Numbers 34 8

Numbers 34:8 kjv

From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:

Numbers 34:8 nkjv

from Mount Hor you shall mark out your border to the entrance of Hamath; then the direction of the border shall be toward Zedad;

Numbers 34:8 niv

and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad,

Numbers 34:8 esv

From Mount Hor you shall draw a line to Lebo-hamath, and the limit of the border shall be at Zedad.

Numbers 34:8 nlt

then to Lebo-hamath, and on through Zedad

Numbers 34 verses

Numbers 34 8 Meaning

This verse specifies the northern boundary of the land of Canaan designated for Israel. It describes a line starting from a prominent northern peak identified as Mount Hor, extending towards Lebo-hamath (the approach to the ancient city of Hamath), and terminating precisely at Zedad, thus delineating the northeastern corner of their promised inheritance.

Numbers 34 8 Context

Numbers 34 serves as God's precise instruction to the Israelites concerning the exact boundaries of the land they were to inherit and settle as they prepared to enter Canaan after forty years in the wilderness. This chapter follows the account of the conquest of lands east of the Jordan and precedes the listing of the tribal allocations and the appointment of leaders responsible for surveying the land. The meticulous delineation of the borders underscores the specific nature of God's covenant promise and His sovereign control over the territory designated for His chosen people, ensuring no ambiguity regarding their future inheritance. Historically, these detailed geographical specifications reflect an ancient Near Eastern legal and administrative practice of precisely defining land ownership and national borders, grounding the divine promise in a tangible and recognizable geographical reality for the original audience.

Numbers 34 8 Word analysis

• "and from Hor" (וּמֵהֹר֙ - u-mei-Hor):

  • The conjunctive "and" (וּ - u-) links this boundary description to the preceding one.
  • "from Hor" (מֵהֹר - mei-Hor). This is distinct from the Mount Hor where Aaron died; this "Hor" is a prominent northern peak, often identified as a mountain in the Anti-Lebanon range. Its significance lies in its role as a clear, unmoving geographical landmark for the border.

• "the mountain" (הָהָר֙ - ha-har):

  • The definite article "the" (הָ - ha-) emphasizes its specific identity.
  • "mountain" (הָר - har) reiterates "Hor" and underscores its nature as a high, visible landmark crucial for ancient border demarcation. This precision highlights God's meticulous care in land allocation.

• "you shall mark out" (תָּתֻ֣אוּ - ta-tu'u):

  • Derived from the Hebrew root ת.א.ה (T-A-H), meaning "to delineate," "to describe," or "to draw a line."
  • The plural form instructs the Israelites, through Moses, to actively survey and establish these boundaries. It signifies a divine mandate for practical, purposeful action in claiming their inheritance.

• "your line" (לָכֶ֔ם - la-khem):

  • Literally "for yourselves" or "to you." This dative pronoun emphasizes the proprietary aspect.
  • It stresses that this precise demarcation is for them, highlighting the theme of God's gracious gift of the land as an inheritance for His chosen people.

• "to Lebo-hamath" (לְבֹ֖א חֲמָ֑ת - l'vo Ḥamat):

  • "to Lebo-" (לְבֹא - l'vo), meaning "to the entrance of" or "to the approach of," signifying a strategic gateway or valley leading to a region.
  • "Hamath" (חֲמָת - Ḥamat) refers to an ancient city-state on the Orontes River in Syria. "Lebo-hamath" is a well-known biblical idiom representing the traditional ideal northernmost limit of Israelite territory.

• "and the outlet of" (וְהָיָ֥ה תֹצְאֹת֙ - v'haya totz'ot):

  • "And it shall be" (וְהָיָה - v'haya) introduces the consequence or termination.
  • "the outlet of" (תֹצְאֹת - totz'ot), from the root י.צ.א (Y-Ts-A), meaning "to go out" or "to issue forth." It defines the definitive termination or endpoint of the specified border segment.

• "the boundary" (הַגְּבֻ֔ל - ha-g'vul):

  • "the" (הַ - ha-) indicates a specific boundary.
  • "boundary" (גְּבֻל - g'vul) appears frequently in Numbers 34, underscoring the precise, legalistic nature of God's land distribution. It signifies the physical line that defines the limits of their allotted territory.

• "shall be at Zedad" (צְדָֽדָה׃ - Tzedadah):

  • "Zedad" (צְדָֽדָה - Tzedadah) is a specific place, generally identified with modern Sadad, located east of Lebo-hamath. This pinpointing provides an exact eastern terminus for this section of the northern border, removing ambiguity.

Words-Group Analysis

• "from Hor the mountain you shall mark out": This phrase highlights both the definitive starting point—a steadfast natural landmark—and the divine imperative for Israel to actively engage in surveying their inheritance. It underscores the precision and permanence intended for the divinely appointed boundaries.
• "your line to Lebo-hamath": This emphasizes the designated purpose of the border delineation—it is specifically for the Israelites, delineating their inherited land. "Lebo-hamath" serves as a traditional marker for the northern extent of the promised land, representing the full scope of God's ideal provision, even if never entirely occupied historically.
• "and the outlet of the boundary shall be at Zedad": This segment pinpoints the precise ending point for this section of the northern border. It highlights God's meticulous detail in His instructions, leaving no ambiguity regarding the limits of their possession, reflecting the legal precision characteristic of His covenant.

Numbers 34 8 Bonus section

A common point of confusion arises with the name "Hor the mountain" (הָהָר֙ הֹר֙), as it is distinct from the Mount Hor located in Edom where Aaron died and was buried. Scholarly consensus clearly distinguishes the northern Mount Hor in Numbers 34 from its southern counterpart, associating the former with peaks in the Anti-Lebanon range or coastal Lebanon. The strategic importance of "Lebo-hamath" cannot be overstated; it consistently functions as the ultimate northern geographical marker in biblical texts (e.g., in Joshua, 1 & 2 Kings, Amos, and Ezekiel), symbolizing the maximum idealized extent of the promised land. This consistency underlines a shared and established ancient Near Eastern geographical understanding across different eras. The level of detail provided in Numbers 34 is not superfluous; it mirrors contemporary land grant documents and administrative texts, highlighting the legal and binding nature of God's covenant with Israel regarding their territorial inheritance. The biblical text serves as a divine land deed, underscoring the absolute certainty and specific nature of God's word.

Numbers 34 8 Commentary

Numbers 34:8 serves as a testament to the meticulous and intentional nature of God's provision for His people. This highly specific geographical instruction outlines a critical segment of Israel's northern border, demonstrating that God's covenant promises are not vague, but concrete and definable. From the clear northern landmark of "Hor the mountain," the boundary line extends precisely to "Lebo-hamath," which traditionally marks the extreme northern extent of the ideal Israelite territory, before culminating at the distinct location of "Zedad." This exactitude reinforces several key theological points: God's sovereign control over land distribution, the tangibility of His promises, and His detailed care for His chosen people's inheritance. The command "you shall mark out" reveals that while the land was a divine gift, Israel was responsible for physically inhabiting and claiming their precise inheritance according to God's detailed word. Though historical occupation often fell short of these ideal boundaries, the persistent mention of such detailed borders across Scripture underscores the comprehensive scope of God's original promise and points towards a future, ultimate fulfillment.

• Practical examples:
  • Just as precise blueprints are essential for constructing a building as intended, this verse provides divine blueprints for the land of inheritance.
  • When an attorney details the precise bounds of property in a deed, it ensures rightful ownership and prevents disputes, reflecting God's clear allocation for Israel.