lexicons (BDB, HALOT) connect it with the verb garash, 'drive out', so the word pictures the place where cattle are driven out to pasture.

Against the English

KJV has 'suburbs', following the Latin Vulgate (suburbana). Modern versions have 'pasturelands' or 'pasture lands' (BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB) or 'surrounding pastureland' (NIV). 'Suburbs' now suggests residential districts on the edge of a city, which is close to the opposite of open grazing land.

How it drifted

When the KJV was made in 1611, 'suburbs' could mean the land and outskirts just outside a city's walls, so it was a fair choice. Since then the English word has come to mean commuter housing. The Hebrew word did not change. The English one did.

Used elsewhere in the period

Numbers 35:2–5 defines the migrash of the Levitical cities, measured outward from the wall (1,000 cubits, with a further 2,000-cubit square on each side; how the two figures fit together is debated), and says it is 'for their cattle, their flocks and all their animals' (35:3). Leviticus 25:34 forbids selling the migrash of Levitical cities because it is their permanent holding. Ezekiel 45:2 and 48:15–17 use it for an open zone around the ideal city and sanctuary. 1 Chronicles 6:55 (Heb. 6:40) repeats this verse. The Greek translators used words such as proasteia ('areas in front of the city'), and the Vulgate used suburbana.