Ezekiel 47:19
And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.
Original Language Analysis
פְּאַת
side
H6285
פְּאַת
side
Strong's:
H6285
Word #:
1 of 16
properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity
נֶֽגְבָּה׃
And the south
H5045
נֶֽגְבָּה׃
And the south
Strong's:
H5045
Word #:
2 of 16
the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)
תֵּימָ֖נָה
And this is the south
H8486
תֵּימָ֖נָה
And this is the south
Strong's:
H8486
Word #:
3 of 16
the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
5 of 16
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
מֵי֙
even to the waters
H4325
מֵי֙
even to the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
6 of 16
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
נַחֲלָ֖ה
the river
H5158
נַחֲלָ֖ה
the river
Strong's:
H5158
Word #:
9 of 16
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
הַיָּ֣ם
sea
H3220
הַיָּ֣ם
sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
11 of 16
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
הַגָּד֑וֹל
to the great
H1419
הַגָּד֑וֹל
to the great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
12 of 16
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וְאֵ֥ת
H853
וְאֵ֥ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
13 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
פְּאַת
side
H6285
פְּאַת
side
Strong's:
H6285
Word #:
14 of 16
properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity
Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:51Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.Ezekiel 48:28And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.Numbers 20:13This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.Numbers 34:5And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.
Historical Context
Tamar (possibly modern Ein Tamar, southwest Dead Sea) and Kadesh-Barnea (oasis in northern Sinai) marked Israel's southern wilderness frontier. Meribah-Kadesh was where Moses sinned but God still provided water (Numbers 20). Ezekiel's use of this location as boundary transforms it: no longer just rebellion's site but covenant marker. God's grace overwhelms history's failures, redeeming even places associated with sin.
Questions for Reflection
- What is significant about Meribah (rebellion site) becoming a blessing boundary?
- How does God redeem places associated with historical failures?
- What does transforming wilderness locations into covenant markers teach about grace?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward—Southern boundary: מִתָּמָר (mittāmār, 'from Tamar') to מֵי מְרִיבַת קָדֵשׁ (mê mĕrîbat Qādēsh, 'waters of Meribah-Kadesh'), then נַחֲלָה (naḥălāh, 'the river/wadi') to הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל (hayyām haggādôl, 'the great sea'—Mediterranean). וְאֵת פְּאַת נֶגֶב תֵּימָנָה (wĕʾēt pĕʾat negeb têmānāh, 'and this is the south side southward').
Meribah-Kadesh recalls Israel's wilderness rebellion (Numbers 20:1-13)—Moses struck the rock, water flowed, but he was barred from Canaan. Including Meribah as boundary marker transforms rebellion's site into blessing's border. God redeems history: places of failure become landmarks of grace. The southern boundary reaches roughly Beer-sheba region—traditional southern extent ('from Dan to Beer-sheba'—Judges 20:1).