What Does Joshua 15:5 Mean in the King James?

And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan:

Joshua 15:5 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Jordan’s name carries its motion, “the descending one”, into the very boundary that ends at its waters.

THE MEANING

Judah’s border takes shape through landmarks: the Salt Sea reaches to the Jordan’s end, and the northern line begins at the sea’s bay. The river’s name carries the sense of descent, placing the boundary where that descending course meets the sea.

THE ROOT

יַרְדֵּן

Yarden

GROWS FROM

ירד

y-r-d

To descend, go down.

English makes “Jordan” look like a fixed place-name, while its Hebrew form, Yarden (⁨יַרְדֵּן⁩, “the descending one”), carries the river’s movement. The boundary is marked by a river whose name holds the descent that leads it to the Salt Sea.

ALSO GROWS

yarad: To descend or go down.

יָרַד

This is the verbal root beneath Yarden; it brings the river’s movement into the place-name.

yored: One who is descending; descending.

יוֹרֵד

This form keeps the same root in motion, making clear that Yarden’s name echoes an action, not just a location.

THE PATTERN

An inheritance takes visible shape through the lines that mark its extent.

And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.

Numbers 34:12 · KJVThe inheritance is made legible by tracing its border to the Jordan and the Salt Sea.

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Psalm 16:6 · KJVThe lines that mark an extent also give shape to the heritage within it.

And 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;

Acts 17:26 · KJVThe verse describes habitation as having bounds that give it a defined place.

THE THREAD

Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

Ezekiel 47:8 · KJV

“Go down” here is yarad (⁨יָרַד⁩, to descend), the same root carried in Yarden (⁨יַרְדֵּן⁩, Jordan, “the descending one”). Joshua marks where the descending river meets the sea; Ezekiel pictures descending waters reaching a sea and bringing healing.

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