King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 47:19 Mean?

Ezekiel 47:19 in the King James Version says “And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 47 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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. strife: or, Meribah river: or, valley is the south side southward: or, is the south side toward Teman”

Ezekiel 47:19 · KJV

Context

And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.

And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And this is the east side. from (Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, the land): Heb. from between

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. strife: or, Meribah river: or, valley is the south side southward: or, is the south side toward Teman

The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.

So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.

Read Ezekiel 47 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study 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).

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Historical & Cultural 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.

Reflection Questions

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?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words

פְּאַת1 of 16

“side”

H6285

properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity

נֶֽגְבָּה׃2 of 16

“And the south”

H5045

the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)

תֵּימָ֖נָה3 of 16

“And this is the south”

H8486

the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east)

מִתָּמָ֗ר4 of 16

“from Tamar”

H8559

tamar, the name of three women and a place

עַד5 of 16

H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

מֵי֙6 of 16

“even to the waters”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

מְרִיב֣וֹת7 of 16

“of strife”

H4808

quarrel

קָדֵ֔שׁ8 of 16

“in Kadesh”

H6946

kadesh, a place in the desert

נַחֲלָ֖ה9 of 16

“the river”

H5158

a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)

אֶל10 of 16

H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַיָּ֣ם11 of 16

“sea”

H3220

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

הַגָּד֑וֹל12 of 16

“to the great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

וְאֵ֥ת13 of 16

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

פְּאַת14 of 16

“side”

H6285

properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity

תֵּימָ֖נָה15 of 16

“And this is the south”

H8486

the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east)

נֶֽגְבָּה׃16 of 16

“And the south”

H5045

the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 47:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 47:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 32:51 Ezekiel 48:28 Numbers 34:5 Numbers 20:13 Psalms 81:7 Deuteronomy 33:8