Joshua 19:14
New International Version
There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.

New Living Translation
The northern boundary of Zebulun passed Hannathon and ended at the valley of Iphtah-el.

English Standard Version
then on the north the boundary turns about to Hannathon, and it ends at the Valley of Iphtahel;

Berean Standard Bible
Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el.

Berean Literal Bible
and the border went around it on the north side of Hannathon, and its outgoing was in the Valley of Iphtah-el,

King James Bible
And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:

New King James Version
Then the border went around it on the north side of Hannathon, and it ended in the Valley of Jiphthah El.

New American Standard Bible
Then the border circled around it on the north to Hannathon, and it ended at the Valley of Iphtahel.

NASB 1995
The border circled around it on the north to Hannathon, and it ended at the valley of Iphtahel.

NASB 1977
And the border circled around it on the north to Hannathon, and it ended at the valley of Iphtahel.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the border circled around it on the north to Hannathon, and it ended at the valley of Iphtahel.

Amplified Bible
The border circled it on the north to Hannathon, ending at the Valley of Iphtahel.

Berean Annotated Bible
Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon (gracious) and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el (God opens).

Christian Standard Bible
The border then circled around Neah on the north to Hannathon and ended at Iphtah-el Valley,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The border then circled around Neah on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el,

American Standard Version
and the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon; and the goings out thereof were at the valley of Iphtah-el;

Contemporary English Version
and became the northern border. Then it curved south around Hannathon and went as far west as Iphtahel Valley.

English Revised Version
and the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon: and the goings out thereof were at the valley of Iphtah-el;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
There the border turns north to Hannathon and ends at the valley of Iphtah El.

Good News Translation
On the north the border turned toward Hannathon, ending at Iphtahel Valley.

International Standard Version
On the north of Neah, the boundary turned toward Hannathon, terminating at Iphtah-el Valley

NET Bible
It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.

New Heart English Bible
The border turned around it on the north to Hannathon; and it ended at the Valley of Iphtah El;

Webster's Bible Translation
And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the limits of it are in the valley of Jiphthah-el:
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el.

World English Bible
The border turned around it on the north to Hannathon; and it ended at the valley of Iphtah El;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the border has gone around it, from the north to Hannathon; and its outgoings have been [in] the Valley of Jiphthah-El,

Berean Literal Bible
and the border went around it on the north side of Hannathon, and its outgoing was in the Valley of Iphtah-el,

Young's Literal Translation
and the border hath gone round about it, from the north to Hannathon; and its outgoings have been in the valley of Jiphthah-El,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the bound encompassed it from the north of Hanathon: and its outgoings were the valley of Jiphthahel:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it turneth about to the north of Hanathon: and the outgoings thereof are the valley of Jephtahel,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And it circles to the north at Hannathon. And its exits are at the Valley of Iphtahel;

New American Bible
Skirting north of Hannathon, the boundary ended at the valley of Iphtahel.

New Revised Standard Version
then on the north the boundary makes a turn to Hannathon, and it ends at the valley of Iphtah-el;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the border turned around the north side of Haditon; and the limits thereof ended at the Valley of Chiphtanael;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the border went around from the north of Khadithun and its limits were at the valley of Kaphtanayel
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon; and the goings out thereof were at the valley of Iphtahel;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the borders shall come round northward to Amoth, and their going out shall be at Gaephael,

Additional Translations ...



Context
Zebulun's Inheritance
13From there it crossed eastward to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon and curved around toward Neah. 14Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el. 15It also included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, along with their villages.…

Cross References
Then the border circled around the north side of Neah

Joshua 16:6-7
and out toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it to Janoah on the east. / From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

Numbers 34:7-9
Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor, / and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad, / continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north.
to Hannathon

Isaiah 9:1-2
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: / The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.

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— …

Judges 1:30
Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced laborers.
and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el.

Joshua 17:9-10
From 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. / 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.

Joshua 16:8
From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Sea. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Ephraim,
Joshua 18:19
The border continued to the northern slope of Beth-hoglah and came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan. This was the southern border.

Joshua 15:10
The border curled westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), went down to Beth-shemesh, and crossed to Timnah.

Judges 1:33
Naphtali failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the Naphtalites also lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, but the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served them as forced laborers.

1 Chronicles 6:62
The Gershomites, according to their clans, were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan.

1 Chronicles 6:77
The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands.

1 Kings 4:7-19
Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, / and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim; / Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan; …

2 Samuel 24:2-7
So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.” / But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” / Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to register the troops of Israel. …

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. …

Ezekiel 48:23-29
As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin will have one portion extending from the east side to the west side. / Simeon will have one portion bordering the territory of Benjamin from east to west. / Issachar will have one portion bordering the territory of Simeon from east to west. …


Treasury of Scripture

And the border compasses it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:

Jump to Previous
Border Boundary Circled Compasseth El Ended Ending Ends Iphtah Iphtahel Iph'tahel Iphtah-El Jiphthahel Jiphthah-El Limits North Northwards Outgoings Round Side Thereof Turned Turns Valley
Jump to Next
Border Boundary Circled Compasseth El Ended Ending Ends Iphtah Iphtahel Iph'tahel Iphtah-El Jiphthahel Jiphthah-El Limits North Northwards Outgoings Round Side Thereof Turned Turns Valley
Joshua 19
1. The lot of Simeon
10. of Zebulun
17. of Issachar
24. of Asher
32. of Naphtali
40. of Dan
49. The children of Israel give an inheritance to Joshua












Then the border circled around the north side of Neah

Zebulun’s boundary turned northward at Neah, marking the course of the tribal inheritance assigned by lot in the land of Canaan.

Jos 16:6-7 and out toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north…
Num 34:7-9 Your northern border will run from the Great Sea…

to Hannathon

From Neah the boundary continued to Hannathon, meaning “gracious” or “favored,” a settlement within the region that helped define Zebulun’s allotted territory.

Isa 9:1-2 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom…
Mat 4:13-16 Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum,…
Jdg 1:30 Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron…

and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el.

The boundary reached its endpoint at the Valley of Iphtah-el, meaning “God opens,” a significant natural landmark on Zebulun’s border. These detailed limits established the land entrusted to Zebulun as part of Israel’s settlement in the Promised Land.

Jos 17:9-10 From there the border continued southward.…
Jos 16:8 From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hannathon
A town mentioned in the territory of the tribe of Zebulun. Its exact location is uncertain, but it is part of the northern boundary of Zebulun's inheritance.

2. Valley of Iphtah-el
A valley marking the end of the northern boundary of Zebulun's territory. The name suggests a place of opening or expansion, possibly indicating a fertile or significant area.

3. Zebulun
One of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's son Zebulun. This passage describes part of the land allotted to them in the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in Fulfillment
The detailed description of land boundaries in Joshua 19:14 is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the tribes of Israel. Just as God was faithful to Zebulun, He remains faithful to His promises to us today.

Significance of Boundaries
The specific boundaries given to each tribe remind us of the importance of recognizing and respecting the boundaries God sets in our lives. These boundaries are for our protection and blessing.

Inheritance and Identity
The land allotted to Zebulun was part of their identity and inheritance. As believers, we have a spiritual inheritance in Christ that defines our identity and purpose.

Community and Cooperation
The division of land required cooperation among the tribes. In the body of Christ, we are called to work together, respecting each other's roles and gifts.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 19:14?

2. How does Joshua 19:14 illustrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises?

3. What can we learn about God's precision in boundaries from Joshua 19:14?

4. How does Joshua 19:14 connect to God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15?

5. How can we apply the concept of divine boundaries in our daily lives?

6. What does Joshua 19:14 teach about God's attention to detail in our lives?

7. What is the significance of the boundary description in Joshua 19:14 for Israel's tribal inheritance?

8. How does Joshua 19:14 reflect God's promise to the Israelites?

9. What archaeological evidence supports the locations mentioned in Joshua 19:14?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 19?


(14) Hannathon (Kefr-'Andn, sheet 9) is the northeast corner of the boundary. The valley (ravine) of Jiphthah-el (God's opening) seems to be the gorge running south-west from the north of Hannathon towards the plain.

Verse 14. - Compasseth it. The verb נסב is here used transitively. The meaning is that the border makes a curve round the city of Neah. Neah seems to have been the extreme eastern border. Methoar is supposed to be the Pual participle, and has been freely translated, "which is marked out," or, "which belongs to," Neah. But the passage is obscure. Knobel could alter the reading, in view of the grammatical difficulty. Yet this, perhaps, is not insuperable in view of Joshua 3:14 (see Gesen, 'Grammar,' sec. 108, 2. c.). Valley. גֵי. (see note on Joshua 8:13; 15:8). So in ver. 27.

Joshua 19:14 is not a dry footnote but a living record of God’s meticulous faithfulness. Every curve around Neah, the inclusion of Hannathon, and the halt at Iphtah-el prove that He keeps His promises down to the last boundary stone. These borders show His order, safeguard peace, and position His people to bless the nations—inviting us to trust and thrive within the secure inheritance He provides.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the border
הַגְּב֔וּל (hag·gə·ḇūl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

circled around
וְנָסַ֤ב (wə·nā·saḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

the north side
מִצְּפ֖וֹן (miṣ·ṣə·p̄ō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

[of Neah]
אֹתוֹ֙ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

to Hannathon
חַנָּתֹ֑ן (ḥan·nā·ṯōn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2615: Hannathon -- a place in Zebulun

and ended
וְהָיוּ֙ (wə·hā·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

at the Valley of Iphtah-el.
גֵּ֖י (gê)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1516: A valley


Additonal Resources
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OT History: Joshua 19:14 The border turned around it (Josh. Jos)

Joshua 19:13
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