Deuteronomy 34:3 kjv
And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
Deuteronomy 34:3 nkjv
the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.
Deuteronomy 34:3 niv
the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar.
Deuteronomy 34:3 esv
the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.
Deuteronomy 34:3 nlt
the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho ? the city of palms ? as far as Zoar.
Deuteronomy 34 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 13:10-11 | Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan...well watered... | Lot choosing the fertile Jordan plain. |
| Gen 19:22-23 | "...I cannot do anything until you reach it. That is why the town was called Zoar." | Lot's escape to Zoar. |
| Gen 19:30 | Lot went up from Zoar and stayed in the mountains... | Zoar as a specific location near Sodom. |
| Num 13:22 | They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron... | Israelite spies exploring the Negev. |
| Num 20:12 | But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust Me enough..." | Reason for Moses' exclusion from the land. |
| Num 27:12 | The Lord said to Moses, "Go up this mountain of Abarim and see the land..." | God instructing Moses to view the land. |
| Dt 1:7 | "...to the Negev and to the land of the Canaanites, and to Lebanon, as far as the great river Euphrates." | Broad scope of promised land. |
| Dt 3:27 | "Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward..." | God directing Moses' view. |
| Josh 2:1 | Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." | Jericho as the first target. |
| Josh 6:1 | Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. | Jericho as the first fortified city. |
| Jdg 1:16 | The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms with the people of Judah to live among them in the wilderness of Judah, south of Arad. | Jericho called "City of Palms". |
| Jdg 3:13 | He mustered the Ammonites and Amalekites and went and defeated Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. | Jericho, "City of Palms", defeated by Eglon. |
| 2 Chr 28:15 | "...They also brought those who were naked and clothed them with the plunder. They fed them and gave them drink, anointed them and led them on donkeys, and brought them to their brothers in Jericho, the City of Palms..." | Reference to Jericho as City of Palms. |
| Ps 105:8-11 | He remembers His covenant forever, the word He commanded, for a thousand generations... To Isaac he confirmed it as a statute, and to Jacob as a standing decree. "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance." | God's eternal promise of the land. |
| Neh 10:37 | "...the firstfruits of our grain, new wine and olive oil, and portions of our produce for the Levites in the open towns where they render service." | Refers to produce in Jericho. |
| Is 35:1-2 | The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom... | Prophetic future of land transformation. |
| Jer 32:44 | "Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed and sealed and witnessed in the land of Benjamin, in the localities around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, the towns of the hill country, the towns of the western foothills, and in the towns of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes,” declares the Lord." | Prophecy of land use after restoration. |
| Ezek 47:8 | He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea..." | Description of eastern plains. |
| Lk 10:30 | A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho... | Geographic reference, Jericho prominent. |
| Heb 11:13 | All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. | Patriarchs, like Moses, saw promises from afar. |
Deuteronomy 34 verses
Deuteronomy 34 3 Meaning
Deuteronomy 34:3 continues the divine panoramic view granted to Moses from Mount Nebo, specifying the southern extent of the Promised Land. It describes the land southward, encompassing the arid region of the Negev, the fertile plain (Kikkar) around Jericho – famously known as the "city of palm trees" – and reaching down to Zoar, a significant town near the Dead Sea. This verse highlights the diverse topography and the broad scope of the inheritance promised by God to Israel, which Moses was privileged to witness before his death, yet not enter.
Deuteronomy 34 3 Context
Deuteronomy 34 describes the poignant culmination of Moses’ life and leadership. After forty years guiding the Israelites through the wilderness, Moses stands on Mount Nebo in Moab, looking across the Jordan into the Promised Land, which he is forbidden to enter due to his disobedience at Meribah (Num 20:12). God Himself presents the land to Moses, revealing its full extent from Dan in the north to the regions mentioned in verse 3 in the south. This vision confirms God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, showing Moses the inheritance destined for his people. Chapter 34 then narrates Moses' death, burial by God, and the smooth transition of leadership to Joshua, ensuring the continuation of the divine plan for Israel's entry into Canaan. The entire book of Deuteronomy serves as Moses’ final addresses, summing up the Law and reiterating God's faithfulness, concluding with this deeply personal and national transition.
Deuteronomy 34 3 Word analysis
- and the South (וְאֶת-הַנֶּגֶב - wə'et-ha-Negev):
- Word Level: The conjunction "and" (וְ) links this region to the previously mentioned north, west, and east. "The South" (ha-Negev) is more than a cardinal direction; it denotes a specific geographic region in southern Israel, often depicted as semi-arid.
- Significance: This emphasizes the full scope of the promised inheritance, including its diverse and sometimes challenging terrains. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob frequently traveled through and dwelt in the Negev (Gen 12:9; 13:1; 24:62). Its inclusion confirms God's promise encompasses all designated territories, from fertile valleys to more rugged lands.
- and the plain (וְאֶת-הַכִּכָּר - wə'et-ha-Kikkar):
- Word Level: "Plain" (Kikkar) literally means "circle" or "district" and is a specific term referring to the fertile region of the Jordan Valley or "Jordan Plain." This region was renowned for its lushness, like the garden of the LORD, chosen by Lot (Gen 13:10).
- Significance: It contrasts with the arid Negev, highlighting the Promised Land's agricultural richness and beauty. The Kikkar was an area of high agricultural potential and strategic importance due to its water sources and connectivity.
- of the valley of Jericho (בִּקְעַת יְרֵחוֹ - Biq'at Yerichoh):
- Word Level: "Valley/Plain" (Biq'at) here clarifies that the "Kikkar" specifically refers to the low-lying plain where Jericho is located. "Jericho" (Yerichoh) is a significant Canaanite city.
- Significance: Jericho serves as a critical geographical and historical landmark. It was a well-known, formidable city that would be the first major obstacle for the Israelites to conquer upon entering Canaan. Its mention highlights the imminence of the conquest and God's plan for Israel to possess the land.
- the city of palm trees (עִיר הַתְּמָרִים - Ir ha-Tmarim):
- Word Level: This is a famous descriptive epithet for Jericho. "City" (Ir) and "palm trees" (ha-Tmarim). The area around Jericho was known for its abundant date palms, indicating its oasis-like nature and agricultural fertility.
- Significance: Reinforces the specific identity of Jericho and emphasizes its unique natural characteristics within the diverse Promised Land. It also alludes to the economic value of the city due to its agricultural output, making it a desirable possession.
- unto Zoar (עַד-צֹעַר - ad Tzo'ar):
- Word Level: "Unto" (ad) specifies the farthest visible extent in this southern direction. "Zoar" (Tzo'ar) is a small city at the southern end of the Dead Sea plain, significant as the place where Lot fled during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:22-23).
- Significance: Zoar marks a distinct southeastern boundary, demonstrating the immense geographical sweep of the vision God granted to Moses. Its connection to the narratives of Sodom and Gomorrah implicitly recalls God's judgment and deliverance, hinting at the land's history of divine interaction. This range confirms that Moses was shown a truly comprehensive panorama, from the most prominent features to the distant, defining edges of the land.
Deuteronomy 34 3 Bonus section
- The description of the land from north to south, and west to east in these verses (Dt 34:1-4) suggests a divinely enhanced, spiritual panoramic vision rather than merely what is physically observable from Mount Nebo with the naked eye. God supernaturally opened Moses' spiritual understanding and sight to perceive the totality of the promise.
- The sequence of listing these geographical points from distinct, identifiable regions (Gilead to Dan, all Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, Judah, then the western sea, and here the south, plain of Jericho, and Zoar) indicates a full circle, an exhaustive view of the covenantal territory.
- The emphasis on "the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob" (Dt 34:4) following this geographical exposition reiterates that the detailed geographical display is a tangible manifestation of an ancient, sacred covenant. It grounds spiritual promise in physical reality.
Deuteronomy 34 3 Commentary
Deuteronomy 34:3 completes the detailed itinerary of the Promised Land that God reveals to Moses from the peak of Nebo. This verse focuses on the land's southern dimensions, meticulously listing diverse geographical features. The mention of the "Negev" signifies the land's extent to its drier, semi-arid regions, acknowledging that not all the promised inheritance is lush and fertile. In stark contrast, the "plain of Jericho, the city of palm trees," highlights the lush, fertile oasis of the Jordan Valley, renowned for its abundant date palms, which signified wealth and beauty. The ultimate point of sight, "unto Zoar," specifies a southern limit deep into the region near the Dead Sea, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the vision.
This meticulous geographical detail serves not only to identify the specific covenantal inheritance but also underscores God's faithfulness. Despite Moses' personal inability to enter, God fully discloses the vastness and character of the land He has secured for His people. It is a land of extremes—from arid south to fertile plains, reflecting its complexity and richness. The specific names like Jericho evoke upcoming national narratives of conquest and settlement, while Zoar connects to the deeper history of God's interaction with humanity in that very land. The passage thus reinforces that God keeps His promises to Israel through meticulous fulfillment of their covenantal inheritance, setting the stage for Joshua’s leadership and the coming conquest.