Ezekiel 47 16

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

VerseTextReference
Ezek 47:15"This is the boundary of the land on the north; from the great sea [Mediterranean] you shall draw it to Habor, as you go toward Hamath;Comprehensive northern boundary
Ezek 47:15Hamath is the northern extent described.Defines northern limit
Ezek 47:16Hamath, and on toward Berothah, toward Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath;Points defining northern border eastwards
Ezek 47:16and Hazar-Enam, which is on the border of Hauran.Eastern boundary segment
Ezek 47:17And the border shall extend from the sea to Hazar-Enam, with the border of Damascus northward, and the border of Hamath northward.Reinforces eastern boundary and relation to Damascus/Hamath
Ezek 47:18And on the east side you shall measure from the border of Hauran eastward to the Jordan and to the sea on the east; you shall measure toward the setting of the sun. This is the north side.Eastern boundary defined by Jordan and eastward measurement
Num 34:8"and from Mount Hor you shall draw it toward the entrance of Hamath, and the exits of that border shall be at Zedad;Mentions Hamath and Zedad as boundary points
Num 13:21So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near Hamath.Hamath as a northern geographic marker
2 Sam 8:3David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to establish his dominion over the great river [Euphrates].Hamath (as Zobah) related to dominion
Jer 39:5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook them in the plains of Moab, and they took all their cities and turned the hearts of them against him.Geographic references related to Israel's borders
Gen 10:18and afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad. And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.Canaanite borders as a precursor to Israelite divisions
Gen 46:27And all the souls of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy persons. Joseph was already in Egypt.Jacob's family moving into Egypt
Joshua 1:4Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses.Promise of land based on footsteps
Joshua 13:5and also the land of the Giblites, and all the Lebanon toward the sunrise, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.Hamath referenced as a northern limit of Israel
Acts 2:10Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Geographic locations in NT often linked to regions bordering Israel
Rev 7:1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth...Symbolism of "corners" in eschatological context
Zech 8:7"Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country,Directional symbolism in prophecy
Isaiah 11:12and he will raise a signal for the nations, and will gather the dispersed of Israel, and will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.Dispersion and gathering of Israel with directional significance
Ezekiel 37:22and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, nor divided into two kingdoms any more forever.Unity of Israel under one king, a theme in the vision
Ezekiel 40:1In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck, on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me there.Ezekiel's vision context

Ezekiel 47 verses

Ezekiel 47 16 Meaning

The verse describes the northern boundary of the promised land. It extends from the Mediterranean Sea eastward to a point called Hamath, which is a significant city in Syria. From there, the boundary moves southeastward to Zedad, another town. Next, it proceeds southeast to Hazar-enan, which signifies a village or settlement with wells. Finally, it runs south along the Jordan River's eastern flank, extending to the Dead Sea, thus delineating the land's northern and northeastern borders.

Ezekiel 47 16 Context

Ezekiel 47 describes a visionary experience of a river flowing from the temple eastward. This river brings life and healing to the barren areas. Following the river's description, Ezekiel is shown the division and allotment of the land. This chapter is part of Ezekiel's prophecies during the Babylonian exile, offering hope for future restoration. Verse 16 specifically details the geographical boundaries for the inheritance of the land. These detailed measurements serve to reassure the exiled Israelites that their homeland would be re-established and a new order would commence, marked by divine presence and a renewed covenant. The borders mentioned reflect a configuration of the land intended to represent a complete and ordered restoration under God's rule.

Ezekiel 47 16 Word Analysis

  • וְהָיָה (və·hâ·yâ): "and it shall be." This conjunctive and consecutive particle indicates continuation and progression, linking this measurement to the preceding descriptions of the boundary.
  • גְּבוּל (gə·ḇūl): "border" or "boundary." This word signifies a dividing line, marking the extent and limit of the land.
  • וְסָמַרְתָּ (wə·sā·mər·tā): "and you shall turn." This verb implies a turning point or direction in tracing the boundary.
  • בְּצָדָּה (bə·ṣā·ḏâ): "to Zedad." A place name; its exact location is debated but generally understood to be in the southern region of Syria. It functions as a significant marker for the boundary's movement.
  • וְהָיָה (wə·hâ·yâ): "and it shall be." Repeated to connect further points along the boundary.
  • גְּבוּל (gə·ḇūl): "border." Again emphasizing the delimitation of the territory.
  • לְצָדָּה (lə·ṣā·ḏâ): "toward Zedad." Indicating the direction of travel for the boundary line.
  • וְהָיָה (wə·hâ·yâ): "and it shall be."
  • גְּבוּל (gə·ḇūl): "border."
  • חֲצַר־עֵינָן (ḥă·ṣar-·‘ê·nān): "Hazar-Enan." Meaning "village of wells" or "encampment of springs." This indicates a settlement or water source that served as a boundary marker, highlighting the importance of water in the promised land, aligning with the river theme of the chapter.
  • וְהָיָה (wə·hâ·yâ): "and it shall be."
  • גְּבוּלְכֶם (gə·ḇūl·ḵɛm): "your border." Possessive pronoun "your" is plural, referring to the people of Israel, to whom the land is allotted.

Word Group Analysis

  • "from the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath northward": This phrase establishes the northern and northeastern extent. Hamath was a significant city controlling access to Syria. Damascus, also a major Syrian city, further defines this northerly limit. The reference to the "border of Damascus" and "border of Hamath" shows these established political/geographic entities helping to orient the new territorial division. This grounding in known geography helps the exiles visualize the promised restored land.
  • "and from Hazar-Enam on the border of Hauran": Hazar-Enam, with its significance of water, coupled with Hauran (a fertile region south of Damascus), signifies a specific point eastward on the boundary. The connection to Hauran further emphasizes the reach of the land towards the fertile Syrian plains. The movement is clearly indicated as southeastward from Hazar-Enam, extending along the territory associated with Hauran.

Ezekiel 47 16 Bonus Section

The precise identification of Zedad and Hazar-Enam remains a subject of scholarly discussion, but their placement within the context of this verse, tracing a line from the north-east towards the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea, is clear. The repetition of "border" (גְּבוּל - gə·ḇūl) emphasizes the clear demarcation and secured possession of the land that is promised. The vision serves not only as a geographical plan but also as a symbolic representation of completeness, order, and God's active presence in restoring His people and His land. This vision of borders, coupled with the river of life, signifies a renewed and bountiful existence in the restored nation of Israel.

Ezekiel 47 16 Commentary

Ezekiel 47:16 specifies the boundary points of the north-eastern sector of the land as envisioned by Ezekiel. The progression from Hamath, then to Zedad, and onwards to Hazar-Enam signifies the delineated edges of the inherited territory. The inclusion of Hamath and Damascus emphasizes that the restored land extends to include territories of importance in the wider region of Syria, indicating a significant geopolitical scope for the restored Israel. Hazar-Enam, meaning "village of wells," suggests that the boundary line is marked by vital water resources, echoing the life-giving river theme prevalent in Ezekiel 47. This vision provides a blueprint for future settlement, bringing order and spatial definition to God's promises of return and restoration to the exiled people.