184. avah

Lexical Summary

avah: draw

Original Word: אָוָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: avah
Pronunciation: ah-vah'
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-vaw')
KJV: point out
NASB: draw
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to extend or mark out

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

point out

A primitive root; to extend or mark out -- point out.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to sign, mark, describe with a mark
NASB Translation
draw (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. [אָוָה] verb sign, mark, describe with a mark (so Ges (who compares תאה, תוה) Dl^{Pr 116} (not W)) only

Hithpa`el Perfect הִתְאַוִּיתֶם לָכֶם mark you out, measure, Numbers 34:10 (P), so Vrss (compare תְּתָאוּ לָכֶם Numbers 34:7; Numbers 34:8; see however Di, & below I.אוה).

Topical Lexicon

Scriptural Occurrence and Context

The verb אָוָה appears once in the Hebrew canon, at Numbers 34:10. In the Berean Standard Bible the clause reads, “For your eastern boundary, you are to draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham.” The word translated “draw a line” (or “mark out”) occurs in the reflexive stem, describing Israel’s active role in delineating the God-given borders of the Promised Land as the nation prepared to enter Canaan.

Concept of Divinely Appointed Borders

Numbers 34 is not merely a geographic survey. It is the formal declaration that Israel’s inheritance is fixed by divine command. The solitary use of אָוָה highlights the solemnity of the moment: Israel must intentionally, carefully, and obediently trace the lines that God Himself has decreed. The border is therefore an external symbol of covenant faithfulness, distinguishing the holy land from surrounding nations and reminding the people that their territory is a gift, not a conquest of human ingenuity.

Theological Insights

1. God’s Sovereign Order. The act of “drawing the line” underlines that divine promises are concrete, measurable, and trustworthy. Just as the eastern border could be plotted on the map, every promise of God is certain and specific (Joshua 21:45; 2 Corinthians 1:20).
2. Stewardship of Inheritance. By commanding Israel to mark its borders, the Lord entrusted the nation with the stewardship of land that ultimately belongs to Him (Leviticus 25:23). The boundary defines both privilege and responsibility: within it the people are to maintain covenant loyalty; beyond it they are to respect the allotments of others (Deuteronomy 19:14).
3. Holiness and Separation. Physical boundaries illustrate spiritual ones. Israel is called to be distinct in worship, ethics, and community life (Exodus 19:6). The clearly drawn border in Numbers 34 anticipates apostolic exhortations that believers “come out from among them and be separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

Applications for Ministry Today

• Church Leadership: Like Israel marking her inheritance, elders must set clear doctrinal and moral boundaries that safeguard the flock (Acts 20:28-31; 2 Timothy 1:13-14).
• Personal Discipleship: Defining lines of obedience—what is permitted and what is not—helps believers pursue holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).
• Mission Strategy: Recognizing God-appointed fields reminds the church that every locale, culture, and people group has a place in His redemptive plan (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 17:26-27).
• Social Ethics: In a culture that blurs moral boundaries, the moment in Numbers 34 encourages Christians to affirm God’s design for marriage, sexuality, and justice, understanding that divine lines are protective, not restrictive (Psalm 16:6).

Related Biblical Themes

• Lot Boundaries and Tribal Inheritance – Joshua 15–19; Ezekiel 47–48.
• God’s Ownership of the Land – Leviticus 25:23; Psalm 24:1.
• Spiritual Boundary-Setting – Proverbs 4:23; Galatians 6:4-5.
• Covenant Faithfulness and Territory – Deuteronomy 11:24; Nehemiah 9:7-8.

Summary

The single occurrence of אָוָה in Numbers 34:10 encapsulates the divine directive to delineate Israel’s eastern frontier. Though a technical term for surveying, it conveys profound theological truth: God establishes ordered boundaries for His people’s blessing and witness. Christians today, inheritors of a better covenant, continue to honor God by respecting and upholding the physical, moral, and spiritual lines He draws for their good and His glory.

Forms and Transliterations

וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם והתאויתם vehitavviTem wə·hiṯ·’aw·wî·ṯem wəhiṯ’awwîṯem

Englishman's Concordance

Numbers 34:10
HEB: וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם לָכֶ֖ם לִגְב֣וּל
NAS: border you shall also draw a line
KJV: And ye shall point out your east
INT: draw border your eastern

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 184
1 Occurrence

wə·hiṯ·’aw·wî·ṯem — 1 Occ.