Deuteronomy 2:5

5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own.

Deuteronomy 2:5 in Other Translations

5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

5 Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.

5 Do not bother them, for I have given them all the hill country around Mount Seir as their property, and I will not give you even one square foot of their land.

5 Don't try and start a fight. I am not giving you so much as a square inch of their land. I've already given all the hill country of Seir to Esau - he owns it all.

5 Don't fight with them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even an inch of it, because I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as [his] possession.

Deuteronomy 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 5 Meddle not with them
Contend not with them in battle, nor provoke them to it:

for I will not give you of their land, no not so much as a foot breadth;
or as the sole of a man's foot can tread on, signifying that they should not have the least part of it, not any at all. Jarchi makes mention of an exposition of theirs, that he would give them nothing of it until should come the day of the treading of the sole of the foot in the mount of Olives, ( Zechariah 14:4 ) , meaning not till the days of the Messiah, when Edom should be a possession of Israel; see ( Numbers 24:18 ) , ( Obadiah 1:19 )

because I have given Mount Seir unto Esau for a possession;
and therefore not to be taken away from them; they have a right of inheritance of it; see ( Genesis 36:8 ) ( Joshua 24:4 ) .

Deuteronomy 2:5 In-Context

3 “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.

4 Give the people these orders: ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful.

5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own.

6 You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’ ”

7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 36:8; Joshua 24:4