Numbers 34 9

Numbers 34:9 kjv

And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.

Numbers 34:9 nkjv

the border shall proceed to Ziphron, and it shall end at Hazar Enan. This shall be your northern border.

Numbers 34:9 niv

continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

Numbers 34:9 esv

Then the border shall extend to Ziphron, and its limit shall be at Hazar-enan. This shall be your northern border.

Numbers 34:9 nlt

and Ziphron to Hazar-enan. This will be your northern boundary.

Numbers 34 verses

Numbers 34 9 Meaning

This verse precisely defines a specific segment of the northern boundary of the land of Canaan, extending from Ziphron to Hazar-enan. It identifies this designated stretch as the divinely established northern limit for the promised inheritance of the Israelites, emphasizing its clarity and divine authority.

Numbers 34 9 Context

Numbers chapter 34 provides the divine mandate and specific geographical outline for the boundaries of the land of Canaan that the Israelites were to possess upon entering. This chapter follows detailed instructions for Israel's wilderness wanderings and preparations for entry, serving as a crucial legal and administrative document for the nascent nation. It delineates the northern, eastern, southern, and western limits of their inheritance, specifying key landmarks and the names of the tribal leaders designated to oversee the division of this land by lot among the tribes. The preceding verses (Num 34:7-8) detail the more western part of the northern border. Verse 9 then continues this delineation, specifying the exact transition further east along the northern boundary, establishing the fixed, God-given parameters of their national territory.

Numbers 34 9 Word analysis

• And the border shall go out (וְיָצָא הַגְּבוּל - v'yatza hag'vul):
  • וְיָצָא (v'yatza): "And it shall go out," "and it shall proceed," "and it shall extend." The Hebrew verb yatza (יָצָא) implies a movement, an outward trajectory, emphasizing the precise path and reach of the boundary. It underscores a divinely directed delineation, not one determined by human survey or conquest alone.
  • הַגְּבוּל (hag'vul): "The border," "the boundary," "the territory." This noun, g'vul (גְּבוּל), denotes a defined, marked-out limit, establishing legal and physical distinctions between lands. Its definite article emphasizes that this is the divinely appointed border, leaving no ambiguity.
• from Ziphron (זִפְרֹן - Ziphron):
  • זִפְרֹן (Ziphron): A geographical place name. Its precise location is debated among scholars but is understood to be a specific, recognizable landmark to the original Israelite audience. It serves as a concrete starting point for this segment of the border, highlighting God's meticulousness in defining the promised land down to precise coordinates. While its exact modern equivalent remains obscure, its inclusion testifies to the reality and practicality of the instruction for those about to inhabit the land.
• to Hazar-enan (חֲצַר עֵינָן - Hazar-enan):
  • חֲצַר עֵינָן (Hazar-enan): This place name means "Court of the Spring" or "Village of the Spring" (from hatzar, meaning "enclosure/village/court," and enan, possibly related to ayin, meaning "eye" or "spring"). It is generally identified as being near Damascus or in the region north-east of Dan, serving as a significant landmark marking the furthest northern and eastern extent of the northern border described in this section. Its identification underscores the divine establishment of the extreme northern boundary, delineating Israel's claim against surrounding nations.
• and this shall be (וְהָיוּ - v'hayu):
  • וְהָיוּ (v'hayu): "And they shall be," or in this context, "and this shall be." This connective verb firmly establishes the identity and nature of the specified stretch as the very boundary being described, linking the points (Ziphron to Hazar-enan) to their function as the north border. It affirms the decree.
• your north border (הַגְּבֻל הַצָּפוֹנִי לָכֶם - hag'vul hatzfoni lakhem):
  • הַגְּבֻל (hag'vul): "The border." Reinforces the same concept as before – a divinely established demarcation.
  • הַצָּפוֹנִי (hatzfoni): "The northern" or "northern one." Tzaphon (צָפוֹן) signifies the north, providing clear directional specificity. This eliminates any doubt about which section of the boundary is being defined.
  • לָכֶם (lakhem): "To you," "for you." This personal pronoun emphatically establishes ownership and possession for the Israelites, signifying that this divinely marked territory is their promised inheritance, ensuring their security and future national identity within clear divine parameters.

• Words-group analysis:
  • "And the border shall go out...your north border": This phrase emphasizes God's sovereign and precise action in delineating the covenant land for His people. It is not an arbitrary or human-negotiated line but a divinely ordained perimeter that "proceeds" or "extends" as a definitive, designated northern boundary given to Israel. This language underscores the divine origin and unchangeable nature of the territory.
  • "from Ziphron to Hazar-enan": These specific geographical names highlight the meticulousness of God's provision. In a culture reliant on fixed landmarks for territory definition, naming precise, recognizable points was critical. It demonstrates God's thoroughness in fulfilling His covenant promises, providing a clear legal basis for Israel's occupation and possession of their land. It distinguishes the sacred covenant territory from the lands of other nations.

Numbers 34 9 Bonus section

The extensive detail in Numbers 34 regarding the precise borders for the promised land reflects an ancient Near Eastern legal and administrative practice common among kingdoms defining their territorial claims. By adopting this style, the text asserts that the God of Israel, Yahweh, is the ultimate authority over all lands and their boundaries, akin to the most powerful of earthly kings, but far surpassing them in His precision, righteousness, and eternal promises. The emphasis on "the north border" is significant as the North, geographically, often served as a traditional point of entry for invaders into the Levant, making a clearly defined and secured northern boundary crucial for the young nation's defense and internal stability. This administrative mapping also served as a future legal document for settling disputes, solidifying land rights for the individual tribes as they moved from nomadic life to settled dwelling.

Numbers 34 9 Commentary

Numbers 34:9 stands as a testament to God's precise fulfillment of His covenant promise to Israel. It's not a poetic description but a foundational, legal-administrative detail, meticulously defining the northern extent of the land of Canaan promised to Abraham's descendants. This precision served multiple purposes: it avoided inter-tribal disputes, clarified Israel's domain regarding neighboring peoples, and reinforced the unique, God-given nature of their inheritance. The exact identification of Ziphron to Hazar-enan as their north border illustrates God's sovereign control over territories and His faithfulness in setting limits and granting possessions to nations as He wills. For Israel, these physical boundaries defined their existence as a people under God, distinct from surrounding idolatrous nations. This administrative blueprint for their national security and identity was essential for their establishment in the land.