When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the children of men, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.
- BSB When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
- NKJV When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel.
- NASB “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of mankind, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the sons of Israel.
- NLT When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number in his heavenly court.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When the Most High allotted the nations their inheritance, He set their boundaries in relation to Israel. It matters because it shows God's sovereign ordering of all peoples with Israel at the center of His purposes.
Overview
God is depicted as the sovereign who assigns nations their lands and limits, a theme echoed in Acts 17:26. (Some ancient manuscripts read 'sons of God' rather than 'children of Israel'; faithful interpreters differ on the precise sense, but God's sovereign apportioning of the nations is clear.) Israel's special place among the nations points forward to God's plan to bless all peoples through Abraham's seed, fulfilled in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Acts 17:26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
- Gen 11:8–9So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
- Dan 4:17This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
- Ps 115:16The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
- Gen 15:18–21In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
- Gen 10:25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
- Ps 91:1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
- Ps 92:8But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.
- Gen 10:15And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, and Heth,
- Acts 7:48Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
- Ps 7:17I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
- Dan 5:18O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
- Ps 50:14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
- Num 24:16He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
- Isa 14:14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
- Ps 82:6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 32:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.