Joshua 17:10
New International Version
On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

New Living Translation
In general, however, the land south of the ravine belonged to Ephraim, and the land north of the ravine belonged to Manasseh. Manasseh’s boundary ran along the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. North of Manasseh was the territory of Asher, and to the east was the territory of Issachar.

English Standard Version
the land to the south being Ephraim’s and that to the north being Manasseh’s, with the sea forming its boundary. On the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar.

Berean Standard Bible
Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s was to the north, having the Sea as its border and adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

King James Bible
Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

New King James Version
Southward it was Ephraim’s, northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was its border. Manasseh’s territory was adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

New American Standard Bible
The south side belonged to Ephraim and the north side to Manasseh, and the sea was their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east.

NASB 1995
The south side belonged to Ephraim and the north side to Manasseh, and the sea was their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east.

NASB 1977
The south side belonged to Ephraim and the north side to Manasseh, and the sea was their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east.

Legacy Standard Bible
The south side belonged to Ephraim and the north side to Manasseh, and the sea was their border; and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east.

Amplified Bible
The land on the south side belonged to Ephraim and that on the north side was Manasseh’s, and the sea was their border; they reached to [the territory of] Asher on the north and to [the territory of] Issachar on the east.

Christian Standard Bible
Ephraim’s territory was to the south and Manasseh’s to the north, with the Sea as its border. They reached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ephraim’s territory was to the south and Manasseh’s to the north, with the Sea as its border. They reached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

American Standard Version
southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea was his border; and they reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.

English Revised Version
southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea was his border; and they reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
What is south [of the river] belongs to Ephraim, and what is north [of it] belongs to Manasseh. So the Mediterranean Sea [is its western border], Asher its northern border, and Issachar its eastern border.

Good News Translation
Ephraim was to the south, and Manasseh was to the north, with the Mediterranean Sea as their western border. Asher was to the northwest, and Issachar to the northeast.

International Standard Version
The southern area was allocated to Ephraim and the northern area to Manasseh. The Mediterranean Sea was the border, extending to Asher on the North and to Issachar on the east.

Majority Standard Bible
Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s was to the north, having the Sea as its border and adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

NET Bible
Ephraim's territory was to the south, and Manasseh's to the north. The sea was Manasseh's western border and their territory touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

New Heart English Bible
Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.

Webster's Bible Translation
Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

World English Bible
Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Southward [is] for Ephraim and northward for Manasseh, and the sea is his border, and in Asher they meet on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

Young's Literal Translation
Southward is to Ephraim and northward to Manasseh, and the sea is his border, and in Asher they meet on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

Smith's Literal Translation
South, to Ephraim, and north, to Manasseh, and the sea will be his bound; and in Asher they will strike together from the north, and in Issachar from the sunrisings.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So that the possession of Ephraim is on the south, and on the north that of Manasses, and the sea is the border of both, and they are joined together in the tribe of Aser on the north, and in the tribe of Issachar on the east.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So it is that the possession of Ephraim is in the south, and that of Manasseh is in the north, and both are enclosed by the sea, and they are joined together by the tribe of Asher to the north, and by the tribe of Issachar to the east.

New American Bible
The land on the south belonged to Ephraim and that on the north to Manasseh; with the sea as their common boundary, they reached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

New Revised Standard Version
The land to the south is Ephraim’s and that to the north is Manasseh’s, with the sea forming its boundary; on the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The land to the south went to Ephraim, and that to the north to Manasseh, and the sea as their border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the south to Aphreim and the north to Menasheh, and the Sea was their border, and in Ashir they meet from the north and in Issakar from the east
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea was his border; and they reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Southward the land belongs to Ephraim, and northward to Manasse; and the sea shall be their cost; and northward they shall border upon Aseb, and eastward upon Issachar.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Manasseh's Inheritance
9From there the border continued southward to the Brook of Kanah. There were cities belonging to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh, but the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook and ended at the Sea. 10Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s was to the north, having the Sea as its border and adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 11Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements.…

Cross References
Numbers 34:6
Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west.

Deuteronomy 3:13-17
To the half-tribe of Manasseh I gave the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og. (The entire region of Argob, the whole territory of Bashan, used to be called the land of the Rephaim.) / Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites. He renamed Bashan after himself, Havvoth-jair, by which it is called to this day. / To Machir I gave Gilead, ...

Joshua 13:8-12
The other half of Manasseh, along with the Reubenites and Gadites, had received the inheritance Moses had given them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had assigned to them: / The area from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, / and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the Ammonites; ...

Joshua 16:1-4
The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. / It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz) and proceeded to the border of the Archites in Ataroth. / Then it descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Sea. ...

Judges 1:27-28
At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. / When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.

1 Kings 4:21
And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

1 Chronicles 5:23
Now the people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous. They settled in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon (that is, Senir, also known as Mount Hermon).

Ezekiel 47:13-20
This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions. / You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance. / This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, ...

Ezekiel 48:1-7
“Now these are the names of the tribes: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion bordering the road of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath and running on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus with Hamath to the north, and extending from the east side to the west side. / Asher will have one portion bordering the territory of Dan from east to west. / Naphtali will have one portion bordering the territory of Asher from east to west. ...

Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:

Matthew 4:13-16
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, / to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: / “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— ...

Mark 7:31
Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.

Luke 4:14-15
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region. / He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.

John 4:3-4
He left Judea and returned to Galilee. / Now He had to pass through Samaria.

Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.


Treasury of Scripture

Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

Jump to Previous
Asher Belonged Border Boundary East Ephraim Ephraim's E'phraim's Issachar Is'sachar Limit Manasseh Manasseh's Manas'seh's Meet Met North Northward Reached Sea Side South Southward Territory Together Touched Touching
Jump to Next
Asher Belonged Border Boundary East Ephraim Ephraim's E'phraim's Issachar Is'sachar Limit Manasseh Manasseh's Manas'seh's Meet Met North Northward Reached Sea Side South Southward Territory Together Touched Touching
Joshua 17
1. The lot of Manasseh
7. His coast
12. The Canaanites not driven out
14. The children of Joseph obtain another lot














Ephraim’s territory was to the south
The tribe of Ephraim, named after one of Joseph's sons, was allotted land to the south of Manasseh. This allocation reflects the fulfillment of Jacob's blessing over Joseph's sons in Genesis 48, where Ephraim was given precedence over Manasseh despite being the younger. The Hebrew root for "south" (נֶגֶב, negev) often signifies a direction associated with warmth and light, symbolizing the favor and blessing upon Ephraim. Historically, Ephraim's land was fertile and strategically located, which played a significant role in Israel's history.

and Manasseh’s to the north
Manasseh, the firstborn of Joseph, received a large portion of land, divided between territories on both sides of the Jordan River. The northern allocation signifies Manasseh's prominence and strength, as the tribe was known for its valor and size. The Hebrew root for "north" (צָפוֹן, tsaphon) can imply hidden or concealed, perhaps indicating the tribe's potential and resources. This division of land between Ephraim and Manasseh also reflects the unity and diversity within the house of Joseph.

The sea was their boundary
The "sea" refers to the Mediterranean Sea, which served as a natural western boundary for the tribes. In biblical symbolism, the sea often represents chaos and the unknown, yet here it provides a clear and defined limit to the land, suggesting God's order and provision. The Hebrew word for "sea" (יָם, yam) is used throughout Scripture to denote vastness and power, reminding the Israelites of God's sovereignty over creation.

they touched Asher on the north
The tribe of Asher, known for its rich olive oil and fertile land, bordered Manasseh to the north. The Hebrew root for "touched" (נָגַע, naga) implies contact or reaching, indicating the interconnectedness of the tribes. This connection with Asher highlights the cooperative and interdependent nature of the Israelite tribes, each contributing to the nation's overall strength and prosperity.

and Issachar on the east
Issachar, another son of Jacob, bordered Manasseh to the east. Known for its wisdom and understanding of the times (1 Chronicles 12:32), Issachar's proximity to Manasseh suggests a sharing of knowledge and resources. The Hebrew root for "east" (קֶדֶם, qedem) often signifies antiquity or origin, pointing to the tribe's deep roots and historical significance. This eastern boundary underscores the balance and harmony intended among the tribes, each fulfilling its God-given role within the Promised Land.

Verse 10. - And they met together. Rather, they (i.e., the Manassites) impinged (this is the very same word as the Hebrew יִפְגְעוּ), i.e., "touched upon." There has been great discussion concerning this passage. The literal meaning is clearly that Manasseh was bordered by Asher on the north, and Issachar on the east. The idea of an Asher-ham-Michmethah must be given up if we take this rendering of the Hebrew. Its only justification is the fact that if Michmethah be at once the northern border of Ephraim and Manasseh, the territory of Manasseh is cut almost in half. And, in fact, such a supposition makes confusion worse confounded. Is it probable that in vers. 7 and 10 Asher-ham-Michmethah is meant; that the town Asher is mentioned in similar terms to the tribe Issachar in the latter verse; and that in ver. 11, without a single intimation of the change of meaning, the tribes Issachar and Asher are mentioned? Again: if Dor - considerably to the south of Mount Carmel - was within the territory of Asher (ver. 11), how can we possibly, as Conder's 'Handbook' does, place the limits of Asher at Accho, and bring Zebulun to the sea (which it never reaches, for "toward the sea," in Joshua 19:11 clearly means "westward"), interposing a large strip of territory between Manasseh and Asher, placing Dor, in spite of ver. 11, far within the limits of Manasseh, and giving this last tribe, or rather half tribe, an extraordinarily disproportioned share of the land? (See the complaint in ver. 16). Zebulun, too, was on the eastern border of Asher (Joshua 19:27), and it is by no means certain that Shihor Libnath (see Joshua 19:26) is not the Wady Zerka, south of Dor. This is the view of Knobel, a commentator by no means void of acuteness. This contraction of Manasseh's territory explains why cities had to be given to it out of Asher and Issachar, as well as the complaint in the latter part of this chapter. Issachar, too, must have stretched considerably southward. But the vagueness of the description of Manasseh's border, especially on the north, prevents us from assigning any limits to Issachar in this direction; while it is impossible, with a writer in the Quarterly Papers of the Palestine Exploration Fund, to suppose that it extended from Jezreel and Shunem and Endor on the north as far as Jericho to the south.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Ephraim’s [territory]
לְאֶפְרַ֗יִם (lə·’ep̄·ra·yim)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

was to the south,
נֶ֣גְבָּה (neḡ·bāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5045: South country, the Negeb, south

and Manasseh’s
לִמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה (lim·naš·šeh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites

was
וַיְהִ֥י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

to the north,
וְצָפ֙וֹנָה֙ (wə·ṣā·p̄ō·w·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

having the Sea
הַיָּ֖ם (hay·yām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

as its border
גְּבוּל֑וֹ (gə·ḇū·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

and adjoining
יִפְגְּע֣וּן (yip̄·gə·‘ūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 6293: To impinge, by accident, violence, by importunity

Asher
וּבְאָשֵׁר֙ (ū·ḇə·’ā·šêr)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 836: Asher -- 'happy one', a son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, also perhaps a city in Palestine

on the north
מִצָּפ֔וֹן (miṣ·ṣā·p̄ō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

and Issachar
וּבְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר (ū·ḇə·yiś·śā·š·ḵār)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3485: Issachar -- perhaps 'there is recompense', a son of Jacob and Leah, also a son of Obed-edom

on the east.
מִמִּזְרָֽח׃ (mim·miz·rāḥ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4217: Place of sunrise, the east


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OT History: Joshua 17:10 Southward it was Ephraim's and northward it (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 17:9
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