King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.
Complete Jewish Bible:
From there it goes down the Yarden River till it flows into the Dead Sea. These will be the borders of your land."
Berean Standard Bible:
Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”
American Standard Version:
and the border shall go down to the Jordan, and the goings out thereof shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to the borders thereof round about.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the border{H1366} shall go down{H3381} to Jordan{H3383}, and the goings out{H8444} of it shall be at the salt{H4417} sea{H3220}: this shall be your land{H776} with the coasts{H1367} thereof round about{H5439}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 34:3
- Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
Genesis 13:10
- ¶ And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Genesis 19:24
- ¶ Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Genesis 19:26
- ¶ But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 14:3
- All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 34:12
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Inheritance:** The verse emphasizes the theme of God's promise to the Israelites, granting them a specific territory as their inheritance.
- **Boundaries:** It outlines the precise extent of the land promised to the tribes of Israel, highlighting the importance of defined borders in the ancient world for ownership and identity.
- **Fulfillment of Promise:** This passage is part of the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, affirming God's faithfulness to His word.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** Numbers 34:12 is set during the time of Moses, just before the Israelites enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt and forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
- **Geopolitical Setting:** The book of Numbers is part of the Pentateuch, which includes the law and historical narratives of the early Israelite nation. This verse specifically deals with the geographical delineation of the land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham.
- **Purpose of Boundaries:** The detailed description of the borders served to prevent future disputes and to ensure that each tribe received its fair portion of land. It also provided a clear demarcation between the Israelites and their neighboring nations.
- **Cultural Significance:** The boundaries mentioned in the verse reflect the ancient Near Eastern practice of using natural landmarks, such as the Jordan River and the Dead Sea (referred to as the "salt sea"), to define territorial limits.
In summary, Numbers 34:12 is a declaration of the territorial boundaries of the Promised Land, reinforcing the themes of divine promise, inheritance, and the importance of defined borders in the context of Israel's history and identity as a nation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1366
There are 196 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גְּבוּל
Transliteration: gᵉbûwl
Pronunciation: gheb-ool'
Description: or גְּבֻל; (shortened) from גָּבַל; properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed; border, bound, coast, [idiom] great, landmark, limit, quarter, space. - Strong's Number: H3381
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַד
Transliteration: yârad
Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. - Strong's Number: H3383
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַרְדֵּן
Transliteration: Yardên
Pronunciation: yar-dane'
Description: from יָרַד; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine; Jordan. - Strong's Number: H8444
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תּוֹצָאָה
Transliteration: tôwtsâʼâh
Pronunciation: to-tsaw-aw'
Description: or תֹּצָאָה; from יָצָא; (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively) deliverance, (actively) source; border(-s), going(-s) forth (out), issues, outgoings. - Strong's Number: H4417
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלַח
Transliteration: melach
Pronunciation: meh'-lakh
Description: from מָלַח; properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved); salt(-pit). - Strong's Number: H3220
There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָם
Transliteration: yâm
Pronunciation: yawm
Description: from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south; sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H1367
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גְּבוּלָה
Transliteration: gᵉbûwlâh
Pronunciation: gheb-oo-law'
Description: or גְּבֻלָה; (shortened) feminine of גְּבוּל; a boundary, region; border, bound, coast, landmark. place. - Strong's Number: H5439
There are 282 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָבִיב
Transliteration: çâbîyb
Pronunciation: saw-beeb'
Description: or (feminine) סְבִיבָה; from סָבַב; (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around; (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side.