Numbers 34:4 kjv
And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:
Numbers 34:4 nkjv
your border shall turn from the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and be on the south of Kadesh Barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar Addar, and continue to Azmon;
Numbers 34:4 niv
cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon,
Numbers 34:4 esv
And your border shall turn south of the ascent of Akrabbim, and cross to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon.
Numbers 34:4 nlt
It will then run south past Scorpion Pass in the direction of Zin. Its southernmost point will be Kadesh-barnea, from which it will go to Hazar-addar, and on to Azmon.
Numbers 34 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 34:2-12 | "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, ‘When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan with its borders..." | Overall context of the land borders. |
| Deut 1:7 | "Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland, in the Negeb and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates." | Broader scope of promised land. |
| Deut 1:40 | "But as for you, turn, and journey into the wilderness toward the Red Sea." | Mentions turning into wilderness after Kadesh. |
| Deut 2:14 | "And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them." | Kadesh-barnea as a significant starting point of wandering. |
| Josh 15:1-4 | "The lot for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans reached southward to the boundary of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin at its southernmost point. And their southern boundary ran from the end of the Salt Sea..." | Judah's southern border, reflecting Num 34:4. |
| Josh 15:3 | "...then it goes out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh-barnea, and continues to Hezron, up to Addar, and turns to Karka." | Direct echo of Num 34:4 details. |
| Josh 15:4 | "And it passes along to Azmon, and goes out by the Brook of Egypt, and the boundary ends at the sea. This shall be your southern boundary." | Direct echo of Azmon in southern border description. |
| Num 20:1 | "Then the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh." | Wilderness of Zin and Kadesh-barnea mentioned together. |
| Num 20:13 | "These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel contended with the Lord, and he showed his holiness among them." | Kadesh-barnea as scene of Moses' sin (waters of Meribah). |
| Gen 12:7 | "Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him." | Foundation of the land promise. |
| Gen 15:18-21 | "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...' " | Detailed initial land promise. |
| Exod 23:31 | "And I will set your territory from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you." | Broader land boundaries by divine decree. |
| Num 33:36 | "They set out from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin (that is, Kadesh)." | Kadesh is associated with Zin, as a major landmark. |
| Num 35:1-8 | Instructions for cities of refuge and Levite towns within the tribes, implying clear land boundaries. | Importance of distinct territorial division. |
| Psa 78:55 | "He drove out nations before them; He allotted their inheritance by measure and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents." | God's active role in land distribution. |
| Isa 54:2-3 | "Enlarge the place of your tent... for you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations..." | Future expansion, based on current promised land. |
| Mic 7:14 | "Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance... Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old." | Implies clear inheritance and boundaries. |
| Gal 3:18 | "For if the inheritance comes by the law, it is no longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise." | Theological basis of inheritance (promise). |
| Heb 11:8-9 | "By faith Abraham obeyed... he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land..." | Land as a promise, and a dwelling place by faith. |
| Heb 11:13 | "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." | Heavenly inheritance foreshadowed by earthly land. |
Numbers 34 verses
Numbers 34 4 Meaning
This verse precisely defines a segment of the southern border of the land promised to Israel. It describes a line that originates from the general southern region, turning towards and encompassing the geographic features of the Ascent of Akrabbim and the Wilderness of Zin. Crucially, it clarifies that this border lies immediately north of, or distinct from, Kadesh-barnea, emphasizing that Kadesh-barnea itself was not within this defined territory. The boundary then extends further to Hazar-addar and Azmon, completing a specific portion of the southwestern frontier. This detailed description underscores the divine accuracy and specificity in delineating Israel's inherited territory.
Numbers 34 4 Context
Numbers 34 is part of the book of Numbers, which chronicles Israel's journey from Sinai through the wilderness and to the plains of Moab, just before entering the Promised Land. This chapter, specifically, delivers God's explicit command and detailed description of the precise borders of the land of Canaan that Israel is to inherit. This divine survey follows earlier commands regarding a census (Num 26) and preparation for land distribution. The geographical specificity ensures there is no ambiguity regarding the extent of the inheritance. Historically, after decades of wilderness wandering, this precise demarcation reassures the new generation of the tangibility and permanence of God's covenant promises, contrasting the transient nature of their desert life with the stable future in a divinely appointed homeland. The mention of locations like Kadesh-barnea, known for the rebellion of the previous generation, subtly underscores both God's faithfulness despite human failure and the clear, albeit specific, limits of their inheritance.
Numbers 34 4 Word analysis
And your border: Hebrew u-gevulkem (וּגְבוּלְכֶם). Gevul (גְּבוּל) signifies a boundary, a definite limit or territory. It highlights God's specific allocation, establishing ownership and preventing ambiguity over what belongs to Israel. This is a divine, immutable demarcation.
shall turn: Hebrew wenashal (וְנָשַׁל). The root often implies to draw out, remove, or dispossess. Here, it denotes the movement or direction of the boundary line itself, showing a precise change of course rather than a general area.
from the south: Hebrew minnegev (מִנֶּגֶב). Refers to the Negev, a semi-arid desert region to the south of Canaan. It establishes the starting general orientation from which the specific border description begins its detailed path.
to the Ascent of Akrabbim: Hebrew le-ma'aleh Akrabbim (לְמַעֲלֵה עַקְרַבִּים). Literally, "ascent of scorpions." This is a specific, rugged geographical feature, likely a difficult pass or wadi in the rugged terrain between the Arabah and the Zin wilderness. Its mention points to a natural, prominent marker serving as an undeniable boundary point.
and pass along to Zin: Hebrew wa-'abar le-Tzin (וְעָבַר לְצִין). Abar (עָבַר) means "to pass over," "cross," or "go beyond." Zin refers to the Wilderness of Zin, a major desert region frequently mentioned in connection with Israel's wanderings (e.g., Num 20:1). Its inclusion indicates a substantial stretch of desert land included in or bordered by the southern limit.
and its limit: Hebrew we-yatza gevul (וְיָצָא גְּבוּל). Yatza (יָצָא) means "to go out" or "extend." This phrase emphasizes the outflow or final extension of this specific segment of the boundary.
shall be south of Kadesh-barnea: Hebrew minnegev Kadesh-Barnea (מִנֶּגֶב קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ). Kadesh-barnea was a critical site for Israel's wilderness journey, marking significant events of rebellion and God's judgment (Num 14, 20). Its placement south of the border implies it was just outside the immediate promised land, highlighting both its geographical proximity and its historical exclusion from the land of inheritance for that generation.
and it shall go on to Hazar-addar: Hebrew we-yatza le-Hatzar-Addar (וְיָצָא לַחֲצַר אַדָּר). Hazar-addar, likely "enclosure of Addar," is another specific geographic reference, possibly an oasis or settlement, acting as a crucial marker on the continued south-western border.
and pass along to Azmon: Hebrew wa-'abar le-'Azmon (וְעָבַר לְעַצְמֹון). Azmon is also a less-known but definite landmark mentioned here and in Joshua 15:4 as part of the border. Its inclusion, like the others, emphasizes the meticulous precision of the divine border description.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And your border shall turn from the south to the Ascent of Akrabbim": This phrase establishes the initial orientation of the boundary and pinpoints the first significant geographical marker. It signifies a transition from a general direction to a precisely identifiable natural feature, demonstrating the shift from wanderings to a fixed dwelling place.
- "and pass along to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea": This segment outlines a significant stretch of the boundary running through the Wilderness of Zin. The explicit mention of Kadesh-barnea being outside the border carries both geographical clarity and a theological undertone, perhaps serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of the earlier rebellion and failure to enter the land immediately. God's faithfulness defines the boundary, yet the cost of disobedience meant exclusion from immediate entry into a central location like Kadesh.
- "and it shall go on to Hazar-addar and pass along to Azmon": These phrases extend the precision of the southern border further west. The continuous listing of specific, identifiable locations reinforces the comprehensive and divinely ordained nature of the territory. This level of detail left no room for dispute regarding the promised land's physical extent among the tribes.
Numbers 34 4 Bonus section
The remarkable detail in this verse, and throughout Numbers 34, is a theological statement in itself. Unlike modern maps or casual descriptions, these biblical boundaries are divinely mandated and spoken. This signifies the active involvement of God in the details of His people's lives and future. The inclusion of harsh or difficult terrain like "Ascent of Akrabbim" implies that God's promise includes even challenging geographical features within His design, forming natural barriers and defensible points for His people. This detailed demarcation, given before actual conquest, served as an encouragement and an anchor of faith for the new generation preparing to enter the land, ensuring them of a very real and tangible inheritance. The precision of these ancient geographical descriptions also points to the historical reliability of the biblical text itself, suggesting that the divine word is precise even in its terrestrial details.
Numbers 34 4 Commentary
Numbers 34:4 is more than just a dry list of geographical points; it is a divinely dictated blueprint for the inheritance God was faithfully providing to His people. The specificity of each named landmark – Ascent of Akrabbim, Zin, Kadesh-barnea, Hazar-addar, Azmon – underscores the absolute precision of God’s promise. This detailed description combats human ambiguity or future disputes over territorial claims, highlighting God’s orderly and exact nature in fulfilling His covenant. The placement of Kadesh-barnea just outside the border carries a quiet but powerful theological weight, marking a place of historical failure yet also emphasizing the divine preservation of the promise despite that failure. It teaches the vital lesson that God's plans are unshakeable, providing a tangible homeland for a people who had long wandered. This divine mapping is an act of sovereign grace, bestowing not just land but also identity, security, and a future tied to a specific, sacred space.