Exodus 23:31 And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

◄ Exodus 23:31 ►

New International Version
“I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you.

New Living Translation
And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you.

English Standard Version
And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.

Berean Standard Bible
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

King James Bible
And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

New King James Version
And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.

New American Standard Bible
I will set your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River; for I will hand over the inhabitants of the land to you, and you will drive them out from you.

NASB 1995
“I will fix your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

NASB 1977
“And I will fix your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

Legacy Standard Bible
And I will set your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out from before you.

Amplified Bible
I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines (the Mediterranean), and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates; for I will hand over the residents of the land to you, and you shall drive them out before you.

Christian Standard Bible
I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River. For I will place the inhabitants of the land under your control, and you will drive them out ahead of you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River. For I will place the inhabitants of the land under your control, and you will drive them out ahead of you.

American Standard Version
And I will set thy border from the Red Sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness unto the River: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand: and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

Contemporary English Version
I will see that your borders reach from the Red Sea to the Euphrates River and from the Mediterranean Sea to the desert. I will let you defeat the people who live there, and you will force them out of the land.

English Revised Version
And I will set thy border from the Red Sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness unto the River: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Sinai Desert to the Euphrates River. I will put the people living in the land under your control, and you will force them out of your way.

Good News Translation
I will make the borders of your land extend from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Mediterranean Sea and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give you power over the inhabitants of the land, and you will drive them out as you advance.

International Standard Version
"I'll set your borders from the Reed Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River, bringing the inhabitants of the land under your control, and you are to drive them out ahead of you.

Majority Standard Bible
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

NET Bible
I will set your boundaries from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River, for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

New Heart English Bible
I will set your border from the Sea at the End even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

World English Bible
I will set your border from the Red Sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And I have set your border from the Red Sea, even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you have cast them out from before you.

Young's Literal Translation
'And I have set thy border from the Red Sea, even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness unto the River: for I give into your hand the inhabitants of the land, and thou hast cast them out from before thee;

Smith's Literal Translation
And I put thy bounds from the sea of sedge, and even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert even to the river: for I will give into your hand those inhabiting the land, and thou drove them out from before thee.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will set thy bounds from the Red Sea to the sea of the Palestines, and from the desert to the river: I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hands, and will drive them out from before you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then I will set your limits to be from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Palestinians, and from the desert all the way to the river. I will deliver into your hands the inhabitants of the land, and I will cast them out from your sight.

New American Bible
I will set your boundaries from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates; all who dwell in this land I will hand over to you and you shall drive them out before you.

New Revised Standard Version
I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates; for I will hand over to you the inhabitants of the land, and you shall drive them out before you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And I will set your boundaries from the Red Sea as far as the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the river Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hands; and you shall destroy them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall make your borders from the Sea of Reeds and unto the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness and unto the river, because I deliver the dwellers of the land into your hands and you will destroy them.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And I will set thy border from the Red Sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness unto the River; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will set thy borders from the Red Sea, to the sea of the Phylistines, and from the wilderness to the great river Euphrates; and I will give into your hand those that dwell in the land, and will cast them out from thee.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

God's Angel to Lead
…30Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land. 31And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you. 32You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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 1:4
Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea.

1 Kings 4:21
And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

2 Chronicles 9:26
He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.

Numbers 34:3-12
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, / cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, / where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea. ...

Ezekiel 47:13-20
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. / You 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. / This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, ...

Psalm 72:8
May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 27:12
In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered one by one.

Amos 6:14
For behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD, the God of Hosts, “and they will oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.”

Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

Matthew 4:8
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

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

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.

Hebrews 11:9-10
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. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Treasury of Scripture

And I will set your bounds from the Red sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and you shall drive them out before you.

I will set

Genesis 15:18
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Numbers 34:3-15
Then 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: …

Deuteronomy 11:24
Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.

deliver the

Numbers 21:34
And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

Deuteronomy 3:2
And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

Joshua 8:7,18
Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand…

Jump to Previous

Border Borders Boundary Bounds Deliver Desert Drive Establish Euphrates Euphra'tes Fix Hand Inhabitants Live Mayest Philistines Power Red River Sea Waste Wilderness

Jump to Next

Border Borders Boundary Bounds Deliver Desert Drive Establish Euphrates Euphra'tes Fix Hand Inhabitants Live Mayest Philistines Power Red River Sea Waste Wilderness

Exodus 23

1. Of slander, false witness, and partiality
4. Of charitableness
6. Of justice in judgment
8. Of taking bribes
9. Of oppressing a stranger
10. Of the year of rest
12. Of the Sabbath
13. Of idolatry
14. Of the three feasts
18. Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice
20. An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him

Berean Study Bible

I will fix your borders
This phrase signifies God's sovereign authority and promise to establish the territorial boundaries of Israel. The Hebrew word for "fix" is "שׁוּם" (sum), which means to set, appoint, or establish. This reflects God's active role in determining the extent of the land that His people will inhabit. Historically, this promise underscores the divine right and providence over the land, emphasizing that it is not by human might but by God's decree that these borders are set.

from the Red Sea
The Red Sea, or "ים סוף" (Yam Suph) in Hebrew, is a significant geographical landmark in the biblical narrative, marking the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This reference serves as a reminder of God's past faithfulness and power, reinforcing the trustworthiness of His promises regarding the land.

to the Sea of the Philistines
This phrase refers to the Mediterranean Sea, which bordered the land of the Philistines. The Philistines were a significant adversarial group in the Old Testament, and this boundary indicates the extent of the land that Israel would possess, encompassing territories that were once hostile. It symbolizes God's promise of victory and peace over their enemies.

and from the desert
The desert, or "מִדְבָּר" (midbar) in Hebrew, often represents a place of testing and reliance on God. It is a reminder of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, where they learned to depend on God's provision. This boundary signifies the transition from a place of wandering to a place of settlement and blessing.

to the Euphrates
The Euphrates River is one of the great rivers of the ancient Near East, representing the northeastern boundary of the Promised Land. This expansive promise highlights the vastness of God's provision and the potential for Israel's influence and prosperity. It also connects to the Abrahamic covenant, where God promised Abraham's descendants a land stretching to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18).

For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand
This assurance of divine intervention emphasizes God's role as the deliverer and protector of Israel. The phrase "into your hand" suggests complete control and victory over the current inhabitants, underscoring the idea that it is God who fights for His people and grants them success.

and you will drive them out before you
The command to drive out the inhabitants reflects the necessity of removing influences that could lead Israel away from their covenant relationship with God. It is a call to purity and faithfulness, ensuring that the land remains a place dedicated to the worship and service of the Lord. This action is not merely a physical conquest but a spiritual mandate to uphold God's holiness in the land.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(31) Thy bounds.--Those whose highest notion of prophecy identifies it with advanced human foresight naturally object to Moses having foretold the vast extent of empire which did not take place till the days of David and Solomon. It is impossible, however, to understand this passage in any other way than as an assignment to Israel of the entire tract between the Desert, or "Wilderness of the Wanderings," and the Euphrates on the one hand, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea on the other. "The River" (han-nahar) has no other meaning in the Pentateuch than "the Euphrates." And this was exactly the extent to which the dominions of Israel reached under Solomon, as we see from the description in Kings and Chronicles (1Kings 4:21; 1Kings 4:24; 2Chronicles 9:26). It had, according to Moses (Genesis 15:18), been already indicated with tolerable precision in the original promise made to Abraham.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 31. - And I will set thy bounds from the Red Sea even unto the sea of the Philistines. This passage by itself would be sufficient to confute Dr. Brugsch's notion, that the Yam Suph (or "Red Sea" of our translators) is the Lake Serbonis, which is a part of the Mediterranean or "Sea of the Philistines," and cannot stand in contrast with it. The "Sea of the Philistines" and the "Red Sea" mark the boundaries of the Holy Land East and West, as the "Desert" and the "River" (Euphrates) do its boundaries North and South. That Moses here lays down those wide limits which were only reached 400 years later, in the time of David and Solomon, and were then speedily lost, can surprise no one who believes in the prophetic gift, and regards Moses as one of the greatest of the Prophets. The tract marked out by these limits had been already promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). Its possession by Solomon is distinctly recorded in 1 Kings 4:21, 24; 2 Chronicles 9:26. As Solomon was "a man of peace," we must ascribe the acquisition of this wide empire to David. (Compare 2 Samuel 8:3-14; 2 Samuel 10:6-19.) The river (han-nahar) is in the Pentateuch always the Euphrates. The Nile is ha-y' or. A powerful kingdom established in Syria is almost sure to extend its influence to the Euphrates. I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand. Compare Joshua 21:44, for the first fulfilment of this prophecy. Its complete fulfilment was reserved for the time of David. Thou shalt drive them out. The mass of the Canaanites were no doubt "driven out" rather than exterminated. They retired northwards, and gave strength to the great Hittite kingdom which was for many centuries a formidable antagomst of the Egyptian and Assyrian empties.

CHAPTER 23:32-33

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And I will fix
וְשַׁתִּ֣י (wə·šat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7896: To put, set

your borders
גְּבֻלְךָ֗ (gə·ḇul·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

from the Red
סוּף֙ (sūp̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5488: A reed, the papyrus

Sea
מִיַּם־ (mî·yam-)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

to
וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the Sea
יָ֣ם (yām)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

of the Philistines,
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

and from the desert
וּמִמִּדְבָּ֖ר (ū·mim·miḏ·bār)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

to
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the [Euphrates].
הַנָּהָ֑ר (han·nā·hār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity

For
כִּ֣י ׀ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I will deliver
אֶתֵּ֣ן (’et·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the inhabitants
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

into your hand,
בְּיֶדְכֶ֗ם (bə·yeḏ·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

and you will drive them out
וְגֵרַשְׁתָּ֖מוֹ (wə·ḡê·raš·tā·mōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1644: To drive out from a, possession, to expatriate, divorce

before you.
מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃ (mip·pā·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

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OT Law: Exodus 23:31 I will set your border (Exo. Ex)