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.

NUMBERS 34:12KJV
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Numbers 34:12 (KJV)

What does Numbers 34:12 mean?

Numbers 34:12 describes the eastern boundary of the land that the Israelites are to inherit, stating that this border will follow the Jordan River down to the Salt Sea (the Dead Sea), marking the edge of their territory. The verse sums up the full outline of the land’s borders as God is giving them to the Israelites.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, instructing him on the exact borders of the land that the Israelites will receive after entering Canaan. The setting is the wilderness, as the Israelites prepare to cross into the promised land. This verse wraps up a detailed description of the boundaries, making clear where the land begins and ends, which would have been important for dividing the territory among the tribes.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 34:12

  • "border" (גְּבוּל, gevul): This word means a boundary or limit, emphasizing that God is giving a defined, set territory rather than a vague area.
  • "Jordan" (יַרְדֵּן, yarden): The Jordan River is a major geographical marker, and its mention here shows how natural features were used to set borders.
  • "salt" (מֶלַח, melach) and "sea" (יָם, yam): Together, these words refer to the Salt Sea, known today as the Dead Sea, a clear and recognizable endpoint for the territory.

Why Numbers 34:12 matters

  • Numbers 34:12 clarifies that the land given to Israel had specific, recognizable boundaries, which would prevent disputes over territory.
  • The verse shows that God’s promise was not just spiritual but included real, physical land with defined borders.
  • By ending the border description at the Salt Sea, the verse connects the Israelites’ future to well-known landmarks, grounding the promise in real geography.

Where else these words appear

“coasts” Hebrew H1367 · used in 10 verses

  • Numbers 32:33 And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.
  • Joshua 18:20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
  • Psalms 74:17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

“out” Hebrew H8444 · used in 23 verses

  • Numbers 34:4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:
  • Joshua 16:3 And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.
  • Joshua 19:14 And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:

“salt” Hebrew H4417 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 14:3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
  • Joshua 12:3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:
  • 2 Kings 14:7 He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.