Numbers 34:3 kjv
Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
Numbers 34:3 nkjv
Your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom; then your southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea;
Numbers 34:3 niv
"?'Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. Your southern boundary will start in the east from the southern end of the Dead Sea,
Numbers 34:3 esv
your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom, and your southern border shall run from the end of the Salt Sea on the east.
Numbers 34:3 nlt
The southern portion of your country will extend from the wilderness of Zin, along the edge of Edom. The southern boundary will begin on the east at the Dead Sea.
Numbers 34 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:18 | "...Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." | God's initial promise of a vast territory. |
| Exod 23:31 | "And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river..." | Earlier general outline of boundaries. |
| Deut 1:7 | "...turn you, and take your journey...to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates." | Recapitulation of God's land promise. |
| Deut 11:24 | "Every place where the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness unto Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea..." | Emphasis on possession within defined limits. |
| Num 13:21 | "So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath." | Zin as a known geographical marker during spies. |
| Num 20:1 | "Then came the children of Israel...into the desert of Zin, in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh..." | Wilderness of Zin as a key encampment site. |
| Num 20:14 | "And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom..." | Context of Israel's relations and route near Edom. |
| Jdg 11:17 | "Israel sent messengers also unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land..." | Edom's refusal to grant passage to Israel. |
| Josh 15:1 | "And the lot for the tribe of the children of Judah...was even to the border of Edom, the wilderness of Zin southward." | Judah's border aligned with the overall southern border. |
| Josh 15:3 | "And it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up on the south side unto Kadesh-barnea..." | Detailed Judah border matching overall plan. |
| Josh 18:5 | "And they shall divide it into seven parts..." | Distribution of the land by tribes. |
| Eze 47:19 | "And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea." | Ezekiel's visionary boundaries of the land. |
| Ps 78:55 | "He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line..." | God's action in granting land by boundary lines. |
| Isa 43:6 | "I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back..." | God's sovereignty over all territories. |
| Jer 49:7 | "Concerning Edom..." | Prophecies regarding Edom's fate. |
| Obad 1:3-4 | "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock...Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle..." | Divine judgment on Edom for its pride and actions. |
| Mal 1:3-4 | "...I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places..." | God's enduring disposition towards Edom. |
| Acts 7:45 | "...into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David..." | God's removal of inhabitants for Israel's inheritance. |
| Heb 4:8 | "For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day." | The concept of an ultimate, spiritual rest (land). |
| Heb 11:8-9 | "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance...By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country..." | The land as an object of faith and promise. |
Numbers 34 verses
Numbers 34 3 Meaning
Numbers 34:3 defines the precise southern boundary of the Promised Land that God commanded for the tribes of Israel to inherit. This divinely appointed border commences from the wilderness of Zin and extends eastward, bordering the land of Edom, delineating the full extent of the tribal territories. It is a critical instruction emphasizing the geographical limits of the inheritance, highlighting God's faithfulness in providing a land and the meticulous detail of His plans for His people.
Numbers 34 3 Context
Numbers chapter 34, from verse 1 through 12, details the specific, divinely mandated boundaries of the land of Canaan that the Israelites were to inherit. This directive comes after God instructs Moses on the proper division of the land among the tribes (Num 34:13-29). The overall purpose of this chapter is to provide a clear, unambiguous blueprint for the territory promised to Abraham's descendants, ensuring its physical limits are understood and respected. Verse 3 specifically focuses on defining the southern boundary, laying out a critical portion of this extensive border. Historically, these instructions were given to the generation poised to enter Canaan, serving as their legal and geographical mandate for the possession of their inheritance, contrasting with vague or humanly contested claims.
Numbers 34 3 Word analysis
- And: (Hebrew: וְ - ve) Functions as a simple conjunction, connecting this specific boundary description to the broader mandate of land division in the preceding verses. It indicates a continuation of the divine instruction for the Promised Land's extent.
- your south side: (Hebrew: וּגְבוּל נֶגֶב לָכֶם - u'gvul negev lakhem) "Gevul" (גְּבוּל) means "border" or "boundary." "Negev" (נֶגֶב) literally means "dry land" or "south." This emphasizes that the following description delineates the precise southern limit of the land intended for the tribes. It is a definite, divinely established demarcation for "you" (Israel).
- shall be: (Hebrew is implied by context) This is a declarative statement of divine decree. It indicates the fixed and certain nature of these boundaries, established by God's will and authority. It is not a suggestion or a temporary arrangement but a permanent, legal, and theological designation.
- from the wilderness: (Hebrew: מִמִּדְבַּר - mimmidbar) "Midbar" (מִדְבַּר) refers to an arid, uncultivated, sparsely inhabited region. This signifies that the border begins not from a major settlement but from a known, desolate geographical marker. Starting from a wilderness emphasizes its divinely prescribed nature rather than human establishment based on population centers.
- of Zin: (Hebrew: צִין - Tsin) A specific geographical region in the Negeb, distinct from the wilderness of Sinai. It was a well-known landmark, specifically mentioned in other contexts such as where Israel spent significant time during the Exodus journey, notably Kadesh-Barnea (Num 20:1, 13:21). Its mention solidifies the physical reality of the proposed boundaries for the original audience.
- along by: (Hebrew is implicit in the directional flow) Indicates that the border runs contiguous with, or adjacent to, the specified region, defining its precise relationship to it.
- the coast: (Hebrew: אֶל-קְצֵה גְבוּל אֱדוֹם - el-qetzeh gvūl ’Edōm) While often translated as "coast" or "side," "qetzeh" (קְצֵה) literally means "extremity" or "end," here referring to the farthest extent of Edom's territory, thus indicating that the border runs to the edge of Edom. This is not referring to a coastline, but rather the edge or boundary line of Edom.
- of Edom: (Hebrew: אֱדוֹם - ’Edōm) The territory occupied by the descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob. Edom was Israel's southern neighbor and often a hostile one. The inclusion of Edom's border in Israel's southern boundary defines their separation and respective territorial claims, asserting Israel's distinct land apart from their brethren-turned-adversaries. This explicitly differentiates Israel's God-given inheritance from that of Edom.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "And your south side shall be": This phrase introduces a divine directive concerning a fundamental aspect of Israel's territorial inheritance—its southern limit. It signifies that the precise demarcation of the land is not subject to human negotiation or shifting geopolitics but is a fixed aspect of God's covenant with His people. This "side" is critical because it demarcates the sacred space and its interaction with surrounding nations.
- "from the wilderness of Zin": Pinpoints the definite starting point of the southern border. Zin served as a significant and easily identifiable landmark in the Israelites' journey from Egypt. Its mention anchors the divine promise to a concrete geographical reality, making the abstract concept of a "promised land" tangible for the people, and reinforcing the literal nature of the land grant. This emphasizes the divine precision.
- "along by the coast of Edom": This phrase details the orientation and adjacency of the southern border relative to a prominent neighboring nation. It specifies that the boundary runs alongside Edom's territory, distinguishing Israel's divinely appointed land from that of their often-antagonistic kinsmen, the Edomites. This geographical specification serves not only as a physical marker but also highlights the distinct, chosen identity of Israel, even in proximity to related peoples.
Numbers 34 3 Bonus section
The specification of "the wilderness of Zin" as a boundary point has broader theological implications. Zin was a place of testing, doubt, and rebellion for the Israelites, notably where Miriam died and Moses sinned by striking the rock instead of speaking to it (Num 20). By establishing a land boundary from this significant location, God underscores His redemptive work and faithfulness even amidst Israel's past failures. The Promised Land's borders are not only geographical lines but also spiritual markers of God's ongoing grace and the fulfillment of His covenant. Furthermore, the inclusion of Edom in the description (whose territory adjoined but was explicitly separate from Israel's) implicitly references the complex relationship between Jacob's and Esau's descendants. This divine separation of land reflected both their distinct destinies and the sovereign hand of God in delineating the nations.
Numbers 34 3 Commentary
Numbers 34:3 precisely outlines a key segment of the southern border of the Promised Land, as designated by God. The detailed geographical markers—the wilderness of Zin and the border of Edom—underscore the specificity and divine nature of the land grant. This verse is part of God's meticulous provision for Israel, defining the limits of their inheritance with absolute clarity to prevent future disputes over claims and to affirm the security of their divinely established boundaries. The inclusion of Edom, a neighboring and often hostile nation related to Israel, further emphasizes the distinctness of God's people and their designated territory, separating it from surrounding nations. This precision points to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and His authority over the land He bestows upon His covenant people. It is a testament to God's orderly plan, contrasting with the chaotic nature of territorial claims driven by human ambition or conquest, establishing Israel's possession solely on divine command.