Ezekiel 47:16 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Ezekiel 47:16 kjv
Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.
Ezekiel 47:16 nkjv
Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazar Hatticon (which is on the border of Hauran).
Ezekiel 47:16 niv
Berothah and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of Hauran.
Ezekiel 47:16 esv
Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.
Ezekiel 47:16 nlt
then it will run to Berothah and Sibraim, which are on the border between Damascus and Hamath, and finally to Hazer-hatticon, on the border of Hauran.
Ezekiel 47 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 34:7-9 | “This shall be your north border: you shall draw a line... from Mount Hor... to Hamath..." | Historical northern border (Hamath mentioned) |
| Jos 13:5-6 | "...and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon toward the sunrise, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath." | Unconquered northern territories of promise |
| 2 Sam 8:9-10 | When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, he sent Joram his son unto king David... | Hamath as an allied/neighboring kingdom |
| 1 Kin 8:65 | ...and Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt... | Extent of Solomon's kingdom |
| 2 Kin 14:25 | He restored the border of Israel from the entering in of Hamath unto the sea of the Arabah... | Jeroboam II's restoration of territory |
| Isa 11:11 | "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people... from Hamath..." | Restoration from the region of Hamath |
| Isa 27:13 | And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. | Ingathering from northern regions |
| Jer 49:23 | Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings... | Prophecy against Damascus and Hamath |
| Amo 6:14 | "But behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel," declares the Lord... "and they shall oppress you from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah." | Divine judgment and border implications |
| Zec 9:1-2 | The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be its rest: for the eye of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, is toward the Lord. And Hamath also shall border thereby; Ty... | Prophecy concerning Damascus and Hamath |
| Eze 48:1-7 | Details the specific tribal allotments for the northern tribes... | Division of the land as per the vision |
| Eze 48:28 | "The border from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh..." | Northern to southern border specification |
| Gen 12:7 | "Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.'..." | Original promise of the land |
| Gen 15:18 | "On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates," | Extensive promised land |
| Exod 23:31 | "And I will set your bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand..." | Divinely appointed boundaries of the land |
| Deut 11:24 | "Every place where on 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." | Possession of the promised land |
| Josh 1:4 | "From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast." | Boundaries of Israel's inheritance |
| Ps 78:54-55 | "...And brought them to his holy border, this mountain, which his right hand had purchased... And he divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents." | God dividing the land by lot |
| Neh 9:8 | "And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it to his seed, and hast performed thy words..." | Fulfillment of the land promise |
| Rom 4:13 | "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." | Broader spiritual inheritance |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham... went out, not knowing whither he went... He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. | Heavenly and eternal city of God |
| Rev 21:10-14 | Describes the New Jerusalem with precise boundaries and foundations... | The ultimate heavenly city with defined form |
Ezekiel 47 verses
Ezekiel 47 16 meaning
Ezekiel 47:16 meticulously lists specific towns and geographical features that define the northern and northeastern borders of the land allotted to the twelve tribes of Israel in the prophetic vision of the restored temple and nation. It details key landmarks like Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, Hazar-hatticon, Damascus, and Hauran, precisely situating them to establish the divinely ordained limits of the inheritance. This precision underscores the tangible nature of the future restoration and the security of God's covenant promises concerning the land.
Ezekiel 47 16 Context
Ezekiel 47:16 is part of a larger visionary description in Ezekiel chapters 40-48, detailing a restored temple, a purified land, and a re-ordered Israel in the eschatological future. Chapter 47 specifically focuses on the miraculous river flowing from the temple, bringing life and healing, and then transitions to the precise geographical boundaries of the renewed land of Israel, to be allotted among the twelve tribes. This verse, following the overall description of the northern boundary from Tof the Mediterranean Sea and from Damascus and Hauran (v.15), specifies additional critical points along this northern border. Historically, Israel’s northern frontier was often disputed or held by foreign powers (like Syria), and even in its greatest extent, these specific points might not have been fully under Israelite control. Thus, the exact mapping of these territories under Israelite authority signifies a complete and secure restoration under divine decree, far exceeding any previous historical claim or possession. This detailed geographic description reassures the exilic audience of a real, tangible future inheritance defined and protected by God.
Ezekiel 47 16 Word analysis
- Haman (חָמָן Ḥāmān / Hamath חֲמָת Ḥămāṯ): The KJV uses "Haman," which is widely considered a scribal error for Hamath. Almost all modern translations render this as "Hamath," which fits perfectly with the surrounding geographical markers and consistent biblical references to Hamath as a northern boundary marker of Israel (Num 34:8, Josh 13:5, 1 Kin 8:65). Hamath was a significant ancient city-state on the Orontes River in central Syria, consistently referenced as a strategic northern gateway. Its inclusion emphasizes the broad extent of the promised land.
- and Berothah (וּבֵרוֹתָה uVērōṯâ): A less definitively identified location, likely a specific city or region along the border, west of Sibraim. Some scholars suggest it may relate to Bereitan (modern Britāl), northwest of Baalbek. Its exact placement aids in drawing the precise line.
- Sibraim (סִבְרַיִם Sivrāyim): This place is positioned strategically "between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath." It serves as a crucial geographical linchpin, indicating a central point along the northern frontier. This precision is typical of land grants and boundary descriptions.
- which is between (אֲשֶׁר בֵּין ’ǎšer bêyn): This phrase emphatically pinpoints Sibraim's location, stressing its intermediary position and defining a specific section of the border. It provides exact spatial context, vital for a land survey.
- the border of Damascus (גְּבוּל דַּמֶּשֶׂק gəḇûl Damméśeq): Damascus was a major Aramean city, often Israel's rival, controlling a powerful regional kingdom. Its inclusion defines a boundary to the east of Israel's new territory, preventing any ambiguity concerning where Israel's land ends and external nations begin. It signifies a clear delineation from a traditionally hostile foreign power.
- and the border of Hamath (וּגְבוּל חֲמָת ûḡəḇûl Ḥămāṯ): This repetition of Hamath (referring back to the initial word of the verse, likely corrected to Hamath) firmly establishes its importance as the northernmost limit. It emphasizes the divinely ordained maximum extent northward.
- Hazar-hatticon (חֲצַר הַתִּיכוֹן Ḥaṣar Hattîkôn): This name literally translates to "Middle Court" or "Central Village." This suggests its internal significance within a defined zone or its central position on another segment of the border. It points to an identifiable settlement crucial for demarcation.
- which is by the coast of Hauran (אֲשֶׁר אֶל־חוֹף חַוְרָן ’ǎšer ’el-ḥôp Ḥav̇rān): "Coast" here means boundary or edge, rather than seashore, as Hauran is inland. Hauran (or Bashan) was a fertile plateau region southeast of Damascus, famous for its grain and pasturelands. Placing Hazar-hatticon "by the border of Hauran" further defines the eastern stretch of the northern border, encompassing fertile lands previously outside consistent Israelite control, expanding and securing the new territory.
- "Haman, and Berothah, Sibraim": This group identifies a sequence of locations, mapping the contour of the northern frontier from west to east or vice-versa, creating a contiguous border. The enumeration is typical of ancient land charters, establishing a clear line that God defines.
- "Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath": This phrase precisely situates Sibraim as a geographical marker, specifically an interstice point between two significant, well-known foreign territories. It defines the point of intersection between two major regional powers and Israel's territory.
- "Hazar-hatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran": This clause sets the easternmost point mentioned in this verse, pushing the boundary significantly eastward into territory that was rich agricultural land, expanding the ideal inheritance beyond historical possession. The explicit link to Hauran details a clear demarcation against the territories further east.
Ezekiel 47 16 Bonus section
The careful cataloging of border points like those in Ezekiel 47:16 resonated deeply with ancient audiences, especially those returning from exile. Land ownership and national borders were fundamental to their identity, security, and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham (Gen 12:7; 15:18). This detailed divine mapping could serve as both encouragement and a guide. It directly refutes the despair of a landless people and provides hope for a physical, tangible inheritance. Furthermore, the boundaries described here generally align with the northern limits found in other Old Testament passages defining the extent of the Promised Land (Num 34:7-9, 2 Kin 14:25). The precise specification of landmarks not always under Israelite control, such as areas near Damascus and Hauran, implies a significant expansion and ultimate dominion over the land, signifying a complete and lasting fulfillment, secure from the constant political shifts and military threats of their historical experience. The attention to detail suggests God's commitment to every aspect of the future restoration, down to the exact geographical dimensions, preparing His people for a tangible and sovereign dwelling place.
Ezekiel 47 16 Commentary
Ezekiel 47:16 is a precise geographical survey of the northern boundary of the restored land, a testament to God's detailed planning and the concrete reality of the future inheritance. Far from being a mere list, these place names (Hamath/Haman, Berothah, Sibraim, Hazar-hatticon, Damascus, Hauran) draw a deliberate border that signifies divine authority over the entire region. The very specific placement of Sibraim "between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath" underscores a fixed, non-negotiable line set by God Himself, distinguishing Israel's future, secure territory from the Gentile nations around it, some of which had historically been Israel's adversaries. This boundary line exceeds what Israel historically possessed at its height, emphasizing a greater, unblemished fulfillment of the land promise, an act of grace, and an assertion of God’s complete sovereignty in establishing and securing the future dwelling place for His people. It speaks to a thorough and total restoration where the covenant promise of land will be fully realized and meticulously defended by God's decree.