Numbers 34:10 — Word Study
WLCוְהִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם לָכֶ֖ם לִגְב֣וּל קֵ֑דְמָה מֵחֲצַ֥ר עֵינָ֖ן שְׁפָֽמָה׃
BSAAnd your easternqedem [front, or east direction] bordergᵉbûwl [boundary, or territorial limit] Hazar-enanChătsar ʻÊynân [village of fountains] to ShephamShᵉphâm [a region in northeastern Canaan]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם | and you will mark | Verb, Hiphil, sequential perfect second person masculine plural |
| לָכֶ֖ם | for yourselves | Preposition, suffix |
| לִגְב֣וּל | for [the] border of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| קֵ֑דְמָה | east -ward | Noun common masculine singular absolute, suffix |
| מֵחֲצַ֥ר | from Hazar | Preposition, noun proper |
| עֵינָ֖ן | Enan | Noun proper |
| שְׁפָֽמָה׃ | Shepham towards | Noun proper, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham, |
| KJV | And ye shall point out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham: |
| ASV | And ye shall mark out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham; |
| YLT | 'And ye have marked out for yourselves for the border eastward, from Hazar-Enan to Shepham; |
| WEB | “‘You shall mark out your east border from Hazar Enan to Shepham. |
| BBE | And on the east, your limit will be marked out from Hazar-enan to Shepham, |
Where they part company is גְּבוּל — see How Translations Differ.
One main clause with two prepositional phrases detailing the start and end points of the border.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Barnes, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָוָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Numbers 34:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Defining the Borders of the Promised Landgenerated
Numbers 34:10 provides specific instructions for the Israelites regarding the boundaries of their land. This verse is part of a larger section where God outlines the borders of the Promised Land, emphasizing the importance of clearly marking the territorial limits for the tribes of Israel. The instructions serve to ensure that each tribe knows its inheritance and the geographical context of their settlement, as seen throughout Numbers 34:1-12.
Cross References
The Key Word — גְּבוּל, lig.Vulgenerated
The Hebrew word גְּבוּל (gēbūl) refers to a boundary or border, indicating a defined territory. It can denote a physical limit, such as a coast or landmark, and also has figurative uses, like a region of darkness. The parsing as a common masculine singular noun in construct shows it is being used to describe the boundary of a specific area, in this case, the eastern border of the Promised Land.
This word is derived from a root meaning 'cord' and encompasses various meanings related to boundaries and territories. Its use in this verse highlights the importance of delineating the land for the Israelites.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם, and you will mark, which governs the entire clause. This verb is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the purpose of the marking, and then a series of noun phrases that specify the locations involved in the boundary definition.
The structure highlights the sequential nature of the instructions, with the verb leading and the details of the border following, emphasizing clarity in the direction given.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates גְּבוּל with the Greek word ὅρια (oria), which also means 'boundaries' or 'limits'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on defined territories.
This consistent translation reflects the importance of boundaries in both texts, emphasizing the need for clear demarcation of land.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 34:10 tells the Israelites how to mark their eastern border from Hazar-enan to Shepham. This instruction is part of God's guidance on defining the boundaries of the Promised Land, ensuring that each tribe knows its territory.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Marking the border means to clearly define and establish the limits of the land that each tribe of Israel will inherit.
The eastern border is mentioned to provide precise instructions for the Israelites, ensuring they understand the full extent of their territory.
The borders signify the inheritance of the land promised to the Israelites by God, marking the physical and spiritual boundaries of their identity as a nation.
The theme of land is central to the biblical narrative, representing God's promises, the covenant with His people, and their identity as a nation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can understanding the boundaries of the Promised Land deepen my appreciation for God's promises?
- In what ways can I apply the concept of boundaries in my own life?
- What does it mean for me to have a defined territory or space in my spiritual journey?
- How can I ensure that I respect the boundaries set by God in my life?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 34:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham. From the place where the northern border ended, which Jerom says (u) the Hebrews call Apamia, as both the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem do here.
Read John Gill on Numbers 34 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd ye shall point out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham: East border. This is very clearly defined.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 34 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleShepham, the first point after Hazar-enan, is unknown. The name Riblah is by some read Har-bel, i. e., “the Mountain of Bel;” the Har-baal-Hermon of Jdg 3:3.
Read Albert Barnes on Numbers 34 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible10. East border — The uncertainty pertaining to the northern boundary renders the beginning of the eastern obscure also. Shepham is not certainly known.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 34 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham,
“‘You shall mark out your east border from Hazar Enan to Shepham.
And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham,
“‘For your eastern border you will draw a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham.
Tyndale line
And ye shall point out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham:
And ye shall mark out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham;
And ye shall mark out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham:
And ye shall designate your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham:
And ye shall marke out your Eastquarter from Hazar-enan to Shepham.
Strictly literal
And ye shall mark out for you as eastern border from Hazar-enan to Shepham:
'And ye have marked out for yourselves for the border eastward, from Hazar-Enan to Shepham;
And you have marked out for yourselves for the border eastward, from Hazar-Enan to Shepham;
And ye shall turn yourselves to the eastern border, from Chazar-'enan to Shepham;
Then you must mark out your eastern border from Hazar Enan south to Shepham.
From the Latin
From thence they shall mark out the bounds towards the east side from the village of Enan unto Sephama.
Simplified
Your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham
And on the east, your limit will be marked out from Hazar-enan to Shepham,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain fragments that align closely with the Masoretic Text, although some words are partially restored.
וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם לָכֶ֖ם לִגְב֣וּל קֵ֑דְמָה מֵחֲצַ֥ר עֵינָ֖ן שְׁפָֽמָה׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
והתאויתם לכם לגבול קדמה מחצר עינן שׁפמה
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
ל׳כם לגבול קדמ׳ה [מחצר] [עינן] [שפמ׳ה]
6 words of the verse are on this fragment — 2 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Numbers 34:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
[אָוָה] vb. sign, mark, describe with a mark only Hithp. mark you out, measure
base
H184 אָוָה
184 'avah aw-vaw'
a primitive root; to extend or mark out:--point out.
אָוָה (a.vah) — to mark.
1) to sign, mark, describe with a mark
1a) (Hithpael) to measure, mark out, mark you out
Hc/Vhq2mp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect second person masculine pluralHc/Vhq2mp
mark: In the King James Version this word is used 22 times as a noun and 26 times as a predicate. In the former case it is represented by 5 Hebrew and 3 Greek words; in the latter by 11 Hebrew and 2 Greek words. As a noun it is purely a physical term, gaining almost a technical significance from the "mark" put upon Cain (Ge 4:15 the King James Version); the stigmata of Christ in Paul's body (Ga 6:17); the "mark of the beast" (Re 16:2).
As a verb it is almost exclusively a mental process: e.g. "to be attentive," "understand ": bin (Job 18:2 the King James Version), rightly rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) "consider"; shith, "Mark ye well her bulwarks" (
Mark
The evangelist; “John whose surname was Mark” (Acts 12:12, 25). Mark (Marcus, Col. 4:10, etc.) was his Roman name, which gradually came to supersede his Jewish name John. He is called John in Acts 13:5, 13, and Mark in 15:39, 2 Tim. 4:11, etc.
He was the son of Mary, a woman apparently of some means and influence, and was probably born in Jerusalem, where his mother resided (Acts 12:12). Of his father we know nothing. He was cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10). It was in his mother’s house that Peter found “many gathered together praying” when he was released from…
one of the evangelists, and probable author of the Gospel bearing his name. (Marcus was his Latin surname. His Jewish name was John, which is the same as Johanan (the grace of God). We can almost trace the steps whereby the former became his prevalent name in the Church. "John, whose surname was Mark" in (Acts 12:12,25; 15:37) becomes "John" alone in (Acts 13:5,13) "Mark" in (Acts 15:39) and thenceforward there is no change. (Colossians 4:10); Phlm 1:24; 2Tim 4:11 The evangelist was the son of a certain Mary, a Jewish matron of some position who dwelt in Jerusalem…
same as Marcus
כֶם (khem) — you.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural
HRd/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2mp
גְּבוּל (gbuwl) refers to a border or boundary, often implying a defined territory. It can denote a physical limit, such as a coast or landmark, and can also have figurative uses, like a region of darkness. The word is derived from a root meaning 'cord' and encompasses various meanings related to boundaries and territories.
גְּבוּל 240 n.m. border, boundary, territory
border, boundary
territory (enclosed within boundary)
base
H1366 גְּבוּל border, boundary, territory
1366 gbuwl gheb-ool'
or (shortened) gbul {gheb-ool'}; from 1379; properly, a cord
(as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extens. the
territory inclosed:--border, bound, coast, X great, landmark,
limit, quarter, space.
see HEBREW for 01379
גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: boundary.
: boundary
1) border, territory
1a) border
1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)
1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)
Also means: ge.vul (גְּבוּל ": area" H1366H)
גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: area.
: area
1) border, territory
1a) border
1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)
1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word קֶ֫דֶם (*qedem*) means 'east' and also refers to 'front' or 'ancient time.' It is derived from another root and can indicate direction (eastward) or time (aforetime, antiquity). The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including geographical and temporal references, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
קֶ֫דֶם n.[m.] front, east, aforetime
loc.
front
East; elsewh. מִקּ׳ = eastward
temp., ancient time, aforetime:
הַרְרֵי ק׳ Dt 33:15 ancient mts.
בִּימֵי ק׳ ψ 44:2 in ancient days
מִקּ׳ from of old
ק׳ alone, as adv. anciently, of old
beginning
base
[קֵ֫דֶם], קֵ֫דְמָה adv. eastward, to, toward the E.
base
H6924a קֶ֫דֶם front, east, aforetime . loc. . front
. East
. temp. ancient time, aforetime
H6924b קֵ֫דֶם, קֵ֫דְמָה eastward, to, toward the E.
6924 qedem keh'-dem
or qedmah {kayd'-maw}; from 6923; the front, of place
(absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time
(antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently,
eastward):--aforetime, ancient (time), before, east (end,
part, side, -ward), eternal, X ever(-lasting), forward, old,
past. Compare 6926.
see HEBREW for 06923
see HEBREW for 06926
קֶ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — East.
This name means east, antiquity, front
קֵ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — east.
adv
eastward, to or toward the East
Another spelling of qe.dem (קֶ֫דֶם ": east" H6924)
קֶ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — front: east.
: east
1) east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime
1a) front, from the front or east, in front, mount of the East
1b) ancient time, aforetime, ancient, from of old, earliest time
1c) anciently, of old (adverb)
1d) beginning
1e) east
קֶ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — front: old.
: old/ancient
1) east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime
1a) front, from the front or east, in front, mount of the East
1b) ancient time, aforetime, ancient, from of old, earliest time
1c) anciently, of old (adverb)
1d) beginning
1e) east
קֶ֫דֶם (qe.dem) — front: forward.
: forward
1) east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular absolute · suffixHNcmsa/Sd
word: "Ward" and "guard" are two different spellings of the same word, and in consequence no clear line can be drawn between them. English Versions of the Bible, however, has used "guard" only in the sense of "a special body of soldiers" (Ge 37:36, etc.), while "ward" is used, not only in this sense (Jer 37:13; contrast 39:9), but also in a variety of others. So a "ward" may mean "any body of men on special duty," as 1Ch 9:23; the King James Version 1Ch 26:16; Ne 12:24,25 (the Revised Version (British and American) "watch"), or the duty itself, as Isa 21:8;
Ward
A prison (Gen. 40:3, 4); a watch-station (Isa. 21:8); a guard (Neh. 13:30).
חֲצַר עֵינוֹן (Chatsar `Eynan) refers to Hazar-enan, meaning 'village of springs.' It is a location mentioned as being on the northeast border of Canaan. The word is derived from roots meaning 'village' and 'fountain.' There is a note that it is the same as another name, חֲצַר עֵינָן (Chatsar e.non), indicating some interchangeability.
חֲצַר עֵינוֹן, ח׳ עֵינָן n.pr.loc. on NE. border of Canaan
base
H2704 חֲצַר עֵינוֹן, ח׳ עֵינָן
2704 Chatsar `Eynan khats-ar' ay-nawn'
from 2691 and the same as 5881; village of springs;
Chatsar-Enan, a place in Palestine:--Hazar-enan.
see HEBREW for 02691
see HEBREW for 05881
חֲצַר עֵינוֹן (cha.tsar e.nan) — Hazar-enan.
Hazar-enan = "village of fountains"
a city on the northeast border of Canaan; same as cha.tsar e.non (חֲצַר עֵינָן "Hazar-enan" H2703)
Also named: cha.tsar e.non (חֲצַר עֵינָן "Hazar-enan" H2703)
N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
ha'-zar (chatsar, construct of chatser, "an enclosure," "settlement," or "village"): Is frequently the first element in Hebrew place-names.
1. Hazar-addar:
Hazar-addar (Hebrew chatsar 'addar), a place on the southern boundary of Judah (Nu 34:4), is probably identical with Hazron (Jos 15:3), which, in this case, however, is separated from Addar (the King James Version "Adar"). It seems to have lain somewhere to the Southwest of Kadesh-barnea.
חֲצַר עֵינוֹן (Chatsar `Eynan) refers to Hazar-enan, meaning 'village of springs.' It is a location mentioned as being on the northeast border of Canaan. The word is derived from roots meaning 'village' and 'fountain.' There is a note that it is the same as another name, חֲצַר עֵינָן (Chatsar e.non), indicating some interchangeability.
חֲצַר עֵינוֹן, ח׳ עֵינָן n.pr.loc. on NE. border of Canaan
base
H2704 חֲצַר עֵינוֹן, ח׳ עֵינָן
2704 Chatsar `Eynan khats-ar' ay-nawn'
from 2691 and the same as 5881; village of springs;
Chatsar-Enan, a place in Palestine:--Hazar-enan.
see HEBREW for 02691
see HEBREW for 05881
חֲצַר עֵינוֹן (cha.tsar e.nan) — Hazar-enan.
Hazar-enan = "village of fountains"
a city on the northeast border of Canaan; same as cha.tsar e.non (חֲצַר עֵינָן "Hazar-enan" H2703)
Also named: cha.tsar e.non (חֲצַר עֵינָן "Hazar-enan" H2703)
HNpl — Noun properHNpl
e'-nan (`enan, "having fountains," or "eyes," i.e. "keen-eyed"; in Septuagint Ainan):
The father of Ahira, and prince of Naphtali at the first census of Israel (Nu 1:15; 2:29; 7:78,83; 10:27).
(having eyes.). Ahira ben-Enan was "prince" of the tribe of Naphtali at the time of the numbering of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. (Numbers 1:15) (B.C. 1491.)
cloud
→ A man of the tribe of Naphtali Nu 1:15; 2:29; 7:78,83; 10:27
שְׁפָם (shpham) refers to a location known as Shepham, which is described as a bald area on the eastern border of Israel. The word is likely derived from a root meaning 'bare spot.' It appears in the context of geographical references in northeastern Canaan.
שְׁפָם n.pr.loc. on E. border of Israel
base
H8221 שְׁפָם
8221 Shpham shef-awm'
probably from 8192; bare spot; Shepham, a place in or near
Palestine:--Shepham.
see HEBREW for 08192
שְׁפָם (she.pham) — Shepham.
§ Shepham = "bald"
a place or region in northeastern Canaan on the eastern border
N-proper | Suff — Noun proper · suffixHNpl/Sd