Deuteronomy 4:48 kjv
From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,
Deuteronomy 4:48 nkjv
from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, even to Mount Sion (that is, Hermon),
Deuteronomy 4:48 niv
This land extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Sirion (that is, Hermon),
Deuteronomy 4:48 esv
from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, as far as Mount Sirion (that is, Hermon),
Deuteronomy 4:48 nlt
So Israel conquered the entire area from Aroer at the edge of the Arnon Gorge all the way to Mount Sirion, also called Mount Hermon.
Deuteronomy 4 48 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 21:24 | Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land... | Conquest of Sihon, east of Jordan. |
| Num 21:35 | They smote him and his sons... so they possessed his land. | Conquest of Og, Bashan, to Hermon. |
| Deut 3:8 | We took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon; | Confirms the extent of the Transjordanian conquest. |
| Deut 3:9 | (Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Senir;) | Directly identifies the alternative names for Hermon/Sirion. |
| Josh 12:1 | These are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the sun rising... | Recap of the initial eastern conquests. |
| Josh 12:5 | And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites... | Specific reference to Hermon in conquered territories. |
| Deut 1:7 | Turn you, and take your journey... to the plain, to the hills, and to the valley... unto the great river, the river Euphrates. | Broader scope of promised land for future possession. |
| Deut 34:1 | And Moses went up... unto the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan... | Moses views the full promised land, including Transjordan. |
| Num 32:33 | And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh... | Allotment of the conquered land east of Jordan to these tribes. |
| Josh 1:14-15 | Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan... | Confirms the inheritance of the Transjordanian tribes. |
| Deut 11:24 | Every place where the soles of your feet shall tread upon, that shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates... | God's wider promise for territorial expansion. |
| Josh 11:17 | Even from the mount Halak... unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon... | Hermon serving as a prominent geographical marker for northern conquest. |
| Judg 3:3 | The Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath. | Hermon's continued prominence as a northern border. |
| 1 Chr 5:23 | And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baal-hermon... | Territory of half-Manasseh tribe in relation to Hermon. |
| Psa 133:3 | As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing... | Distinguishes Hermon from Jerusalem's Mount Zion. |
| Song 4:8 | Come with me from Lebanon... from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards. | Hermon's prominent natural features and associations. |
| Deut 2:8 | When we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath... | Refers to the Arabah ('plain') in another context. |
| Deut 4:1 | Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments... that ye may live, and go in and possess the land... | God's invitation to obey in order to possess the land. |
| Deut 4:40 | Thou shalt keep his statutes... that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days in the land... | Obedience tied to sustained dwelling in the land. |
| Gen 15:18 | Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: | The ultimate Abrahamic promise of the land's full extent. |
Deuteronomy 4 verses
Deuteronomy 4 48 Meaning
Deuteronomy 4:48 precisely delineates the northern and southern limits of the land conquered by Moses on the east side of the Jordan River. It identifies the northernmost boundary as Mount Sion, also known as Hermon, and extends the southern boundary to encompass the entirety of the Jordan Rift Valley plains situated to the east of the Jordan River. This verse marks out the specific territory already secured for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
Deuteronomy 4 48 Context
Deuteronomy 4:48 concludes a passage (Deut 4:44-49) that serves as an introduction to Moses' restatement of the Law in Deuteronomy. These verses specifically clarify the setting: Moses delivers these words to Israel "on this side Jordan toward the sunrising" (Deut 4:47), a region they have already conquered. This conquered territory is precisely the land acquired through the victories over Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan (recounted in Deut 2-3). Therefore, verse 48 specifies the exact geographical limits of this initial portion of the promised land that Israel had already possessed before crossing into Canaan proper. It emphasizes the partial fulfillment of God's land promise and sets the stage for Moses' exhortations regarding obedience for the possession of the remainder.
Deuteronomy 4 48 Word Analysis
- Even unto: This phrase, translated from Hebrew
v'ad(וְעַד), indicates a boundary or an extent, marking the furthest reach or limit. It defines the northern and southern geographical extent of the described territory. - mount Sion: In the King James Version, "Sion" (Hebrew: שִׂרְיֹ֥ן Siryōn or Shiryon). This is a crucial geographical detail, distinct from Mount Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן Tsiyyôn) in Jerusalem. Here, "Sion" refers to an alternative name for Mount Hermon, used particularly by the Sidonians (Deut 3:9). Its etymology might relate to "coat of mail" or "shining," perhaps referring to its snow-capped peak. It signifies the northernmost border of the conquered Transjordanian territory.
- which is Hermon: Hebrew: חֶרְמוֹן (Ḥermōn). This phrase immediately clarifies and confirms the identity of "Mount Sion" in this context. Mount Hermon is the highest peak in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, standing over 9,200 feet (2,800 meters) high. It was a prominent landmark known for its height and was considered sacred by various ancient cultures. Its mention underscores its importance as a defining northern boundary. It supplied a significant portion of the Jordan River's water.
- and unto all the plain: Hebrew: וְעַ֤ד כָּל־הָֽעֲרָבָה֙ (ve'ad kol-hā'arāvāh).
- all the plain: Refers to the Arabah (
'arāvāh), the deep Jordan Rift Valley, which extends south from the Sea of Galilee. It designates the entire expanse of the valley floor. - This phrase indicates the southern boundary of the described territory.
- all the plain: Refers to the Arabah (
- on the east of Jordan: Hebrew: מִזְרַ֖ח הַיַּרְדֵּֽן (mizraḥ hayyardēn).
- east: Hebrew:
mizraḥ(מִזְרַח), meaning "sunrise" or "east." - Jordan: Hebrew:
hayyardēn(הַיַּרְדֵּן), referring to the Jordan River. - This precisely delineates the territory as "Transjordan," differentiating it from the main land of Canaan to the west. This territory was conquered before the primary invasion and allotted to specific tribes.
- east: Hebrew:
Deuteronomy 4 48 Bonus Section
- The naming of Hermon by various peoples (Sirion by Sidonians, Senir by Amorites, Hermon by others) points to its undisputed prominence and recognition across ancient Near Eastern cultures as a major geographical landmark.
- The emphasis on "all the plain" contrasts with the mountainous region of Hermon, indicating a comprehensive description of the varied terrain included in the conquest.
- This verse represents a stage in the fulfillment of God's land promise, illustrating that the possession of the land was progressive, with segments granted as Israel obeyed.
- Though Moses did not enter the main land of Canaan, he was instrumental in conquering and delineating this foundational portion of the promised territory, providing a glimpse of the covenant blessing before his departure.
Deuteronomy 4 48 Commentary
Deuteronomy 4:48 serves as a concise, precise geographical summary, establishing the immediate territorial context for Moses' second delivery of the Law. It emphasizes God's faithfulness in beginning to fulfill His promise of land to Israel through their successful conquest of Sihon and Og's kingdoms. By defining the region from the snow-capped peak of Hermon in the north down through the expansive plains of the Arabah on the Jordan's eastern bank, the verse outlines a tangible, already possessed inheritance. This conquered territory becomes the initial homeland for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, showcasing God's covenant loyalty. The detailed geographic references reinforce the historical reality of the biblical narrative and the concrete nature of God's blessing. It stands as a witness to divine power having delivered a significant portion of the promised land to His people.