Field

(Heb. sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. It is applied to any cultivated ground or pasture ( Genesis 29:2 ; 31:4 ; 34:7 ), or tillage ( Genesis 37:7 ; 47:24 ). It is also applied to woodland ( Psalms 132:6 ) or mountain top ( Judges 9:32 Judges 9:36 ; 2 Sam 1:21 ). It denotes sometimes a cultivated region as opposed to the wilderness ( Genesis 33:19 ; 36:35 ). Unwalled villages or scattered houses are spoken of as "in the fields" ( Deuteronomy 28:3 Deuteronomy 28:16 ; Leviticus 25:31 ; Mark 6:36 Mark 6:56 ). The "open field" is a place remote from a house ( Genesis 4:8 ; Leviticus 14:7 Leviticus 14:53 ; 17:5 ). Cultivated land of any extent was called a field ( Genesis 23:13 Genesis 23:17 ; 41:8 ; Leviticus 27:16 ; Ruth 4:5 ; Nehemiah 12:29 ).

The Hebrew sadeh is applied to any cultivated ground, and in some instances in marked opposition to the neighboring wilderness. On the other hand the sadeh is frequently contrasted with what is enclosed, whether a vineyard, a garden or a walled town. In many passages the term implies what is remote from a house, ( Genesis 4:8 ; 24:63 ; 22:25 ) or settled habitation, as in the case of Esau. ( Genesis 25:27 ) The separate plots of ground were marked off by stones, which might easily be removed, ( 19:14 ; 27:17 ) cf. Job 24:2; Prov 22:28; 23:10 the absence of fences rendered the fields liable to damage from straying cattle, ( Exodus 22:5 ) or fire, ( Exodus 22:6 ; 2 Samuel 14:30 ) hence the necessity of constantly watching flocks and herds. From the absence of enclosures, cultivated land of any size might be termed a field. [E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary

FIELD

feld.

See AGRICULTURE.