Geriatric leftists are out in full force again, blessing us with a beautiful rendition of “We are not afraid” outside an ICE facility. pic.twitter.com/yqjIzZkEsB
— MRCTV (@mrctv) October 17, 2025
The Old Testament of the Bible clearly mentions respecting and preserving geographic boundaries, often referred to as “boundary lines” or “landmarks.” These are seen as divinely established demarcations for the land given to tribes, families, or individuals and carry both literal and symbolic significance.
Biblical References to Boundaries
- Divine Allocation of Land
God is portrayed as the one who sets boundaries for nations and peoples. For example, Deuteronomy 32:8 notes that the Most High “set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel,” indicating that each nation was given a specific portion of land with defined borders as their inheritance. The Book of Joshua (chapters 13-21) details the allotment of the Promised Land among the Israelite tribes by exact boundaries, emphasizing the divine nature of these borders.biblehub+1 - Prohibition Against Moving Boundaries
Respecting these boundaries is a clear biblical command. Scriptures warn against moving or removing a neighbor’s landmark or boundary stone, a practice seen as unjust and subject to a curse. Verses include:
- Deuteronomy 19:14: “You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set in your inheritance…”
- Deuteronomy 27:17: “Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s landmark.”
- Proverbs 22:28 and 23:10 also emphasize not removing ancient landmarks.pppministries.wordpress+2
- Respect for Neighboring Nations’ Boundaries
The Bible refers to the boundaries of other nations and expects Israel to respect these territorial limits as well. Examples include the borders of the Canaanites, Edomites, Moabites, and Egyptians. Boundary respect was integral to peaceful coexistence among nations.pppministries.wordpress
Theological and Ethical Significance
Boundaries symbolize God’s order and provision, ensuring each group or individual receives their appointed inheritance. The injunction not to alter these boundary markers serves as a call for honesty, respect for others’ property, and social harmony within communities and nations.biblehub+1
Summary
Yes, the Old Testament commands the respect and preservation of geographic boundaries. Boundaries are divinely ordained, clearly marked, and protected by laws to prevent encroachment, reflecting both practical and ethical importance in biblical teaching.biblehub+2
The Old Testament prescribes serious consequences for encroaching on neighbors’ land, especially by moving or removing boundary markers, which was regarded as theft and a violation of God’s law.
Penalties for Encroachment
- Curses for Moving Boundaries
Deuteronomy 27:17 explicitly states, “Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker,” indicating a divine curse as punishment for this offense. This curse was part of a series of covenant blessings and curses announced to maintain societal order and justice.biblehub+1 - Symbolic and Legal Seriousness
Moving boundary stones was considered a grave offense akin to theft and false witness. This act violated not only individual property rights but was also seen as a sacrilegious act against God, who owned the land (Hosea 5:10). The boundary stones were sacred markers set by ancestors, and removing them was regarded as double deceit.tifwe+2 - Social and Religious Consequences
While the Old Testament does not specify uniform civil or capital penalties directly tied to moving boundaries in all cases, the offense could lead to social ostracism and divine disfavor. In some interpretations, such violations could be grounds for God’s judgment on the community, including expulsion from the land or loss of inheritance privileges (Leviticus 18:24-30, Deuteronomy 8:19-20).learn.ligonier - Death Penalty in Later Laws
In some later legal traditions influenced by biblical law, such acts were punishable by death, reflecting the high stakes of land theft and boundary violations within the covenant community.tifwe
Summary
Encroachment through moving or removing neighbors’ boundary markers in the Old Testament led primarily to a divine curse, viewed as a serious sin involving theft and false witness. This action risked social, religious, and potentially legal penalties, emphasizing the holiness and inviolability of land boundaries as divinely ordained.gotquestions+2
The biblical doctrine about boundaries and the modern protest slogan “GOD’S LOVE KNOWS NO BORDERS” reflect fundamentally different understandings of what boundaries represent, particularly in the Old Testament context versus some contemporary political expressions.
Biblical Doctrine on Boundaries
- The Old Testament portrays geographic boundaries as divinely ordained and sacred. They were set by God to allocate land and inheritance fairly among tribes and families, ensuring order and justice (Deuteronomy 32:8, Joshua 13-21).
- Respecting and preserving these boundaries was a serious command. Moving or encroaching on a neighbor’s boundary was forbidden and brought divine curses, emphasizing the holiness and inviolability of these lines (Deuteronomy 19:14, Proverbs 22:28, 27:17).
- Boundaries symbolized God’s justice and provision, creating distinct nations and spaces with purpose and identity. They were not arbitrary, but part of God’s design for human society.biblehub+2
Modern Protest Slogan: “GOD’S LOVE KNOWS NO BORDERS”
- This slogan is often used in protests against immigration enforcement to argue that God’s unconditional love transcends political borders and that human-made boundaries should not limit compassion or hospitality.
- While the sentiment emphasizes universal love and kindness, it can misinterpret biblical teachings by overlooking the Old Testament emphasis on respecting God-ordained boundaries as expressions of divine justice, order, and inheritance.
- The Bible’s call to love neighbors and strangers does not contradict respecting boundaries; biblical hospitality operates within a framework where nations and their borders exist by divine permission and serve important purposes for community identity and rightful ownership.pppministries.wordpress+1
Highlighting the Misunderstanding
- The phrase “God’s love knows no borders” tends to treat borders as purely human political constructs to be erased or ignored, whereas the Bible actually records that God himself sets the bounds of peoples and nations and commands these to be respected (Deuteronomy 32:8).
- Ignoring or violating biblical boundaries constitutes wrongdoing in Scripture, not an expression of divine love or justice. Boundaries protect rightful ownership, promote peace, and prevent conflict—values consistent with God’s justice and righteousness.
- True biblical love involves justice, respect, and order, alongside mercy and compassion. The slogan risks oversimplifying a complex biblical balance between love and respect for divinely established boundaries.biblehub+2
Summary
While modern protest signs like “GOD’S LOVE KNOWS NO BORDERS” express a call for universal love and hospitality, they often misunderstand the biblical doctrine, which upholds God-ordained boundaries as integral to justice and order. The Bible commands respect for these boundaries as part of God’s covenantal design, meaning love and compassion must be practiced in ways that honor divine boundaries rather than negate them.biblehub+2