The Meaning of Joshua 18:12 Explained

Joshua 18:12

KJV: And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.

YLT: And the border is to them at the north side from the Jordan, and the border hath gone up unto the side of Jericho on the north, and gone up through the hill-country westward, and its outgoings have been at the wilderness of Beth-Aven;

Darby: And their border on the north side was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up to the mountain westward; and ended at the wilderness of Beth-Aven;

ASV: And their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And their border  on the north  side  was from Jordan;  and the border  went up  to the side  of Jericho  on the north  side, and went up  through the mountains  westward;  and the goings out  thereof were at the wilderness  of Bethaven. 

What does Joshua 18:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Joshua 18

1  The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh
2  The remainder of the land is described, and divided into seven parts
10  Joshua distributes it by lot
11  The lot and border of Benjamin
21  Their cities

What do the individual words in Joshua 18:12 mean?

And began their border on the side north at the Jordan and went up the border to the side of Jericho on the north through the mountains westward - it ended the at the Wilderness of Beth Aven
וַיְהִ֨י לָהֶ֧ם הַגְּב֛וּל לִפְאַ֥ת צָפ֖וֹנָה מִן־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְעָלָ֣ה הַגְּבוּל֩ אֶל־ כֶּ֨תֶף יְרִיח֜וֹ מִצָּפ֗וֹן בָהָר֙ יָ֔מָּה [והיה] (וְהָיוּ֙) תֹּֽצְאֹתָ֔יו מִדְבַּ֖רָה בֵּ֥ית אָֽוֶן

וַיְהִ֨י  And  began 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַגְּב֛וּל  border 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
לִפְאַ֥ת  on  the  side 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: פֵּאָה 
Sense: corner, edge, side, quarter, extremity.
צָפ֖וֹנָה  north 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: צָפֹון  
Sense: north (of direction), northward.
מִן־  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן  the  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
וְעָלָ֣ה  and  went  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הַגְּבוּל֩  the  border 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
כֶּ֨תֶף  the  side 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כָּתֵף  
Sense: shoulder, shoulder-blade, side, slope.
יְרִיח֜וֹ  of  Jericho 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרִחֹו 
Sense: a city 5 miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (.
מִצָּפ֗וֹן  on  the  north 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָפֹון  
Sense: north (of direction), northward.
בָהָר֙  through  the  mountains 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
יָ֔מָּה  westward 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
[והיה]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
(וְהָיוּ֙)  it  ended 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מִדְבַּ֖רָה  at  the  Wilderness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
אָֽוֶן  Beth  Aven 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית אָוֶן  
Sense: a city east of Bethel, site unknown.