Deuteronomy 27:17
Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Original Language Analysis
גְּב֣וּל
landmark
H1366
גְּב֣וּל
landmark
Strong's:
H1366
Word #:
3 of 8
properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 8
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
Archaeological evidence shows that ancient boundary markers were indeed moved in land disputes. The Egyptian Instructions of Amenemope (similar to Proverbs) also prohibits moving boundary stones, showing this was a widespread ancient concern. However, Israel's prohibition had theological grounding—the land was Canaan inheritance promised to Abraham's seed, making boundaries sacred. The Jubilee laws (Leviticus 25) further protected ancestral land from permanent alienation.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern equivalents to 'removing landmarks' might you be guilty of—shifting ethical boundaries, encroaching on others' rights, or stealing through legal but immoral means?
- How does understanding land as God's gift (not earned possession) shape Christian stewardship of property and resources?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark—The Hebrew massig gevul (מַסִּיג גְּבוּל) means moving boundary markers to steal land by fraud. Ancient landmarks were stone markers defining property inheritance, making their removal equivalent to theft, false witness, and covenant violation simultaneously. Proverbs 22:28 and 23:10 explicitly forbid this practice.
In Israel's theology, land was ultimately God's possession, distributed by divine allotment (Numbers 26:52-56). Each tribe's and family's inheritance was sacred trust, not mere real estate. Removing landmarks didn't just rob neighbors—it challenged God's sovereign land distribution. The curse falls on secrecy again: landmark removal happened covertly, under cover of night or during boundary disputes when witnesses were scarce.
This principle extends beyond literal landmarks to protecting rightful ownership, inheritance rights, and established boundaries. Hosea 5:10 condemns Judah's princes as "them that remove the bound," using this imagery for covenant violations and territorial aggression.