Deuteronomy 19:14
New International Version
Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

New Living Translation
“When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession, you must never steal anyone’s land by moving the boundary markers your ancestors set up to mark their property.

English Standard Version
“You shall not move your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

Berean Standard Bible
You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

King James Bible
Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

New King James Version
“You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

New American Standard Bible
“You shall not displace your neighbor’s boundary marker, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

NASB 1995
“You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.

NASB 1977
“You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you shall inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.

Legacy Standard Bible
“You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that Yahweh your God gives you to possess.

Amplified Bible
“You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the forefathers [who first divided the territory] have set, in the land which you will inherit in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

Christian Standard Bible
“Do not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, established at the start in the inheritance you will receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, established at the start in the inheritance you will receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.”

American Standard Version
Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit, in the land that Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it.

Contemporary English Version
In the land the LORD is giving you, there are already stones set up to mark the property lines between fields. So don't move those stones.

English Revised Version
Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit, in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Never move your neighbor's original boundary marker on any property in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Good News Translation
"Do not move your neighbor's property line, established long ago in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

International Standard Version
"When you inherit the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, don't move your neighbor's boundary marker from where it was placed long ago."

Majority Standard Bible
You must not move your neighbor?s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

NET Bible
You must not encroach on your neighbor's property, which will have been defined in the inheritance you will obtain in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

New Heart English Bible
You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set, in your inheritance which you shall inherit, in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess it.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set in thy inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

World English Bible
You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set, in your inheritance which you shall inherit, in the land that Yahweh your God gives you to possess.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You do not remove a border of your neighbor, which they of former times have made, in your inheritance, which you inherit in the land which your God YHWH is giving to you to possess it.

Young's Literal Translation
'Thou dost not remove a border of thy neighbour, which they of former times have made, in thine inheritance, which thou dost inherit in the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee to possess it.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not remove the boundary of thy neighbor which they at first set bounds in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit in the land which Jehovah thy God gave to thee to inherit it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt not take nor remove thy neighbour's landmark, which thy predecessors have set in thy possession. which the Lord thy God will give thee in the land that thou shalt receive to possess.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You shall not take up or move the landmark of your neighbor, which those before you have placed, in your possession that the Lord your God will give to you, in the land you will receive to possess.

New American Bible
You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary markers erected by your forebears in the heritage that will be allotted to you in the land the LORD, your God, is giving you to possess.

New Revised Standard Version
You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, set up by former generations, on the property that will be allotted to you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set in your inheritance, which you shall inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not remove the border from when they first marked out your inheritance that you inherited in the land that LORD JEHOVAH your God gives you to inherit.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit, in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou shalt not move the landmarks of thy neighbour, which thy fathers set in the inheritance, in which thou hast obtained a share in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Cities of Refuge
13You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you. 14You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

Cross References
Proverbs 22:28
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.

Proverbs 23:10
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

Hosea 5:10
The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.

Job 24:2
Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.

Isaiah 5:8
Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land.

Micah 2:2
They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

1 Kings 21:1-16
Some time after these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. / So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place—or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.” / But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” ...

1 Samuel 14:47
After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them.

Ezekiel 45:8-9
This land will be his possession in Israel. And My princes will no longer oppress My people, but will give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes. / For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’

Numbers 27:7-11
“The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer their father’s inheritance to them. / Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter. / If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. ...

Joshua 24:13
So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities that you did not build, and now you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’

Acts 17:26
From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

Matthew 19:18-19
“Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, / honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Mark 10:19
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”

Luke 18:20
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”


Treasury of Scripture

You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set in your inheritance, which you shall inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess it.

Deuteronomy 27:17
Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 27:17
Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Job 24:2
Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.

Jump to Previous
Ancestors Border Boundary Heritage Hold Inherit Inheritance Landmark Mark Move Moved Neighbor's Neighbour Neighbour's Possess Receive Remove Stone Time Times
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Ancestors Border Boundary Heritage Hold Inherit Inheritance Landmark Mark Move Moved Neighbor's Neighbour Neighbour's Possess Receive Remove Stone Time Times
Deuteronomy 19
1. The cities of refuge
4. The privilege thereof for the manslayer
14. The landmark is not to be removed
15. At least two witnesses are required
16. the punishment of a false witness














You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker
This command emphasizes the importance of respecting property rights and maintaining justice within the community. Boundary markers were stones or other markers used to delineate property lines. Moving them was considered a serious offense, akin to theft, as it involved taking land that did not belong to you. This principle is rooted in the broader biblical theme of justice and fairness, as seen in other scriptures like Proverbs 22:28 and Hosea 5:10, which condemn those who move boundary stones. The act of moving a boundary marker disrupts social harmony and violates the trust within the community.

which was set up by your ancestors
The reference to ancestors highlights the continuity and stability of the community's social and legal structures. It underscores the respect for tradition and the wisdom of previous generations in establishing fair and just boundaries. This phrase also connects to the covenantal promises given to the patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, regarding the land. The ancestral setting of boundaries reflects the divine order and the importance of maintaining what has been divinely allotted.

to mark the inheritance you shall receive
Inheritance in the biblical context is not merely a transfer of property but a fulfillment of God's promises to His people. The land was a tangible sign of God's covenant with Israel, and each tribe and family had a specific portion assigned to them. This inheritance was meant to be a perpetual possession, passed down through generations, as seen in Numbers 34:2 and Joshua 13-21. The concept of inheritance also points to spiritual truths, foreshadowing the eternal inheritance believers receive through Christ.

in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess
This phrase emphasizes the divine origin of the land grant. The land is not just a piece of property but a gift from God, a fulfillment of His promise to the Israelites. It underscores God's sovereignty and faithfulness in providing for His people. The land is a central theme in Deuteronomy, representing both a physical and spiritual blessing. It also serves as a type of the ultimate rest and inheritance believers will receive in the new heavens and new earth, as described in Hebrews 4:8-10 and Revelation 21:1-4.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The recipients of the law, preparing to enter the Promised Land.

3. Promised Land
The land given by God to the Israelites, where these laws would be applied.

4. Ancestors
The forefathers of the Israelites who originally set the boundary markers.

5. Boundary Marker
Physical markers used to delineate property lines and inheritance.
Teaching Points
Respect for Property and Heritage
The command to not move boundary markers underscores the importance of respecting others' property and the heritage passed down through generations.

Integrity and Honesty
Adhering to this law reflects a commitment to integrity and honesty in dealings with others, as moving a boundary marker would be a deceitful act.

Divine Order and Justice
Recognizing that God has established boundaries, both physical and moral, encourages believers to live justly and respect divine order.

Community and Trust
Maintaining established boundaries fosters trust and harmony within the community, as it prevents disputes and promotes fairness.

Stewardship of God's Gifts
The land was a gift from God, and respecting its boundaries is part of being a good steward of what God has provided.(14) Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark.--Another law manifestly appropriate here, where it appears for the first time, like the "field" in the tenth commandment (Deuteronomy 5:21). But the immediate connection is not obvious. Perhaps the idea is to caution the people to avoid a most certain incentive to hatred and murder. Ancient landmarks are also important and almost sacred witnesses.

They of old time.--The first dividers of the land. There is no idea of antiquity about the expression.

Verse 14. - To the ordinance concerning cities of refuge Moses appends one prohibiting the removing of landmarks; if these had been placed by a man's ancestors to mark the boundaries of possessions, they were not to be surreptitiously altered. Landmarks were held sacred, and a curse is pronounced against those who remove them (Deuteronomy 27:7; cf. Job 24:2; Proverbs 22:28; Proverbs 23:10; Hosea 5:10). Among other nations also landmarks were regarded as sacred (cf. Plato, 'De Legibus,' 8. p. 842; Dionys. Halic. 2:17; Plutarch, 'Numa,' 16; Ovid, 'Fast.,' 2:639). Verse 14. - They of old time; i.e. those of a former age (רִאשֹׁנִים, earlier ones, ancestors, predecessors). The word does not necessarily imply that the age described as "former" was removed at a great distance in the past; it might designate men of the immediately preceding age. The LXX. have here οἱ πατέρες, and the Vulgate priores. That the law here given was uttered whilst Israel was yet outside of Canaan, is evident from what follows in this verse.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You must not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

move
תַסִּיג֙ (ṯas·sîḡ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5253: Departing away, remove, take hold, turn away

your neighbor’s
רֵֽעֲךָ֔ (rê·‘ă·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

boundary marker,
גְּב֣וּל (gə·ḇūl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

which was set up
גָּבְל֖וּ (gā·ḇə·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1379: To twist as a, rope, to bound

by your ancestors
רִאשֹׁנִ֑ים (ri·šō·nîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

[to mark] the inheritance
בְּנַחֲלָֽתְךָ֙ (bə·na·ḥă·lā·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion

you shall receive
תִּנְחַ֔ל (tin·ḥal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5157: To inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, distribute, instate

in the land
בָּאָ֕רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is giving
נֹתֵ֥ן (nō·ṯên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you to possess.
לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ (lə·riš·tāh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 19:14 You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark (Deut. De Du)
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