The Borders of Canaan

Numbers 34

The Lord describes the boundaries of the land of Chanaan on its southern, western, northern, and eastern sides that Israel is to inherit. He then names Eleazar, Joshua, and a chosen leader from each tribe who will oversee the dividing of the land by lot.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonMOREOVER the Lord spoke to Moses saying,

BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγων,

KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

ThomsonGive a charge to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, You are about to enter the land of Chanaan. This you shall have for an inheritance, even the whole land of Chanaan, with its borders.

BrentonCharge the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Ye are entering into the land of Chanaan: it shall be to you for an inheritance, the land of Chanaan with its boundaries.

Greekἔντειλαι τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ὑμεῖς εἰσπορεύεσθε εἰς τὴν γῆν Χαναὰν· αὕτη ἔσται ὑμῖν εἰς κληρονομίαν, γῆ Χαναὰν σὺν τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς.

KJVCommand the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)

JPS’Command the children of Israel, and say unto them: When ye come into the land of Canaan, this shall be the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to the borders thereof.

ThomsonAnd your southern border shall be, from the wilderness of Sin, until it joineth Edom.

BrentonAnd your southern side shall be from the wilderness of Sin to the border of Edom, and your border southward shall extend on the side of the salt sea eastward.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὑμῖν τὸ κλίτος τὸ πρὸς Λίβα ἀπὸ ἐρήμου Σὶν ἕως ἐχόμενον Ἐδὼμ, καὶ ἔσται ὑμῖν τὰ ὅρια πρὸς λίβα ἀπὸ μέρους τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς ἁλυκῆς ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν.

KJVThen 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:

JPSThus your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin close by the side of Edom, and your south border shall begin at the end of the Salt Sea eastward;

ThomsonAnd your boundaries on the south shall be, from a part of the salt sea on the east, and that boundary shall encompass you on the south, to the ascent of Acrabin, and shall pass on to Ennak, and run along south of Kades-barne and come to the sheepcot of Arad, and pass along by Asemona:

BrentonAnd your border shall go round you from the south to the ascent of Acrabin, and shall proceed by Ennac, and the going forth of it shall be southward to Cades Barne, and it shall go forth to the village of Arad, and shall proceed by Asemona.

GreekΚαὶ κυκλώσει ὑμᾶς τὰ ὅρια ἀπὸ Λιβὸς πρὸς ἀνάβασιν Ἀκραβὶν, καὶ παρελεύσεται Ἐννὰκ, καὶ ἔσται ἡ διέξοδος αὐτοῦ πρὸς Λίβα Κάδης τοῦ Βαρνὴ, καὶ ἐξελεύσεται εἰς ἔπαυλιν Ἀρὰδ, καὶ παρελεύσεται Ἀσεμωνᾶ.

KJVAnd 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:

JPS—

Thomsonand from Asemona the boundary shall wind round along the brook of Egypt, and its termination shall be the sea.

BrentonAnd the border shall compass from Asemona to the river of Egypt, and the sea shall be the termination.

GreekΚαὶ κυκλώσει τὰ ὅρια ἀπὸ Ἀσεμωνᾶ χειμάῤῥουν Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἔσται ἡ διέξοδος ἡ θάλασσα.

KJVAnd the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.

JPSand the border shall turn about from Azmon unto the Brook of Egypt, and the goings out thereof shall be at the Sea.

ThomsonThen you shall have the sea for a boundary. The great sea shall bound you: this shall be your western boundary.

BrentonAnd ye shall have your border on the west, the great sea shall be the boundary: this shall be to you the border on the west.

GreekΚαὶ τὰ ὅρια τῆς θαλάσσης ἔσται ὑμῖν, ἡ θάλασσα ἡ μεγάλη ὁριεῖ, τοῦτο ἔσται ὑμῖν τὰ ὅρια τῆς θαλάσσης.

KJVAnd as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.

JPSAnd for the western border, ye shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your west border.

ThomsonAnd your boundary on the north shall be this—from the great sea you shall measure off for yourselves, along the range of mountains—

BrentonAnd this shall be your northern border; from the great sea ye shall measure to yourselves, by the side of the mountain.

GreekΚαὶ τοῦτο ἔσται ὑμῖν τὰ ὅρια πρὸς βοῤῥᾶν· ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς μεγάλης καταμετρήσετε ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς παρὰ τὸ ὄρος τὸ ὄρος.

KJVAnd this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:

JPSAnd this shall be your north border: from the Great Sea ye shall mark out your line unto mount Hor;

Thomsonfrom mountain to mountain you shall measure off for yourselves: beginning at the bay of Emath, and extending along the border of Saradak,

BrentonAnd ye shall measure to yourselves the mountain from mount Hor at the entering in to Emath, and the termination of it shall be the coasts of Saradac.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους τὸ ὄρος καταμετρήσετε αὐτοῖς, εἰσπορευομένων εἰς Ἐμὰθ, καὶ ἔσται ἡ διέξοδος αὐτοῦ τὰ ὅρια Σαραδάκ.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonthe boundary shall come out along the borders of Dephrona and its termination shall be Arsenain. This shall be your northern boundary.

BrentonAnd the border shall go out to Dephrona, and its termination shall be at Arsenain; this shall be your border from the north.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξελεύσεται τὰ ὅρια Δεφρωνὰ, καὶ ἔσται ἡ διέξοδος αὐτοῦ Ἀρσεναΐν· τοῦτο ἔσται ὑμῖν ὅρια ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ.

KJVAnd the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.

JPSand the border shall go forth to Ziphron, and the goings out thereof shall be at Hazar-enan; this shall be your north border.

ThomsonThen you shall measure off for yourselves the eastern boundary from Arsenain to Sepphamar;

BrentonAnd ye shall measure to yourselves the eastern border from Arsenain to Sepphamar.

GreekΚαὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια ἀπὸ Σεπεφαμὰρ Βηλὰ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ἐπὶ πηγὰς, και καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια Βηλὰ ἐπὶ νώτου θαλάσσης Χενερὲθ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand from Sepphamar the boundary shall run down to Bela, on the east of the fountains, then down along the borders of Bela, on the eastern side of the sea of Chenerith;

BrentonAnd the border shall go down from Sepphamar to Bela eastward to the fountains, and the border shall go down from Bela behind the sea Chenereth eastward.

GreekΚαὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια ἀπὸ Σεπφαμὰρ Βηλὰ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ἐπὶ πηγάς, καὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια Βηλὰ ἐπὶ νώτου θαλάσσης Χενερὲθ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν.

KJVAnd the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:

JPSand the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall go down, and shall strike upon the slope of the sea of Chinnereth eastward;

Thomsonthen down the Jordan; and its termination shall be the salt sea. This shall be your land and these its boundaries round about.

BrentonAnd the border shall go down to Jordan, and the termination shall be the salt sea; this shall be your land and its borders round about.

GreekΚαὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην, καὶ ἔσται ἡ διέξοδος θάλασσα ἡ ἁλυκή· αὕτη ἔσται ὑμῖν ἡ γῆ καὶ τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς κύκλῳ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSand 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.’

ThomsonSo Moses gave a charge to the Israelites saying, This is the land which you shall parcel out, by lot, in the manner the Lord hath commanded it to be given to the nine tribes, and to the half of the tribe of Manasses;

BrentonAnd Moses charged the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, even as the Lord commanded us to give it to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasse.

GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλατο Μωυσῆς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ, λέγων, αὕτη ἡ γῆ ἣν κατακληρονομήσετε αὐτὴν μετὰ κλήρου, ὃν τρόπον συνέταξε Κύριος δοῦναι αὐτὴν ταῖς ἐννέα φυλαῖς καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασσῆ.

KJVAnd Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:

JPSAnd Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: ‘This is the land wherein ye shall receive inheritance by lot, which the LORD hath commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe;

Thomsonbecause the tribe of the Reubenites, and the tribe of the Gadites, according to the houses of their families, and the half of the tribe of the Manassites, have received their allotments.

BrentonFor the tribe of the children of Ruben, and the tribe of the children of Gad have received their inheritance according to their families; and the half-tribe of Manasse have received their inheritances.

GreekὍτι ἔλαβε φυλὴ υἱῶν Ῥουβὴν, καὶ φυλὴ υἱῶν Γὰδ κατʼ οἴκους πατριῶν αὐτῶν· καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασσῆ ἀπέλαβον τοὺς κλήρους αὐτῶν.

KJVFor the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance:

JPSfor the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers’houses, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers’houses, have received, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received, their inheritance;

ThomsonTwo tribes, and the half of a tribe, have received their lots on the south east side of the Jordan, in front of Jericho.

BrentonTwo tribes and half a tribe have received their inheritance beyond Jordan by Jericho from the south eastwards.

GreekΔύο φυλαὶ καὶ ἥμισυ φυλῆς ἔλαβον τοὺς κλήρους αὐτῶν πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου κατὰ Ἱεριχὼ ἀπὸ Νότου κατʼ ἀνατολάς.

KJVThe two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.

JPSthe two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sun-rising.’

ThomsonThen the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγων,

KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

ThomsonThese are the names of the men who shall parcel out the land for you—Eleazar the priest, and Joshua, the son of Naue.

BrentonThese are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for an inheritance; Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Naue.

Greekταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἀνδρῶν, οἳ κληρονομήσουσιν ὑμῖν τὴν γῆν· Ἐλεάζαρ ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ναυή.

KJVThese are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.

JPS’These are the names of the men that shall take possession of the land for you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.

ThomsonAnd you shall take one chief of a tribe to divide the land among you by lot.

BrentonAnd ye shall take one ruler from each tribe to divide the land to you by lot.

GreekΚαὶ ἄρχοντα ἕνα ἐκ φυλῆς λήψεσθε κατακληρονομῆσαι ὑμῖν τὴν γῆν.

KJVAnd ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.

JPSAnd ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to take possession of the land.

ThomsonAnd these are the names of the men— Of the tribe of Judas, Chaleb son of Jephonne;

BrentonAnd these are the names of the men; of the tribe of Juda, Chaleb the son of Jephonne.

GreekΚαὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἀνδρῶν· τῆς φυλῆς Ἰούδα, Χάλεβ υἱὸς Ἰεφοννή.

KJVAnd the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

JPSAnd these are the names of the men: of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

Thomsonof the tribe of Symeon, Salamiel son of Samiud;

BrentonOf the tribe of Symeon, Salamiel the son of Semiud.

GreekΤῆς φυλῆς Συμεὼν, Σαλαμιὴλ υἱὸς Σεμιούδ.

KJVAnd of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.

JPSAnd of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.

Thomsonof the tribe of Benjamin, Eldad son of Chaslon;

BrentonOf the tribe of Benjamin, Eldad the son of Chaslon.

GreekΤῆς φυλῆς Βενιαμὶν, Ἐλδὰδ υἱὸς Χασλών·

KJVOf the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.

JPSOf the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.

Thomsonof the tribe of Dan, chief Bakchir, son of Egli;

BrentonOf the tribe of Dan the prince was Bacchir the son of Egli.

GreekΤῆς φυλῆς Δὰν, ἄρχων Βακχὶρ υἱὸς Ἐγλί.

KJVAnd the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.

JPSAnd of the tribe of the children of Dan a prince, Bukki the son of Jogli.

Thomsonof the children of Joseph—of the tribe of the Manassites, chief Aniel, son of Suphi;

BrentonOf the sons of Joseph of the tribe of the sons of Manasse, the prince was Aniel the son of Suphi.

GreekΤῶν υἱῶν Ἰωσὴφ φυλῆς υἱῶν Μανασσῆ, ἄρχων Ἀνιὴλ υἱὸς Σουφί.

KJVThe prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.

JPSOf the children of Joseph: of the tribe of the children of Manasseh a prince, Hanniel the son of Ephod;

Thomsonof the tribe of the Ephraimites, chief Kamuel, son of Sabathan;

BrentonOf the tribe of the sons of Ephraim, the prince was Camuel the son of Sabathan.

GreekΤῆς φυλῆς υἱῶν Ἐφραὶμ, ἄρχων Καμουὴλ υἱὸς Σαβαθᾶν.

KJVAnd the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.

JPSand of the tribe of the children of Ephraim a prince, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.

Thomsonof the tribe of Zabulon, chief Elisaphan, son of Pharnach;

BrentonOf the tribe of Zabulon, the prince was Elisaphan the son of Pharnac.

GreekΤῆς φυλῆς Ζαβουλὼν, ἄρχων Ἐλισαφὰν υἱὸς Φαρνάχ.

KJVAnd the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.

JPSAnd of the tribe of the children of Zebulun a prince, Eli-zaphan the son of Parnach.

Thomsonof the tribe of Issachar, chief Phaltiel, son of Oza;

BrentonOf the tribe of the sons of Issachar, the prince was Phaltiel the son of Oza.

GreekΤῆς φυλῆς υἱῶν Ἰσσάχαρ, ἄρχων Φαλτιὴλ υἱὸς Ὀζᾶ.

KJVAnd the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.

JPSAnd of the tribe of the children of Issachar a prince, Paltiel the son of Azzan.

ThomsonOf the tribe of Aser, chief Achior, son of Selemi;

BrentonOf the tribe of the children of Aser, the prince was Achior the son of Selemi.

GreekΤῆς φυλῆς υἱῶν Ἀσὴρ, ἄρχων Ἀχιὼρ υἱὸς Σελεμί.

KJVAnd the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.

JPSAnd of the tribe of the children of Asher a prince, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.

Thomsonof the tribe of Nephthaleim, chief Phadael, son of Jamiud.

BrentonOf the tribe of Nephthali, the prince was Phadael the son of Jamiud.

GreekΤῆς φυλῆς Νεφθαλὶ, ἄρχων Φαδαὴλ υἱὸς Ἰαμιούδ.

KJVAnd the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.

JPSAnd of the tribe of the children of Naphtali a prince, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.

ThomsonTo these the Lord gave it in charge to parcel out to the Israelites their allotments in the land of Chanaan.

BrentonThese did the Lord command to distribute the inheritances to the children of Israel in the land of Chanaan.

GreekΤούτοις ἐνετείλατο Κύριος καταμερίσαι τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ ἐν γῇ Χαναάν.

KJVThese are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.

JPSThese are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.’