Proverbs 22:28 kjv
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Proverbs 22:28 nkjv
Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.
Proverbs 22:28 niv
Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.
Proverbs 22:28 esv
Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.
Proverbs 22:28 nlt
Don't cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers
set up by previous generations.
Proverbs 22 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 19:14 | "You shall not move your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set..." | Legal protection of property rights, ancestral bounds. |
| Deut 27:17 | "Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark..." | Strong curse for disrupting established boundaries. |
| Prov 23:10 | "Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless..." | Reiteration, specifically mentioning the vulnerable. |
| Job 24:2 | "Some remove landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them." | Denunciation of the wicked who violate property. |
| Hos 5:10 | "The princes of Judah have become like those who move a landmark..." | Leaders are condemned for disrespecting legal/moral bounds. |
| Lev 19:32 | "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man..." | Respect for elders and inherited wisdom. |
| Lev 25:23-24 | "The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is mine..." | God’s ultimate ownership of land, stressing inherited ties. |
| Num 26:52-56 | "The land shall be divided by lot; by the names of the tribes..." | Allotment of land to tribes in Canaan as fixed inheritance. |
| Josh 17:1-6 | Description of Manasseh's inherited land. | Practical examples of maintaining tribal inheritances. |
| Ps 11:3 | "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" | The importance of upholding fundamental structures. |
| Isa 5:8 | "Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field..." | Condemnation of land hoarding and displacing others. |
| Micah 2:2 | "They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away..." | Injustice of illicit land acquisition. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities..." | Respect for established laws and authority. |
| 2 Thess 2:15 | "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught..." | Upholding received spiritual and doctrinal truth. |
| 2 Thess 3:6 | "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking disorderly and not according to the tradition..." | Adherence to taught practices and order within the community. |
| 1 Cor 11:2 | "Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions..." | Praising those who keep established Christian practices. |
| Jude 1:3 | "Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." | Preservation of the core, historic Christian faith. |
| Prov 6:12 | "A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth..." | Disregard for boundaries often accompanies wickedness. |
| Prov 15:25 | "The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He establishes the boundary of the widow." | God’s protection of the vulnerable against those who remove boundaries. |
| Jer 6:16 | "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths..." | Seeking guidance in established wisdom and divine ways. |
| Heb 13:7 | "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." | Respect for those who laid spiritual foundations. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the LORD do not change..." | God's unchanging nature as the ultimate landmark. |
| Ps 146:9 | "The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless..." | God's justice protects the vulnerable who might be affected by landmark removal. |
Proverbs 22 verses
Proverbs 22 28 Meaning
Proverbs 22:28 counsels against altering long-established and traditionally accepted boundaries, particularly those demarcating property. This principle extends beyond physical markers to encompass respect for foundational truths, inherited wisdom, societal norms, and spiritual order passed down through generations. It emphasizes stability, justice, and the preservation of what is foundational and divinely instituted.
Proverbs 22 28 Context
Proverbs 22:28 falls within a section often referred to as "the words of the wise" (Proverbs 22:17-24:22), believed to be a collection of moral teachings. Specifically, it aligns with a sub-section beginning around verse 22:20, which outlines "thirty sayings" or "precepts of wisdom." This particular verse emphasizes adherence to ancestral customs and established legal order within the community. In ancient Israelite society, inherited land boundaries were crucial; they represented not only property rights but also tribal identity, family heritage, and economic stability, particularly for agrarian communities. Moving a landmark was an act of theft and oppression, especially against the vulnerable like widows and orphans who depended on their small plots of land for survival. This teaching also indirectly addresses general disrespect for tradition, fixed order, and foundational truths.
Proverbs 22 28 Word analysis
Do not remove (לֹא־תַסֵּג - lo-tasseg): "Lo" is a strong negative prohibition. "Tasseg" means to draw back, move back, remove, encroach. It signifies an intentional and aggressive act of shifting a boundary, not an accidental displacement. This highlights the deliberate nature of violating established order.
the ancient landmark (גְּבוּל עוֹלָם - gevul 'olam):
- Landmark (גְּבוּל - gevul): A boundary stone, a marker separating plots of land or tribal territories. This term fundamentally refers to physical dividers of property. Metaphorically, it implies any fixed, recognized standard or order.
- Ancient (עוֹלָם - 'olam): This Hebrew word means eternity, perpetuity, or antiquity. Here, it signifies something established from long ago, something enduring, venerable, and time-honored. It implies the landmark has a history, legitimacy, and sacredness, being passed down through generations. Its antiquity imbues it with authority.
which your fathers have set (אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ - 'asher asu 'avoteyka):
- Your fathers ('avoteyka): Refers to ancestors or forefathers. This emphasizes the communal and generational legacy of these boundaries. These are not arbitrary lines but traditions handed down from respected authority, rooted in a shared past and often tied to the initial division of the land by divine instruction (e.g., Joshua).
- Have set (asu): Means they "made," "established," or "put in place." It conveys a deliberate and authoritative act of institution.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Do not remove the ancient landmark": This phrase creates a command of non-encroachment. The emphasis on "ancient" (olam) signifies not just age but the perceived rightness and perhaps even sacredness of the boundary due to its longevity and origin from ancestral or divinely ordained action.
- "which your fathers have set": This clause provides the justification for respecting the landmark – its origin and establishment by revered predecessors. This lineage makes the landmark part of the communal heritage and an embodiment of historical justice. It roots the prohibition in filial piety and respect for communal order, indicating that disregard for such boundaries is a transgression against the legacy and wisdom of previous generations.
Proverbs 22 28 Bonus section
The "ancient landmark" can be understood broadly as referring to God's unchanging standards and ordinances for life and righteousness. To "remove" it implies a departure from these divinely instituted ways. This proverb then becomes a call to adhere to the fundamental principles of God's Word, which are ancient, immutable, and foundational for human well-being and a just society. It serves as a warning against spiritual relativism or progressive thought that disregards the immutable truths handed down from biblical tradition for the sake of modern convenience or personal desire. Just as physical landmarks ensure order and prevent chaos, spiritual landmarks provide clarity, guidance, and protect believers from error and injustice. Disregard for these sacred boundaries ultimately leads to spiritual and social decay.
Proverbs 22 28 Commentary
Proverbs 22:28 is a timeless proverb advocating respect for established order, whether it be property lines, inherited traditions, moral principles, or foundational spiritual truths. At its core, it speaks against dishonest appropriation and the violation of rights, particularly those of the vulnerable, whose survival might depend on a secure, albeit small, piece of land. The "ancient landmark" represents fixed boundaries and principles that ensure communal stability, justice, and the peaceful coexistence of individuals and families. Removing such a landmark is an act of stealthy aggression, often for selfish gain, eroding trust and inviting chaos. This principle transcends mere physical boundaries to teach the importance of adhering to the tried and true, the wisdom passed down, and divine standards which give structure and meaning to life and society. For a society to thrive, it must respect its foundational elements, recognizing that long-established ways often carry profound wisdom and serve the greater good. Practically, it encourages valuing tradition, understanding the historical context of present realities, and resisting the temptation to selfishly dismantle societal or personal frameworks without righteous cause.