Numbers 34 12

Numbers 34:12 kjv

And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.

Numbers 34:12 nkjv

the border shall go down along the Jordan, and it shall end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land with its surrounding boundaries.' "

Numbers 34:12 niv

Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea. "?'This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.'?"

Numbers 34:12 esv

And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its limit shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land as defined by its borders all around."

Numbers 34:12 nlt

and then along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. These are the boundaries of your land."

Numbers 34 verses

Numbers 34 12 Meaning

Numbers 34:12 precisely describes a segment of the eastern boundary of the Promised Land that God ordained for the Israelites. It specifies that this border would descend from Shepham, pass to Riblah on the east side of Ain (a significant spring), and continue its southward descent to the slope located on the east side of the Sea of Chinnereth, also known as the Sea of Galilee. This delineation is part of God's meticulously detailed instructions for the tribal inheritance and settlement of the land of Canaan, emphasizing divine authority over territory and the faithful fulfillment of His covenant promises.

Numbers 34 12 Context

Numbers 34 is part of the Pentateuch, detailing God's instructions to Moses concerning the geographical boundaries of the land of Canaan that the Israelites were destined to inherit and settle. This chapter, following a census and instructions for purifying the camp, focuses on the precise physical borders that would delineate the inheritance for each tribe of Israel. Verses 3-5 describe the southern boundary, verse 6 the western, and verses 7-9 the northern. Verses 10-12 specifically delineate the eastern boundary, starting from Hazar-enan and proceeding southward. This meticulous detailing highlights God's sovereignty over the land and His faithfulness in covenant keeping, ensuring the new nation would have a clearly defined territory, thus minimizing future disputes and solidifying their identity as the people of God in their divinely appointed home.

Numbers 34 12 Word analysis

• and the border: Refers to the defined boundary line (Heb. גְּבוּל, gevul) of the Promised Land. The repeated emphasis on "the border" throughout Num 34 highlights the precision and divinely ordained nature of these boundaries.
• shall go down: (Heb. יָרַד, yarad) Signifies a physical descent in elevation, mapping the border's course along natural topography from higher ground in the north toward the lower regions around the Sea of Galilee. It implies a movement or direction along the landscape.
• from Shepham: (Heb. שְׁפָם, Shĕpham) An ancient geographical marker for the boundary. Its exact modern location is debated by scholars, but it marks a critical point on the northeastern side of the promised territory, often associated with a northern limit of Israel's tribal allocations.
• to Riblah: (Heb. רִבְלָה, Riblah) Another key ancient landmark. This "Riblah" is distinct from the Riblah in the land of Hamath (2 Kgs 25:6, Jer 52:9-10) which gained later infamy as a place of judgment and royal capture. Here, it denotes a specific geographical waypoint on the eastern border, signifying the turn or limit of this segment. Its precise ancient location remains subject to scholarly research, indicating the complexity of pinpointing all ancient boundaries.
• on the east side of Ain: (Heb. מִקֶּדֶם לָעָיִן, miqqedem la-`ayin) "East side" (מִקֶּדֶם, miqqedem) indicates the direction. "Ain" (עָיִן, ayin), meaning "spring" or "eye," points to a crucial natural water source. The boundary ran along the eastern aspect of this spring, underscoring its role as a visible and essential landmark in ancient topography, critical for navigation and defining territory in often arid regions.
• and the border shall go down and reach to the slope: Continues the description of the boundary's course. "Reach" (הִגִּיעַ, higgi'a) indicates arriving at a destination. "Slope" (כֶּתֶף, ketef), literally "shoulder," refers to the sloping side of a hill, ridge, or geographical feature, conveying the contour of the land as it descends.
• on the east side of the Sea of Chinnereth: (Heb. מִקֶּדֶם יָם כִּנֶּרֶת, miqqedem Yam Kinnereth) The "Sea of Chinnereth" (later known as the Sea of Galilee, or Lake Gennesaret/Tiberias) is a well-known, large, harp-shaped freshwater lake in northern Israel. "East side" reiterates the precise path, indicating the boundary continued along the eastern shore of this significant and unmistakable natural landmark.
• Words-groups analysis:
  • "the border shall go down...and the border shall go down and reach": This repeated emphasis and progression (from merely "going down" to "going down and reaching") reinforce the meticulous detail and permanence of the divinely defined boundary. It demonstrates God's precise and deliberate demarcation of Israel's inheritance.
  • "from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain...to the slope on the east side of the Sea of Chinnereth": This sequence of place names and directional indicators provides a highly specific geographical "map." It illustrates God's sovereign and thorough allocation of the land, using recognizable features to remove ambiguity about the extent of Israel's sacred space and inheritance.

Numbers 34 12 Bonus section

The name "Chinnereth" for the lake (which became Galilee) is traditionally believed to derive from a Hebrew word related to the "harp" or "lyre," describing its unique shape. The specificity of this verse and the entire chapter detailing boundaries serves as a subtle polemic. In an ancient world where territorial claims were often fluid, contested violently, and based on human power, God's precise, divine demarcation for Israel highlights His sovereignty and exclusive ownership of the earth. This specific divine decree asserts that Israel's inheritance was not based on their strength or conquest alone, but solely on God's will and covenant promise.

Numbers 34 12 Commentary

Numbers 34:12 offers profound insight into God's meticulous nature and His faithful fulfillment of covenant promises. The divine precision in delineating the boundaries of Canaan underscores that this was a specific, tangible gift from God, not merely a general region to be vaguely occupied. This careful outlining ensured Israel's identity and provided a secure space for the covenant people. The detailed geographic references served as an authoritative map for Moses, Joshua, and subsequent generations, preventing disputes over territorial claims and reinforcing God's supreme authority as the true owner and dispenser of the land. It stands as a testament to God's attention to every detail in His plans for His people, reminding us of His similar care in mapping out our spiritual inheritance and providing for our dwelling in Christ.