Deuteronomy 2 5

Deuteronomy 2:5 kjv

Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:5 nkjv

Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:5 niv

Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own.

Deuteronomy 2:5 esv

Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:5 nlt

Do not bother them, for I have given them all the hill country around Mount Seir as their property, and I will not give you even one square foot of their land.

Deuteronomy 2 verses

Deuteronomy 2 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 2:5 communicates God's explicit command to the Israelites not to engage in conflict or covet the land belonging to the Edomites, specifically Mount Seir. The underlying reason for this prohibition is God's sovereign act of having already permanently assigned Mount Seir as a possession to Esau, the ancestor of the Edomites. This highlights God's authority over land distribution among nations, teaching Israel obedience to divine boundaries and non-aggression towards those whose inheritance God had previously established.

Deuteronomy 2 5 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 2 begins Moses' recollection of Israel's journey through the wilderness from Kadesh-barnea up to their encampment on the plains of Moab. Specifically, Deuteronomy 2:5 comes after Israel has turned towards Edom, their kindred through Esau, and before they pass through Moab and Ammon. The command in verse 5 is a direct divine instruction, reinforcing that Israel's possession is restricted to the land God promised them (Canaan) and does not extend to territories already allotted by divine decree to other nations. This directive serves to highlight God's specific plan for Israel's inheritance, distinguishes Edom's status from the Canaanite nations that Israel was commanded to dispossess, and establishes principles of respecting divinely appointed boundaries, even for non-covenant peoples.

Deuteronomy 2 5 Word analysis

• You are not to contend (לֹא־תִתְגָּרוּ - lo'-titgarru): This is a strong negative prohibition. The Hebrew root is garah (גרה), meaning to stir up strife, provoke, or contend in war. It implies an aggressive act or starting a conflict. Thus, the command is to actively avoid provoking or engaging in hostile conflict with them.
• with them (בָם - bam): Refers directly to the Edomites, the descendants of Esau.
• for I will not give (לֹא־אֶתֵּן - lo'-etten): This reinforces the divine decision. The "I" is God, emphasizing His sovereign power and authority over all land distribution. The negative particle 'lo' and the imperfect verb indicate a permanent, absolute refusal.
• you any of their land (מֵאַרְצָם - me'artzam): From eretz (אֶרֶץ), meaning land or territory. The preposition 'min' (from) indicates any part of their land, stressing that no portion is to be taken.
• not even a foot's length (מִדְרַךְ כַּף־רֶגֶל - midrakh kaf-regel): This is a powerful idiom. Literally, "a treading of the sole of a foot." It signifies the smallest possible portion, emphasizing that Israel is forbidden from taking even an inch of Edomite territory. This is a common Hebrew expression for full and absolute possession (or here, exclusion from possession).
• because I have given (כִּי־יְרֻשָּׁה נָתַתִּי - ki-yerushah natati): The verb natati (נָתַתִּי) is in the Qal Perfect tense, indicating a completed action with lasting results. God has already given it, an accomplished and permanent act. This is the divine justification for the prohibition.
• Mount Seir (הַר שֵׂעִיר - Har Se'ir): The specific geographical region associated with the Edomites. Its name likely means "hairy" or "shaggy," referring to its rugged, wooded terrain.
• to Esau (לְעֵשָׂו - l'Esau): Refers to the patriarch Esau, Jacob's brother. God's grant to Esau (and his descendants, the Edomites) pre-dates Israel's entry into Canaan and is thus to be respected.
• as a possession (יְרֻשָּׁה - yerushah): From yarash (יָרַשׁ), to inherit or take possession. It denotes a legitimate, permanent, and divinely sanctioned inheritance.

• "You are not to contend with them": This phrase highlights God's command for Israel to adopt a posture of non-aggression and peace towards their Edomite "brothers," even if past encounters (like Num 20:14-21) were strained. It distinguishes between rightful warfare for promised land and unlawful conquest of another's God-allotted territory.
• "for I will not give you any of their land, not even a foot's length": This emphasizes God's absolute control over the disposition of territories. It assures Israel that they are not missing out on anything legitimate, as this land was never intended for them by divine decree. The idiom "not even a foot's length" dramatically underscores the totality of this prohibition, leaving no room for opportunistic expansion.
• "because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession": This clause provides the divine rationale for the command. It grounds Israel's present conduct in God's eternal plan and prior arrangements. God's distribution of lands to all nations (Acts 17:26) is part of His comprehensive sovereignty. This demonstrates that God acts justly towards all peoples, not just His covenant nation, and demands ethical behavior from His people even towards non-covenant neighbors.

Deuteronomy 2 5 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the broader theological concept that God is the one who "divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam" (Deut 32:8) and "determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation" (Acts 17:26). It positions Yahweh as the universal sovereign, orchestrating the geographic distribution of all peoples, not just Israel. The ethical implication for Israel, and subsequently for believers, is that their identity and blessing stem from God's covenant with them, not from their ability to seize land by force, especially land not divinely assigned. It serves as an early example of God's universal justice and providential care extended even outside the immediate covenant community, teaching Israel the discipline of self-restraint and adherence to divinely revealed boundaries rather than human ambition.

Deuteronomy 2 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:5 provides a critical insight into God's sovereign governance not just over Israel, but over all nations and their boundaries. It instructs Israel in ethical conduct before entering their promised land. God explicitly commands them not to provoke or attempt to seize even the slightest piece of Edomite territory, making it clear that His past allotment of Mount Seir to Esau (Genesis 36:8; Joshua 24:4) remains sacred and inviolable. This lesson reinforces divine authority over human actions and national claims, teaching Israel a crucial distinction: their divine mandate was to possess their inheritance, Canaan, not to expand indiscriminately by conquest into lands already assigned by God to others. It instills principles of non-covetousness and dependence on God's specific provisions rather than aggressive self-interest, underscoring that God's plan for Israel does not override His justice for other nations. This set a precedent for respecting divinely-appointed limits.