Ezekiel 48 15

Ezekiel 48:15 kjv

And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.

Ezekiel 48:15 nkjv

"The five thousand cubits in width that remain, along the edge of the twenty-five thousand, shall be for general use by the city, for dwellings and common-land; and the city shall be in the center.

Ezekiel 48:15 niv

"The remaining area, 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for the common use of the city, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it

Ezekiel 48:15 esv

"The remainder, 5,000 cubits in breadth and 25,000 in length, shall be for common use for the city, for dwellings and for open country. In the midst of it shall be the city,

Ezekiel 48:15 nlt

"An additional strip of land 8 1?3 miles long by 1 2?3 miles wide, south of the sacred Temple area, will be allotted for public use ? homes, pasturelands, and common lands, with a city at the center.

Ezekiel 48 verses

Ezekiel 48 15 meaning

This verse details a specific portion of land within Ezekiel's visionary plan for the restored Israel. It describes a rectangular area, 25,000 cubits long and 5,000 cubits wide, designated for the city's common use. This land is allocated to serve as suburbs and pasture ground for the city, providing space for practical daily living, expansion, and the sustenance of its inhabitants through animal husbandry and shared resources, distinct from the adjacent holy and dedicated portions.

Ezekiel 48 15 Context

Ezekiel chapters 40-48 provide a detailed, prophetic vision of a new temple and the meticulous division of the land for a restored Israel. Chapter 48, specifically, outlines the allocation of tribal territories, culminating in the precise measurements and purpose of a central "holy contribution" (terumah). Verse 15 refers to a segment of this central area. This land (25,000 cubits by 5,000 cubits) is identified as the "common" land directly beneath the holy portion and distinct from the tribal allotments. Its designation for "suburbs and pasture" means it serves the practical needs of the central city's inhabitants, supporting urban life and its associated livestock. This vision highlights divine order, detailed provision, and a clear distinction between sacred spaces and those designated for ordinary communal living, presenting an idealized blueprint for the post-exilic and ultimate spiritual community, far exceeding any historical reality.

Ezekiel 48 15 Word analysis

• The five thousand cubits (חֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אַמָּה - `chamesh alephim amma`):
  • 'Cubits' (`ammah`) is an ancient measurement unit, roughly the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18-21 inches). This specific dimension of 5,000 cubits describes the breadth or width of this land section.
  • The repetition of precise, round numbers emphasizes divine meticulousness and geometric perfection in the visionary layout, suggesting order and intentionality in God's plan.
• in breadth (בְרֹחַב - `berochav`):
  • Refers to the width. This clearly delineates one dimension of the rectangular parcel of land.
  • Highlights the systematic, architectural detail in Ezekiel's vision, ensuring every piece of the restored land has a defined space and purpose.
• and the five and twenty thousand (וְחָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף - `v'chamesh v'esrim eleph`):
  • Refers to the length, specifically 25,000 cubits. This is the same length as the width of the entire "holy contribution" (25,000 x 25,000 cubits square) mentioned earlier in Ezek 48.
  • This numerical correspondence ensures perfect geometric integration within the broader sacred district.
• in length (בָּאֹרֶךְ - `ba'orech`):
  • Denotes the linear extent. Coupled with 'breadth,' it forms a precise rectangle.
  • Underlines the structured, orderly nature of the entire visionary division, reflecting divine design.
• shall be to the city (וְהָיָה לָעִיר - `v'hayah la'iyr`):
  • `לָעִיר` (`la'iyr`) means "to the city" or "for the city." `עִיר` (`'iyr`) simply means 'city' or 'town.'
  • This indicates the ultimate recipient and primary beneficiary of this land parcel: the urban center for daily habitation. It provides necessary supporting infrastructure for urban life.
• for suburbs (לְמִגְרָשׁ - `le'migrash`):
  • `מִגְרָשׁ` (`migrash`) means 'common-land,' 'open land,' 'pasture-ground,' often used for the land immediately surrounding Levitical cities (Num 35:2-5).
  • This land serves as an open buffer zone, for public use, or for light agriculture and animal grazing. It's distinct from the built-up area and the strictly sacred spaces.
• and for pasture (וּלְמִרְעֶה - `u'le'mir'eh`):
  • `מִרְעֶה` (`mir'eh`) specifically means 'pasture' or 'grazing land.'
  • This reinforces the utilitarian purpose of this land for animal sustenance, indicating a self-sufficient community with a close relationship between urban life and agrarian support.
• and it shall be for the city (וְהָיָה לָעִיר - `v'hayah la'iyr`):
  • The repetition here (also translated "and the city shall be there," or "belonging to the city") emphasizes and confirms the specific dedication and purpose of this area to the city itself.
  • It explicitly removes ambiguity about its use, differentiating it from tribal or purely sacred allocations.

• Words-group analysis
  • "The five thousand cubits in breadth, and the five and twenty thousand in length": These precise, numerically specified dimensions are crucial. They convey the exactness of God's planning and the orderly, balanced nature of the restored community. The specific numbers relate directly to other measurements in Ezekiel 48, indicating a harmonized, divinely engineered layout for the new covenant land and city.
  • "shall be to the city for suburbs and for pasture": This phrase details the direct functional purpose of this specific land portion. It clearly allocates it for the support and sustenance of the urban center, rather than for direct priestly or Levitical use, or tribal inheritance. It shows a practical consideration for daily life within God's meticulously planned vision.
  • "for suburbs and for pasture" (`le'migrash u'le'mir'eh`): The pairing of `migrash` and `mir'eh` indicates that this common land is multifunctional. It acts both as a peripheral buffer zone—a space for development or community interaction (suburbs)—and explicitly for feeding livestock, underscoring the vital economic and practical resources provided to the city. It highlights the provision for both residential and economic well-being.

Ezekiel 48 15 Bonus section

This specified "common land" for the city's pasture (migrash) directly echoes the provision for the Levitical cities and their surrounding fields in the Pentateuch (e.g., Numbers 35:2-5). This parallel reinforces the theme of God's consistent provision for all aspects of His people's life, from spiritual to physical. The fact that this "common" land borders the sacred districts but remains distinct emphasizes a crucial theological point in Ezekiel: the need for clear boundaries between the holy and the profane to maintain the purity and reverence of God's presence. While the temple area is intensely holy, this adjacent land allows for ordinary life to flourish without defiling the sacred, illustrating the ordered separation essential in God's design. This visionary distribution of land also highlights an ideal scenario where a thriving urban center exists in perfect harmony and precise dimension with a fully dedicated sacred core, reflecting an eschatological hope for ultimate order and peace under God's rule.

Ezekiel 48 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 48:15 outlines the dimensions and purpose of a significant portion of "common" land directly adjacent to the holy temple district and priestly/Levitical lands. This specific strip, measuring 25,000 cubits by 5,000 cubits, is unequivocally allocated to "the city," distinct from the sacred areas and tribal inheritances. Its designated purpose as "suburbs and pasture" signifies a practical and functional role: providing open space for urban development, shared communal areas, and essential grazing grounds for the city's livestock. This meticulous provision reflects God's holistic care, ensuring not only spiritual order and holiness in His restored community but also the daily physical sustenance and well-being of its inhabitants. It highlights a divinely orchestrated balance where the sacred is supported by practical living, ensuring the complete functionality and prosperity of the new settlement according to God's precise blueprint.