King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
Complete Jewish Bible:
Don't move the ancient boundary stone or encroach on the land of the fatherless;
Berean Standard Bible:
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
American Standard Version:
Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Remove{H5253} not the old{H5769} landmark{H1366}; and enter{H935} not into the fields{H7704} of the fatherless{H3490}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Proverbs 22:28
- ¶ Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Zechariah 7:10
- And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Deuteronomy 27:17
- Cursed [be] he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Deuteronomy 19:14
- ¶ Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Jeremiah 22:3
- Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
James 1:27
- Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Job 6:27
- Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Proverbs 23:10
Proverbs 23:10, which states, "Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless," encapsulates two distinct but related pieces of wisdom. The first part, "Remove not the old landmark," refers to the ancient practice of using stones or other markers to designate boundaries of property. These landmarks were crucial for maintaining social order by preventing disputes over land ownership. Tampering with these was seen as a violation of justice and community integrity.
The second part of the verse, "enter not into the fields of the fatherless," speaks to the ethical treatment of the vulnerable. In ancient Israelite society, orphans were among the most defenseless groups, and their property rights needed to be safeguarded. The injunction here is a call to protect the inheritance of those who cannot defend themselves, emphasizing the importance of justice and compassion within the community.
The historical context of this proverb reflects the agrarian nature of Israelite society, where land was the primary means of sustenance and inheritance was central to one's security and status. The verse, therefore, is not merely about property rights but also about respecting tradition, maintaining justice, and caring for the marginalized—key themes throughout the wisdom literature of the Bible. It underscores the ethical imperative to respect established boundaries and to act with integrity towards those who are less able to fend for themselves, promoting a stable and equitable society.
*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: H5253
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָסַג
Transliteration: nâçag
Pronunciation: naw-sag'
Description: a primitive root; to retreat; departing away, remove, take (hold), turn away. - Strong's Number: H5769
There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עוֹלָם
Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
Pronunciation: o-lawm'
Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד. - 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: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H7704
There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂדֶה
Transliteration: sâdeh
Pronunciation: saw-deh'
Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild. - Strong's Number: H3490
There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָתוֹם
Transliteration: yâthôwm
Pronunciation: yaw-thome'
Description: from an unused root meaning to be lonely; a bereaved person; fatherless (child), orphan.