Lexical Summary Ziphron: Ziphron Original Word: זִפְרֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ziphron From an unused root (meaning to be fragrant); Ziphron, a place in Palestine -- Ziphron. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a place on N. boundary of the promised land NASB Translation Ziphron (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [זִפְרֹן] proper name, of a location only with ה locative זִפְרֹ֫נָה Numbers 34:9, place on northern boundary of Canaan; ᵐ5 Δεφρωνα, Ἐφρωνα; ᵐ5L Ζεφρωνα; site dubious, WetzstHauran 88 proposes Ζιφρᾶν, northeast from Damascus; FurrerZPV viii. 28 BdPal 397 (' perhaps ') Za±ferâne, between „umƒ and Hamath; Di rejects both. Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Ziphron appears once in Scripture as a landmark on the northern boundary of the land that the Lord assigned to Israel: “The border will proceed to Ziphron and end at Hazar-en-an. This will be your northern border” (Numbers 34:9). Together with Mount Hor, Lebo-hamath, Zedad, and Hazar-en-an, Ziphron defines the line that separates the covenant people from the nations to the north. Though the conquest under Joshua never fully reached this limit, the description sets forth the divine ideal of the inheritance promised to Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 15:18-21). Geographical Considerations The precise location of Ziphron remains uncertain. It is generally placed northeast of modern Lebanon, somewhere between the eastern slopes of the Anti-Lebanon range and the western fringe of the Syrian desert. Its pairing with Zedad and proximity to Hazar-en-an suggest a position on or near the caravan routes that connected Damascus with Hamath. Several explorers have proposed Tell Zephrone or Khirbet Zafaran, but archaeological corroboration is still lacking. The obscurity of the site highlights how many ancient frontier towns served chiefly as boundary markers rather than major settlements. Historical Context Moses received the northern border description on the plains of Moab shortly before Israel entered Canaan. By naming cities already known in the region, the Lord provided the tribal leaders with fixed reference points for allotting the land (Numbers 34:17-29). Centuries later, Ezekiel’s idealized restoration map (Ezekiel 47:13-17) echoes this same northern arc, reinforcing Ziphron’s role in outlining the territory that God reserves for His people in both historical and eschatological settings. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Boundaries: Ziphron embodies the truth that God Himself “determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26). The border list in Numbers 34 affirms the Lord’s sovereignty over geography and history. Practical Ministry Applications • Stewarding God-Given Boundaries: Whether applied to personal holiness, family life, or church polity, the divine setting of limits encourages believers to respect God-ordained order and avoid both legalism and license. Key Reference Forms and Transliterations זִפְרֹ֔נָה זפרנה zifRonah zip̄·rō·nāh zip̄rōnāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 34:9 HEB: וְיָצָ֤א הַגְּבֻל֙ זִפְרֹ֔נָה וְהָי֥וּ תוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו NAS: shall proceed to Ziphron, and its termination KJV: shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out INT: shall proceed and the border to Ziphron become termination 1 Occurrence |
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