Ezekiel 47:13-23
New Living Translation
Boundaries for the Land
13 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Divide the land in this way for the twelve tribes of Israel: The descendants of Joseph will be given two shares of land.[a] 14 Otherwise each tribe will receive an equal share. I took a solemn oath and swore that I would give this land to your ancestors, and it will now come to you as your possession.
15 “These are the boundaries of the land: The northern border will run from the Mediterranean toward Hethlon, then on through Lebo-hamath to Zedad; 16 then it will run to Berothah and Sibraim,[b] which are on the border between Damascus and Hamath, and finally to Hazer-hatticon, on the border of Hauran. 17 So the northern border will run from the Mediterranean to Hazar-enan, on the border between Hamath to the north and Damascus to the south.
18 “The eastern border starts at a point between Hauran and Damascus and runs south along the Jordan River between Israel and Gilead, past the Dead Sea[c] and as far south as Tamar.[d] This will be the eastern border.
19 “The southern border will go west from Tamar to the waters of Meribah at Kadesh[e] and then follow the course of the Brook of Egypt to the Mediterranean. This will be the southern border.
20 “On the west side, the Mediterranean itself will be your border from the southern border to the point where the northern border begins, opposite Lebo-hamath.
21 “Divide the land within these boundaries among the tribes of Israel. 22 Distribute the land as an allotment for yourselves and for the foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you. They will be like native-born Israelites to you and will receive an allotment among the tribes. 23 These foreigners are to be given land within the territory of the tribe with whom they now live. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 47:13 It was important to retain twelve portions of land. Since Levi had no portion, the descendants of Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, received land as two tribes.
- 47:15-16 As in Greek version; Masoretic Text reads then on through Lebo to Zedad; 16 then it will run to Hamath, Berothah, and Sibraim.
- 47:18a Hebrew the eastern sea.
- 47:18b As in Greek version; Hebrew reads you will measure.
- 47:19 Hebrew waters of Meribath-kadesh.
Ezekiel 47:13-23
International Standard Version
Israel’s Future Borders Delineated
13 This is what the Lord God says: “This is to be the territorial border by which you apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph double-portioned. 14 Apportion it for their inheritances, distributing everything equally as if you were distributing things to your own[a] brother, which is how I promised to give it to your ancestors. This way, the land will fall to you as an inheritance.
15 “This is to be the[b] border for the land: on the north side, from the Mediterranean[c] Sea by the Hethlon Road to the entrance of Zedad, 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), and Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 The border is to proceed from the Mediterranean[d] Sea to Hazer-enan (a border of Damascus), and on the north facing north is to be the border of Hamath. This is to be the north side.
18 “The eastern extremity is to proceed from between Hauran and[e] Damascus, then between Gilead, and then through the land of Israel—the Jordan River.[f] You are to measure from the northern border to the Dead[g] Sea. This is to be the eastern perimeter.
19 “You are to determine the southern extremity running from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, then from there proceeding to the Wadi,[h] and then to the Mediterranean[i] Sea. This is to be the southern[j] perimeter.
20 “The western[k] perimeter is to be the Mediterranean[l] Sea, from the southernmost border to a location opposite the entrance to Hamath. This is to be the western[m] perimeter.
21 “You are to apportion this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel, 22 dividing it by lottery among yourselves and among the foreigners who live among you and bear children among you. You are to treat them like native-born Israelis. Among you they,[n] too, are to be allotted an inheritance with the tribes of Israel. 23 Furthermore, you are to provide the foreigner’s inheritance there in the tribe within which he remains,” declares the Lord God.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezekiel 47:14 The Heb. lacks own
- Ezekiel 47:15 The Heb. lacks is to be the
- Ezekiel 47:15 Lit. Great
- Ezekiel 47:17 The Heb. lacks Mediterranean
- Ezekiel 47:18 Lit. Hauran and then between
- Ezekiel 47:18 The Heb. lacks River
- Ezekiel 47:18 Lit. Eastern
- Ezekiel 47:19 I.e. the Wadi of Egypt, a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times; ancient Israel’s southwestern-most border
- Ezekiel 47:19 Lit. Great
- Ezekiel 47:19 Or Negev
- Ezekiel 47:20 Lit. sea; i.e. the border running along the Mediterranean Sea
- Ezekiel 47:20 Lit. Great
- Ezekiel 47:20 Lit. sea; i.e. the border running along the Mediterranean Sea
- Ezekiel 47:22 Or Israelis among you. They
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
