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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 17:26He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,
- Gen 11:8–9So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city.
- Dan 4:17The sentence 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 rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.
- Ps 115:16The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh; but the earth has he given to the children of men.
- Gen 15:18–21In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:
- Gen 10:25To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan.
- Ps 91:1He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Ps 92:8But you, Yahweh, are on high forever more.
- Gen 10:15Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth,
- Acts 7:48However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
- Ps 7:17I will give thanks to Yahweh according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.
- Dan 5:18You, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:
- Ps 50:14Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.
- Num 24:16he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
- Isa 14:14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!”
- Ps 82:6I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.