FOLD. A pen in which to keep sheep or goats; in the NT, the Church. גְּדֵרָה֒, H1556, a place walled in, a hedged or fenced place (Num 32:16; Zeph 2:6). דֹּ֫בֶר, H1824, pasture land, fold (Mic 2:12). מִכְלָא, H4813, restrained place (Ps 50:9; 78:70; Hab 3:17). נָוֶה֒, H5659, home (KJV, ASV, Isa 65:10; Jer 23:3; Ezek 34:14). Αὐλή, a court-yard (Rev 11:2). Ποίμνη, flock (KJV, John 10:16). Folds were used chiefly as a protection from wild beasts at night. They consisted of a walled enclosure preferably near a place providing water. Often there was a tower within them. Sometimes flocks of more than one shepherd were kept overnight in the same fold, with one shepherd taking care of the animals. In the morning the sheep would be carefully counted when the shepherds came to reclaim their flocks.