Deuteronomy 11 24

Deuteronomy 11:24 kjv

Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.

Deuteronomy 11:24 nkjv

Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory.

Deuteronomy 11:24 niv

Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Deuteronomy 11:24 esv

Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. Your territory shall be from the wilderness to the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the western sea.

Deuteronomy 11:24 nlt

Wherever you set foot, that land will be yours. Your frontiers will stretch from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north, and from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Deuteronomy 11 verses

Deuteronomy 11 24 Meaning

Deuteronomy 11:24 conveys God's renewed promise of the Land of Canaan to the Israelites, detailing its extent. It stipulates that the actual possession of the territory is contingent upon their active stepping and inhabiting of it. This signifies that the divinely granted inheritance is not passive but requires their physical movement and occupation, covering a vast geographical area stretching from the southern wilderness to the northern mountains of Lebanon, and from the great Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Deuteronomy 11 24 Context

Deuteronomy 11:24 is situated within Moses's second address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the promised land. This section of Deuteronomy (chapters 11-26) details the covenant stipulations and laws. Chapter 11 specifically reiterates the core principle of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, emphasizing the critical importance of keeping God's commandments once they are in the land. Verse 24 is part of a series of strong exhortations, reminding Israel of God's power and faithfulness shown through past acts (e.g., deliverance from Egypt). It follows the declaration of setting blessings and curses on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal (Dt 11:26-30), directly connecting their future possession and experience in the land to their fidelity to the covenant. Historically, this promise reassured a nomadic people, who had just spent forty years in the wilderness, of a secure and extensive inheritance, while also challenging their faith to actively claim it.

Deuteronomy 11 24 Word analysis

• "Every place" (כָּל־מָקוֹם, kol-maqom): This signifies totality and universality within the scope of their future movement. It emphasizes a comprehensive reach of their possession, implying that their inheritance is limited only by their will to tread upon and occupy. This term counters any pagan idea of fixed, unexpandable territories given by local deities.
• "sole of your foot" (כַּף־רַגְלְכֶם, khaf raglechem): This phrase highlights physical action and presence. It denotes not just passive inheritance, but active claiming and treading on the land. In the ancient Near East, treading on land could signify ownership or conquest, linking human action to divine grant.
• "treads" (תִּדְרֹךְ, tidroch): From the verb דָּרַךְ (darakh), meaning to step, tread, or march. It suggests exertion, a march, or even an act of conquest. The promise is thus not automatic or fully realized without their participation; it requires intentional advancement and effort.
• "shall be yours" (לָכֶם יִהְיֶה, lachem yihyeh): This is a definitive declaration of possession. It emphasizes God's sovereign decree that grants this land to them, underscoring the divine origin of their ownership, not by their strength or right but by God's promise.
• "Your territory" (וּגְבוּלְכֶם, u-gevulkem): Refers to the defined boundary or limit of their inheritance. This contrasts the limitless "every place" by setting a broad framework within which their treading takes effect.
• "wilderness" (מִדְבָּר, midbar): This refers to the southern desert region, likely pointing to the Sinai Peninsula or areas south of Judah. It forms the southern limit of their vast inheritance.
• "Lebanon" (לְבָנוֹן, levanon): Signifies the northern mountain range, forming the northern boundary. It includes the fertile, well-forested lands, representing a rich contrast to the wilderness.
• "the River" (הַנָּהָר, hanahar) "the River Euphrates" (פְּרָת, prat): This clarifies the significant eastern boundary. The Euphrates was a mighty and famous river, extending far beyond Canaan, signifying a very large promised territory, implying a land greater than what Israel typically occupied in its history. This specific boundary directly combats the notion that the territorial gods of other lands had greater claims.
• "to the western sea" (הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן, hayam ha'acharon): Refers to the Mediterranean Sea. This forms the definitive western border.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Every place where the sole of your foot treads": This phrase combines divine grant with human action. God has given the land, but Israel must physically step upon and occupy it. It implies an ongoing process of taking possession rather than a one-time, effortless inheritance. It also signifies the full extent of the potential, limited only by their obedience and effort. This phrase also has implications for future generations to expand and fully inherit their covenant promises.
• "from the wilderness and Lebanon and from the River, the River Euphrates, to the western sea": This specific geographical description outlines the ultimate, maximum boundaries of the land promised to Abraham and reconfirmed to Moses. It speaks of an immense territory, vastly larger than what the Israelites would historically occupy for most of their history. This serves as a continuous reminder of God's generous promise and the gap often present between divine intention and human attainment due to lack of faith or disobedience. It sets a grand vision for their inheritance.

Deuteronomy 11 24 Bonus section

• This verse embodies a principle found throughout the Bible: divine provision often requires human initiative. God's promises are secure, but their realization in human experience often involves stepping out in faith.
• The vastness of the promised land, particularly the eastern border reaching the Euphrates, was only partially realized in Israel's history, most notably during the reigns of David and Solomon (e.g., 2 Sam 8:3, 1 Kgs 4:21). This suggests that God's full blessings for His people were frequently limited by their failure to fully trust and obey Him, preventing complete actualization of His promises.
• In the ancient world, many believed that gods were tied to specific land areas or city-states. This divine declaration from Yahweh, describing borders from a vast wilderness to the distant Euphrates, showcases His universal sovereignty over all lands and His unique power to apportion territory, challenging pagan conceptions of deity and territory.
• The promise also stands in stark contrast to Israel's nomadic experience. It speaks of a permanent home and inheritance, providing stability and security, but dependent on maintaining their covenant with the One who provides this rest.

Deuteronomy 11 24 Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:24 is a foundational verse reaffirming God's generous and specific land promise to Israel. It highlights the dual nature of divine covenant: a sovereign grant by God coupled with an expectation of active participation from the people. The phrase "Every place where the sole of your foot treads shall be yours" is a dynamic aspect of this promise, implying that while God had appointed the entire territory, its actual possession by Israel was contingent on their physical occupation, movement, and courageous initiative. It's not just a gift, but a ground to be actively claimed through faith and obedience. The extensive boundaries given (Wilderness to Lebanon, Euphrates to the Western Sea) reveal the full breadth of God's intended blessing for His people—a vision far grander than what they fully attained in much of their history, pointing to a potential always limited by their faith and adherence to the covenant.