Meaning
A landmark is a physical marker or established point used to identify the limit of a property or area.
Biblical Usage
In the Bible, a landmark is a marker used to preserve the established boundary of an inherited possession. Under Israel’s law, removing a neighbour’s landmark was prohibited because doing so could unlawfully change the extent of another person’s property.
The Bible speaks of the ancient landmark established by earlier generations. The term therefore refers not merely to a geographical point, but to an established marker that preserves a recognized boundary.
A landmark is different from a boundary itself. The boundary is the limit of the area; the landmark is the physical marker used to identify that limit.
Key References
Deuteronomy 19:14 — Israel was commanded not to remove a neighbour’s landmark from his inheritance.
Proverbs 22:28 — The ancient landmark established by the fathers was not to be removed.
Proverbs 23:10 — The ancient landmark was again associated with protection of inherited fields and the property of the fatherless.
Related Terms
- Boundary
- Border
- Territory
- Inheritance
- Possession