Ezekiel 48 21

Ezekiel 48:21 kjv

And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.

Ezekiel 48:21 nkjv

"The rest shall belong to the prince, on one side and on the other of the holy district and of the city's property, next to the twenty-five thousand cubits of the holy district as far as the eastern border, and westward next to the twenty-five thousand as far as the western border, adjacent to the tribal portions; it shall belong to the prince. It shall be the holy district, and the sanctuary of the temple shall be in the center.

Ezekiel 48:21 niv

"What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the property of the city will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them.

Ezekiel 48:21 esv

"What remains on both sides of the holy portion and of the property of the city shall belong to the prince. Extending from the 25,000 cubits of the holy portion to the east border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the west border, parallel to the tribal portions, it shall belong to the prince. The holy portion with the sanctuary of the temple shall be in its midst.

Ezekiel 48:21 nlt

"The areas that remain, to the east and to the west of the sacred lands and the city, will belong to the prince. Each of these areas will be 8 1?3 miles wide, extending in opposite directions to the eastern and western borders of Israel, with the sacred lands and the sanctuary of the Temple in the center.

Ezekiel 48 verses

Ezekiel 48 21 meaning

Ezekiel 48:21 describes the allocation and purpose of the central "holy portion" of land within the visionary restoration of Israel. This precisely measured square, spanning twenty-five thousand reeds in both length and width, is designated not only for the priests and Levites who serve in the sanctuary but also for "all the house of Israel." This highlights the communal, sacred, and divinely ordained nature of this core territory, intended for the spiritual benefit and presence of the entire nation in the eschatological era, clearly differentiated from the prince's surrounding property.

Ezekiel 48 21 Context

Ezekiel chapter 48 culminates the prophet's extensive vision, revealed to the Jewish exiles, depicting an ideal new Temple, priesthood, and divinely ordered land distribution for a future, restored Israel (chapters 40-48). This vision provides hope after the devastation of Jerusalem and its Temple and the defilement of the land due to Israel's transgressions. Chapter 48 specifically outlines the allocation of the promised land among the twelve tribes, including a central, highly sacred block termed the "holy contribution" (Ezek 48:8-20). Verse 21 clarifies the comprehensive beneficiaries of this vast 25,000x25,000-reed sacred square, ensuring that it directly serves the priests, the Levites, and collectively, all the people of Israel. This arrangement distinguishes it from the surrounding territory designated for the prince and emphasizes its national, communal, and consecrated role as the spiritual heart of the restored nation.

Ezekiel 48 21 Word analysis

• The holy portion (וְהַקֹּדֶשׁ לִמְנַחַת הָאָרֶץ, ve-haqqodesh l'menachath ha'aretz):
  • וְהַקֹּדֶשׁ (ve-haqqodesh): "And the holy (place/thing)." קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) signifies holiness, something divinely set apart, consecrated, or sanctified. It immediately establishes this land's unique sacred status and dedication to God.
  • לִמְנַחַת הָאָרֶץ (l'menachath ha'aretz): "as an offering of the land" or "for the portion/tribute of the land." מִנְחָה (minchah) denotes a gift, offering, or tribute. Here, it suggests a dedicated land allocation, a "holy contribution" presented to the Lord.
• namely, twenty-five thousand reeds in length (לָאֹרֶךְ עֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֶלֶף, la'orek 'esrim va'chamishah 'elef):
  • לָאֹרֶךְ (la'orek): "in length."
  • עֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֶלֶף (esrim vachamishah elef): "twenty-five thousand."
  • The "reed" is the unit of measurement, being six cubits (Ezek 40:5). These precise, large numbers signify perfect, abundant, and divinely ordained proportions for the sacred domain.
• and twenty-five thousand reeds in width (לָרֹחַב עֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֶלֶף, la'rochav 'esrim vachamishah 'elef):
  • לָרֹחַב (larochav): "in width." Reinforces the square shape and symmetry, representing completeness and divine order.
• shall be for the priests, the Levites, and for all the house of Israel. (תִּהְיֶה לַכֹּהֲנִים וְלַלְוִיִּם וּלְכֹל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, tihyeh lakohanim v'lalevi'im ulekol beyt yisra'el):
  • תִּהְיֶה (tihyeh): "it shall be." A declarative future statement, emphasizing certainty and divine decree.
  • לַכֹּהֲנִים (lakohanim): "for the priests." Specifically, the faithful descendants of Zadok, entrusted with the Temple's sacrificial duties.
  • וְלַלְוִיִּם (v'lalevi'im): "and for the Levites." Those consecrated for other Temple services, as described in previous chapters.
  • וּלְכֹל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל (ulekol beyt yisra'el): "and for all the house of Israel." This crucial inclusive phrase confirms the entire nation's stake in and benefit from the central sacred district, not solely for the clerical classes, symbolizing communal blessing and participation in God's presence.

Words-group analysis:

• The holy portion of the land: This entire phrase delineates a specially consecrated and dedicated territory, central to the renewed covenant relationship. It acts as an enduring testament to God's proprietorship over the land and His people's worship, ensuring that sacred space is set apart as a collective offering to Him.
• twenty-five thousand reeds in length and twenty-five thousand reeds in width: The perfect square geometry of this vast tract (repeatedly described in Ezekiel's vision) conveys ultimate divine order, symmetry, and ideal functionality. This emphasis on precise, large-scale dimensions suggests a vision of perfection and abundance in the eschatological age, contrasting with the chaotic divisions and usurpations of the past. It speaks of a perfect habitation, designed by God.
• for the priests, the Levites, and for all the house of Israel: This climactic declaration outlines the collective beneficiaries of this holy land. While the priests and Levites are distinctively provided for their sacred duties, the inclusion of "all the house of Israel" indicates that this sacred center ultimately exists for the spiritual well-being and access of the entire restored community. It symbolizes a perfected, inclusive relationship between God, His consecrated servants, and all His redeemed people within the promised land, fostering national unity around His divine presence.

Ezekiel 48 21 Bonus section

The immensity of the 25,000 x 25,000-reed square, equivalent to roughly 50 miles on each side, far exceeds any historical land division in ancient Israel. This scale suggests the vision is not merely a blueprint for a temporal temple but a grand, perhaps ultimate, eschatological or spiritual reality for God's renewed people. The detailed precision in land allocation throughout Ezekiel 48 emphasizes divine order, ensuring no abuse of power by secular rulers (the "prince's portion" is specifically separated in verse 21 from this holy block) and equitable distribution, a stark contrast to historical patterns of injustice and land hoarding. The phrase "holy portion" and the concept of "contribution" (terumah) connect this future vision back to ancient Israelite laws where a dedicated offering was made to God from the land's produce (e.g., Exod 25:2; Lev 2:9). This implies that in the fully restored kingdom, faithfulness to God's statutes and acknowledgment of His ultimate ownership will be paramount. The distinct roles of the priests (descendants of Zadok, chosen for their fidelity, as detailed in Ezekiel 44) and Levites underscore a purified and functional sacred ministry, essential for the restored Temple's operations. The sweeping inclusion of "all the house of Israel" signifies complete national redemption and communal participation in God's holy dwelling, overcoming past divisions and exclusions to establish a unified people of God.

Ezekiel 48 21 Commentary

Ezekiel 48:21 profoundly illustrates the divine intention for the sacred heart of the eschatological Israelite community. This monumental square, described as "the holy portion" (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh), is far more than a simple land assignment; it is a foundational theological principle. Its sacred designation, functioning as a מִנְחָה (minchah), a holy offering to the Lord, underscores God's absolute sovereignty and Israel's consecrated existence. The vision's insistence on specific, grand dimensions—twenty-five thousand reeds by twenty-five thousand reeds—signifies perfect divine order, meticulous planning, and an unparalleled scale for the habitation of God's glory. This stands in stark contrast to the historical injustices and defilement that plagued the pre-exilic nation. Crucially, the final phrase "for the priests, the Levites, and for all the house of Israel" clarifies the expansive beneficiary of this holy area. While subdivisions exist for priestly service, Levitical maintenance, and the city itself, the entire block ultimately serves the communal, spiritual well-being and proximity to God's dwelling for all the tribes. It articulates a perfected system of worship and life centered on God's presence, accessible to and benefiting the entire nation, rectifying past abuses of power and land.