Ezekiel 47:13
New International Version
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “These are the boundaries of the land that you will divide among the twelve tribes of Israel as their inheritance, with two portions for Joseph.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: “This is the boundary by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions.

King James Bible
Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

New King James Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: “These are the borders by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.

New American Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: “This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions.

NASB 1995
Thus says the Lord GOD, “This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions.

NASB 1977
Thus says the Lord GOD, “This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Lord Yahweh, “This shall be the boundary by which you shall apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions.

Amplified Bible
Thus says the Lord GOD, “This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions.

Christian Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: “This is the border you will use to divide the land as an inheritance for the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two shares.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: “This is the border you will use to divide the land as an inheritance for the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two shares.

American Standard Version
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This shall be the border, whereby ye shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

English Revised Version
Thus saith the Lord GOD: This shall be the border, whereby ye shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have portions.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the Almighty LORD says: These are the borders of the land that is to be divided among the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph gets two parts.

Good News Translation
The Sovereign LORD said, "These are the boundaries of the land that is to be divided among the twelve tribes, with the tribe of Joseph receiving two sections.

International Standard Version
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.

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: ?These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions.

NET Bible
This is what the sovereign LORD says: "Here are the borders you will observe as you allot the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Joseph will have two portions.)

New Heart English Bible
"Thus says the Lord GOD: 'This shall be the border, by which you shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, by which ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

World English Bible
The Lord Yahweh says: “This shall be the border by which you shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said Lord YHWH: “This [is] the border whereby you inherit the land, according to the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph [has two] portions.

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: This is the border whereby ye inherit the land, according to the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph hath portions.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: This the bound by which ye shall inherit the land for the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph two portions.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord God: This is the border, by which you shall possess the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: for Joseph hath a double portion.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord God: “This is the border, by which you shall possess the land, in accord with the twelve tribes of Israel. For Joseph shall have a double portion.

New American Bible
Thus says the Lord GOD: These are the boundaries of the land which you shall apportion among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph having two portions.

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: These are the boundaries by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD God: These are the borders by which you shall divide the land for the inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: ‘The valleys of the border which they inherit for the land, for the twelve tribes of Israel, and for a portion of Yoseph
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the Lord GOD: 'This shall be the border, whereby ye shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel, Joseph receiving two portions.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord God; Ye shall inherit these borders of the land; they are given by lot to the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Borders of the Land
13This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions. 14You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance.…

Cross References
Numbers 34:1-12
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries: / Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, ...

Joshua 13:1-7
Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and well along in years, but very much of the land remains to be possessed. / This is the land that remains: All the territory of the Philistines and the Geshurites, / from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites; ...

Genesis 15:18
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—

Deuteronomy 11:24
Every place where the sole of your foot treads will be yours. Your territory will extend from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Western Sea.

Joshua 14:1-5
Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel. / Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses. / For Moses had given the inheritance east of the Jordan to the other two and a half tribes. But he granted no inheritance among them to the Levites. ...

Numbers 26:52-56
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names. / Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered. ...

Genesis 48:5-6
And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. / Any children born to you after them shall be yours, and they shall be called by the names of their brothers in the territory they inherit.

Joshua 19:51
These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.

Acts 13:19
And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.

Psalm 105:11
“I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”

Genesis 17:8
And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

Hebrews 11:9
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Acts 7:5
He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.

Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby you shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

This shall.

Numbers 34:2-12
Command 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:) …

Joseph.

Ezekiel 48:4-6
And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh…

Genesis 48:5
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

Genesis 49:26
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

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Allot Border Boundaries Boundary Divide Heritage Inherit Inheritance Israel Joseph Limits Parts Portions Receiving Tribes Twelve Whereby
Ezekiel 47
1. The vision of the holy waters
6. The virtue of them
13. The borders of the land
22. The division of it by lot














This is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase underscores the divine authority and origin of the message. The Hebrew term for "Lord GOD" is "Adonai Yahweh," emphasizing both the sovereignty and covenantal relationship God has with Israel. This introduction serves as a reminder that the instructions are not merely human decisions but are divinely ordained, carrying the weight and authority of God Himself.

This is the boundary
The term "boundary" refers to the specific geographical limits set by God for the land of Israel. In the Hebrew context, boundaries were significant as they defined the inheritance and identity of the tribes. This demarcation is not just a physical description but a divine allocation, reflecting God's sovereign plan for His people. It signifies order, structure, and divine intention in the distribution of the land.

by which you are to divide the land
The act of dividing the land is a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Hebrew word for "divide" (חָלַק, "chalak") implies an equitable distribution, ensuring that each tribe receives its rightful inheritance. This division is not arbitrary but is guided by divine wisdom and justice, reflecting God's faithfulness to His covenant.

as an inheritance
The concept of "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה, "nachalah") is deeply rooted in the Hebrew understanding of God's promises. It signifies a permanent possession, a gift from God that is to be cherished and preserved. This inheritance is not just a physical territory but a spiritual legacy, symbolizing the enduring relationship between God and His people.

among the twelve tribes of Israel
The mention of the "twelve tribes" highlights the unity and diversity within the nation of Israel. Each tribe, descending from the sons of Jacob, has a unique role and identity within the collective whole. This allocation reaffirms the covenantal promises made to the patriarchs and underscores the continuity of God's plan for His chosen people.

with Joseph having two portions
Joseph receiving "two portions" is a reference to the double blessing given to him, which is fulfilled through his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. This allocation reflects the special favor and blessing Joseph received from Jacob, as recorded in Genesis. It also serves as a reminder of God's providence and the fulfillment of His promises, even through the complexities of human history. This double portion signifies abundance and the continuation of God's faithfulness to His people.

(13) According to the twelve tribes of Israel.--In the ideal land of the restoration, not Judah and Benjamin only, but all the twelve tribes are to have their portions. Yet Levi is otherwise provided for in the "oblation," and therefore Joseph, in accordance with Genesis 48:5; Genesis 48:22, and with the whole history of the nation, is to have two portions. The Hebrew is simply "Joseph portions" in the plural, but that these portions were to be two and no more was a matter of course, not needing to be specified.

Verses 13-23. - The boundaries of the land, and the manner of its division. Verse 13. - Thus saith the Lord. The usual formula introducing a new Divine enactment (comp. Ezekiel 43:18; Ezekiel 44:9; Ezekiel 45:9, 18; Ezekiel 46:1, 16). This. גֵה is obviously a copyist's error for זֶה, which the LXX., the Vulgate, and the Targum have substituted for it; the change seems demanded by the complete untranslatability of גֵה, and by the fact that וְזֶה גְּבוּל recurs in ver. 15. The border, whereby ye shall inherit the land; or, divide the land for inheritance (Revised Version). The term גְּבוּל, applied in Ezekiel 43:13, 17 to the border of the altar here signifies the boundary or limit of the land. (For the verb, comp. Numbers 32:18; Numbers 34:13; Isaiah 14:2.) According to the twelve tribes. This presupposed that at least representatives of the twelve tribes would return from exile; but it is doubtful if this can be proved from Scripture to have taken place, which once more shows that a literal interpretation of this temple-vision cannot be consistently carried through. Smend observes that the word commonly employed in the priest-cede to denote "tribes" is מַטּות (Numbers 26:55; Numbers 30:1; Numbers 31:4; Numbers 33:54; Joshua 14:1; Joshua 21:1; Joshua 22:14), which is never used by Ezekiel, who habitually selects, as here, the term שְׁבָטִים (Ezekiel 37:19; Ezekiel 45:8; Ezekiel 48:1), which also was not unknown to the priest-cede (Exodus 39:14; Numbers 18:2; Joshua 13:29; Joshua 21:16; Joshua 22:9, 10, 11, 13). That is to say, if the priest-cede existed before Ezekiel, he had the choice of both terms, and selected shebhet; whereas if Ezekiel existed before the priest-cede, and prepared the way for it, the author of the latter rejected Ezekiel's word shebhet, and adopted another perfectly unknown to the prophet. This fact appears to point to a dependence of Ezekiel on the priest-cede rather than of the priest-cede on Ezekiel. Joseph shall have two portions; rather, Joseph portions, as חֲבָלִים is not dual. Yet that two were intended is undoubted (see Genesis 48:22; Joshua 17:14, 17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is what
כֹּ֤ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

says:
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘These [are]
גֵּ֤ה (gêh)
Adverb
Strong's 1454: This

the boundaries
גְבוּל֙ (ḡə·ḇūl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

by which
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you are to divide the land
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

as an inheritance
תִּתְנַחֲל֣וּ (tiṯ·na·ḥă·lū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5157: To inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, distribute, instate

among the twelve
לִשְׁנֵ֥י (liš·nê)
Preposition-l | Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

tribes
שִׁבְטֵ֣י (šiḇ·ṭê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

of Israel;
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

Joseph
יוֹסֵ֖ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

shall receive two portions.
חֲבָלִֽים׃ (ḥă·ḇā·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2256: A rope, a measuring line, a district, inheritance, a noose, a company, a throe, ruin


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 47:13 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: This shall (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 47:12
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