Lexical Summary taah: To err, to wander, to go astray Original Word: תָּאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance point out A primitive root; to mark off, i.e. (intensively) designate -- point out. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition probably to mark out NASB Translation draw a line (1), draw your border line (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [תָּאָה] verb Pi`el Imperfect3masculine plural תְּתָאוּ Numbers 34:7,8 apparently ye shall mark out (the boundary), but this (and הִתְאַוִּיתֶם Numbers 34:10, v אוה q. v.) very dubious, see Gray, and [תָּאַר]. Topical Lexicon Meaning in Context The verb describes the deliberate action of stretching or drawing a boundary-line. In Scripture it appears only in Numbers 34:7-8, where the LORD instructs Moses to have Israel’s leaders “draw a line” that will fix the northern border of the inheritance in Canaan. Occurrences Numbers 34:7 “And this will be your northern border: From the Great Sea you are to draw a line to Mount Hor.” Numbers 34:8 “From Mount Hor you are to draw a line to Lebo-hamath, then the boundary will extend to Zedad.” Historical Setting Numbers 34 records the final camp on the plains of Moab just before Israel crosses the Jordan. The generation born in the wilderness stands poised to receive what was promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21). By commanding the leaders to “draw a line,” the LORD publicly defines His gift, turning promise into surveyable geography before a single city is taken. The formal mapping anticipates Joshua’s later allotment and prevents tribal quarrels (compare Joshua 19:51). Covenantal Significance of Divinely Drawn Borders 1. Divine Ownership – Only the covenant LORD has authority to set Israel’s borders; He alone distributes land to whom He wills (Leviticus 25:23). Biblical Theology of Boundary-Setting • Creation: Light, seas, and land are separated (Genesis 1), foreshadowing ordered space for human flourishing. Ministry and Discipleship Implications • Stewardship – As Israel received defined territory to cultivate, believers receive spiritual gifts and spheres of service (2 Corinthians 10:13-15). Clarity about one’s God-given “lines” prevents rivalry and fosters faithfulness. Christological Reflection The One who drew Israel’s borders enters those borders in the incarnation. By His death and resurrection Jesus secures “an inheritance that is imperishable” (1 Peter 1:4), and by sending the Spirit He “measures off” hearts as temples (Ephesians 2:21-22). The careful demarcation in Numbers anticipates the precise, unfailing fulfillment of every promise in Him. Summary Though used only twice, תָּאָה anchors the moment when promise turns into plotted reality. It reveals a God who rules territory, history, and salvation with exactness and grace, calling His people to live gratefully within the good lines He draws and to invite the world to share in the inheritance secured through His Son. Forms and Transliterations תְּתָא֖וּ תְּתָא֥וּ תתאו tə·ṯā·’ū təṯā’ū tetaULinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 34:7 HEB: הַיָּם֙ הַגָּדֹ֔ל תְּתָא֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם הֹ֥ר NAS: border: you shall draw your [border] line from the Great KJV: sea ye shall point out for you mount INT: Sea the Great shall draw Hor to Mount Numbers 34:8 2 Occurrences |
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