Numbers 34:6 kjv
And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
Numbers 34:6 nkjv
'As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border.
Numbers 34:6 niv
"?'Your western boundary will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.
Numbers 34:6 esv
"For the western border, you shall have the Great Sea and its coast. This shall be your western border.
Numbers 34:6 nlt
"Your western boundary will be the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
Numbers 34 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|| Gen 15:18 | "...from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates..." | Broad scope of the promised land. || Exod 23:31 | "...I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines..." | Precursor to land boundaries, includes Mediterranean. || Num 34:1-12 | The entire passage detailing the borders of the promised land. | Full context of all land boundaries. || Deut 1:7 | "...go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all their neighbors... beside the Great Sea." | Command to inherit and mention of Great Sea. || Deut 11:24 | "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours..." | God's guarantee of land acquisition. || Josh 1:4 | "...from the wilderness and Lebanon as far as the great river... and to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun." | Confirms borders as Israel enters Canaan. || Josh 15:12 | "...The western boundary was the Great Sea and its coastline..." | Defines Judah's western tribal boundary. || Josh 19:29 | "...and it extended toward Hosah, and its termination was at the sea..." | Western border for Asher, referencing the sea. || Judg 20:1 | "...from Dan to Beersheba, as well as the land of Gilead..." | Describes the full geographic extent of Israel. || 1 Kgs 4:21 | "Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt..." | Extent of Israel's power, including the sea coast. || Ps 47:4 | "He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob whom He loves." | God's sovereign choice of Israel's land. || Ps 72:8 | "May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!" | Messianic prophecy of vast dominion. || Ps 104:25 | "Yonder is the sea, great and wide, which teems with things innumerable..." | Mentions the vastness and life of the sea. || Prov 8:29 | "when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command..." | God setting limits, reflecting divine order. || Isa 23:4-5 | "...O Sidon, you whom the sea has strengthened..." | Mention of sea-based power/trade (Tyre/Sidon).|| Ezek 27:26 | "Your rowers have brought you out into the high seas..." | Tyre's maritime commerce, by the Great Sea. || Ezek 47:19-20| "...and the west side, the Great Sea, from the border to opposite Lebo-hamath..." | Renewed Israel's western border in future vision.|| Jonah 1:3 | "But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa..." | Joppa on the Great Sea, point of escape. || Heb 11:9-10 | "...for he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." | Promised land as a foreshadow of heavenly inheritance.|| 1 Pet 1:4 | "...an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you..." | Spiritual inheritance beyond the physical land. |
Numbers 34 verses
Numbers 34 6 Meaning
Numbers 34:6 meticulously defines the western boundary of the land of Canaan, which was divinely promised to the Israelites. It specifies that this border would be the "Great Sea," universally recognized as the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring a distinct and enduring natural limit for their inheritance on the west. This declaration solidifies God's precise and authoritative allocation of territory.
Numbers 34 6 Context
Numbers 34 falls within the section of the Book of Numbers dealing with Israel's preparations to enter the promised land. Having wandered for forty years, the previous chapters established census, laws, and the tribes’ encampment order. Chapters 33 details their journey from Egypt. Numbers 34 specifically provides the divinely decreed, precise, and fixed boundaries of the land of Canaan that they were about to inherit and occupy. This follows a broader, less detailed promise to Abraham, now becoming specific and concrete for practical possession by the tribes. The purpose is to prevent disputes among tribes and to mark the territory definitively for their generation and future descendants. Verse 6 focuses solely on the western limit, emphasizing the Great Sea's role as a natural, unalterable barrier.
Numbers 34 6 Word analysis
And for the western border (וּגְבוּל֙ מַעֲרָ֑ב, ūgḇūl ma‘ărāḇ):
- וּגְבוּל֙ (ūgḇūl): "And a border" or "and for the border." The Hebrew word gevul (גְּבוּל) means boundary, limit, territory, or district. It signifies a clearly defined separation or extent. Its frequent use throughout the chapter underlines the importance of precise demarcation.
- מַעֲרָ֑ב (ma‘ărāḇ): "Western," literally "the place of sunset" or "the west." This term roots the geographical orientation in a universally observable natural phenomenon.
- Significance: This phrase introduces the specific cardinal direction being defined. It highlights the divine ordering and natural clarity of the boundary, tied to the direction of the sun's setting.
you shall have the Great Sea (יָ֣ם וּגְבֻ֤ל גָּדוֹל֙ יִֽהְיֶה֙ לָכֶ֔ם, yām ūḡḇūl gādôl yihyeh lāḵem):
- יָ֣ם (yām): "Sea." The general term for a large body of water.
- גָּדוֹל֙ (gādôl): "Great." In conjunction with "sea," Yam HaGadol (הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל) is the standard biblical Hebrew designation for the Mediterranean Sea. This term denotes its vastness and significance compared to smaller inland bodies of water.
- יִֽהְיֶה֙ לָכֶ֔ם (yihyeh lāḵem): "it shall be for you," or "you shall have." This is a verb of being, indicating future possession and a divinely established state.
- Significance: Explicitly identifies the immense Mediterranean Sea as the boundary. This sea was a formidable natural barrier and also a route for maritime trade and influence, making it a highly strategic and well-known landmark for ancient peoples. The phrasing implies divine gifting and lasting ownership.
for a border; this shall be your western border (גְּב֣וּל מַעֲרָ֑ב וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם הַגְּב֥וּל הַזֶּֽה׃, gḇūl ma‘ărāḇ wəhāyâ lāḵem hagāḇūl hazzeh):
- גְּב֣וּל מַעֲרָ֑ב (gḇūl ma‘ărāḇ): Repetition of "western border."
- וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם (wəhāyâ lāḵem): "and it shall be for you." Again, confirming possession.
- הַגְּב֥וּל הַזֶּֽה׃ (hagāḇūl hazzeh): "this border." The definite article "the" (הַ) and demonstrative "this" (הַזֶּה) add specificity and finality.
- Significance: The deliberate repetition ("western border...this shall be your western border") serves to reinforce the clarity, certainty, and unalterable nature of this divine decree. It removes all ambiguity, emphasizing the precise gift and boundaries given by God to Israel. It highlights God's meticulousness in fulfilling His covenant promises.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And for the western border you shall have the Great Sea": This clause establishes the identity and precise nature of the western boundary. It points to a clear, geographically recognizable feature, the vast Mediterranean Sea, as a divinely appointed marker. This ensures that Israel's territory is naturally demarcated on its most accessible side, protecting it from indefinite expansion westward while also providing maritime access.
- "for a border; this shall be your western border": The strong reiteration emphasizes the finality and authority of God's command. This isn't merely a suggestion but a decree that fixes a definite and permanent boundary. It signifies the divine ownership of the land and God's sovereign power to assign inheritances, providing security and certainty to the tribes.
Numbers 34 6 Bonus section
The precise boundary delineation in Numbers 34 stands in contrast to the often broader, more aspirational boundaries mentioned in earlier Abrahamic covenants (e.g., from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates). This chapter focuses on the Canaan that Israel would immediately occupy and divide among its tribes, providing a practical blueprint for the Joshua generation. The Mediterranean Sea, or Great Sea, served as a vital strategic asset for ancient peoples. While a barrier, it was also a pathway for maritime trade, linking powerful coastal cities like Tyre, Sidon, and later Greek and Roman empires. Israel's divinely set border included a coastline, signifying potential interaction with seafaring cultures. Historically, full possession of this entire western coastline, especially including areas inhabited by the Philistines, proved challenging and was often aspirational rather than fully realized until the unified monarchy under David and Solomon, even then facing ongoing contests. This verse, however, articulates God's intended and permanent geographical parameter for His chosen nation.
Numbers 34 6 Commentary
Numbers 34:6 is not just a geographical detail; it's a testament to divine meticulousness and fidelity. After forty years of wandering, this verse, along with the entire chapter, marks a transition from nomadic existence to settled inheritance, underscoring the certainty of God's promises. The "Great Sea" as the western border is a natural, unchangeable feature, signifying the permanence of the allocated land. This choice reflects God's wisdom, establishing a secure frontier and limiting potential for territorial disputes. The repeated emphasis on "this shall be your western border" eliminates ambiguity, confirming divine authority and preventing human attempts at redefinition. It also highlights a strategic reality; the Mediterranean connected ancient civilizations, thus Israel's coast offered opportunities for both trade and external influence. This divinely set limit shaped their national identity and their interaction with the wider world. Practically, it exemplifies how God provides distinct boundaries for His people, guiding them toward the secure inheritance He has prepared.