Ezekiel 48 24

Ezekiel 48:24 kjv

And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.

Ezekiel 48:24 nkjv

by the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon shall have one section;

Ezekiel 48:24 niv

"Simeon will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west.

Ezekiel 48:24 esv

Adjoining the territory of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon, one portion.

Ezekiel 48:24 nlt

South of Benjamin's territory lies that of Simeon, also extending across the land from east to west.

Ezekiel 48 verses

Ezekiel 48 24 meaning

Ezekiel 48:24 precisely details the geographical location and extent of the tribe of Asher's future inheritance within the visionary layout of the restored land of Israel. It states that Asher's territory will be positioned immediately south of Dan's allotted strip of land and, consistent with all other tribal portions in this vision, will stretch fully across the entire breadth of the land, from its eastern to its western boundary. This signifies Asher's distinct, equally proportioned, and secure share within God's divinely ordered kingdom.

Ezekiel 48 24 Context

This verse is found within the concluding chapters (Ezekiel 40-48) of Ezekiel's prophecy, which describe an elaborate and highly detailed vision of a restored temple, city, and land for Israel. Specifically, Chapter 48 meticulously lays out the idealized distribution of the land among the twelve tribes. Each tribal allotment is envisioned as an east-to-west strip, contiguous with its neighbors, and stretching across the entire width of the land. The central feature is a "Holy District" containing the temple, the Levitical lands, and the city, ensuring God's central presence in the reordered nation.

Historically, this vision was given to the Jewish exiles in Babylon (around 573 BCE), offering immense hope and a profound message of God's faithfulness and future restoration after the devastation of Jerusalem and the Temple. It presented a blueprint for an ideal, perfectly ordered society, in stark contrast to the previous, often chaotic, and unequally distributed land tenure and the current reality of their displacement. The meticulous details symbolize divine precision, justice, and the enduring nature of God's covenant promises for His people, where every tribe would have its full, unassailable inheritance in a land saturated with God's presence.

Ezekiel 48 24 Word analysis

• By the side of Dan (וְעַל־גְּבוּל דָּן - ve'al-gevul Dan)

  • ve'al-gevul (וְעַל־גְּבוּל): Literally "And upon the border of." The preposition עַל (‘al) denotes proximity or superimposition ("upon," "next to," "by"). The noun גְּבוּל (gevul) specifically means "boundary," "border," or "territory." This precisely locates Asher's territory as directly adjacent to and immediately south of Dan's allotted portion. It establishes a clear, contiguous linear arrangement.
  • Dan (דָּן): Refers to the tribe descended from Jacob's fifth son. Historically, Dan faced significant challenges, including migrations from its initial inheritance to a northern region (Judg 18). Its prominent placement in this vision (one of the northernmost tribes) signals complete inclusivity and full restoration for all tribes, demonstrating that past issues do not disqualify any from their place in God's future ideal order.

• from the east side to the west side (מִפְּאַת קֵדְמָה וְעַד־פְּאַת יָמָּה - mi-pe'at qedmah ve'ad-pe'at yamah)

  • mi-pe'at qedmah (מִפְּאַת קֵדְמָה): "From the side of the east." פְּאַת (pe'at) means "side," "edge," or "corner," and קֵדְמָה (qedmah) denotes "eastern" or "toward the east." This indicates the starting point of the tribal strip.
  • ve'ad-pe'at yamah (וְעַד־פְּאַת יָמָּה): "And to the side of the west." יָמָּה (yamah) signifies "westward" or "toward the sea" (referring to the Mediterranean). This defines the end point. This recurring phrase emphasizes that each tribal portion stretches across the entire breadth of the promised land, ensuring a generous and comprehensive allocation, likely from the Jordan River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. This highlights the ample and unrestricted nature of their inheritance.

• Asher (אָשֵׁר - ’Āshēr)

  • ’Āshēr (אָשֵׁר): The eighth son of Jacob, born to Zilpah (Leah's maidservant). His name means "happy" or "blessed" (Gen 30:13). Historically, Asher inhabited the fertile coastal plains of northern Israel, noted for its rich agricultural produce (Josh 19:24-31). Its inclusion here reaffirms its status and inheritance as an integral part of the reunited, restored Israel, sharing equally in God's blessings.

• one portion (אֶחָד - ’eḥad)

  • ’eḥad (אֶחָד): "One." In this context, it functions as "one share," "one allotment," or "one portion." This emphasizes that Asher receives a full, complete, and distinctly recognized share. Importantly, given the meticulous design of this chapter, "one portion" implies an equal size for each tribe, showcasing divine equity and fairness in the land's distribution, contrasting with previous historical inequalities.

• Words-group Analysis

  • "By the side of Dan... Asher, one portion": This phrase underlines the methodical and ordered contiguous arrangement of the tribal territories. The land is uniformly divided into east-to-west strips, where each tribe (represented here by Asher following Dan) has its clearly defined and allocated share. This demonstrates a harmonious society and a divinely orchestrated plan that eliminates former land disputes, emphasizing the equitable treatment of all tribes and their integration around God's presence.
  • "from the east side to the west side": This repeated formula is a distinctive feature of the land division in Ezekiel 48. It consistently ensures that every tribal allocation extends across the full width of the land, providing ample, generous, and unimpeded territory. It symbolizes the totality, comprehensiveness, and abundance of God's provision for His restored people, where each entity receives a complete inheritance.

Ezekiel 48 24 Bonus section

• The placement of tribes in Ezekiel 48 (from Dan in the north to Gad in the south, surrounding the sacred district) follows a chiastic structure in relation to the matriarchal mothers or lineage, suggesting a symbolic arrangement rather than strictly geographical or historical order. This ideal pattern reinforces theological messages of inclusion and order for all twelve tribes.
• The vision of uniform, equal land strips (signified by "one portion") directly addresses the issue of past inequalities, potential disputes over land, and the vulnerability of tribes to encroachment. In God's perfect kingdom, all are treated with justice and receive an unshakeable inheritance, eliminating the root causes of conflict and ensuring stability.
• While detailed and geographical, this vision is widely interpreted by scholars as primarily symbolic of a spiritual and perfected future. It signifies the ideal relationship between God and His people, the ordered existence of the Church or New Israel, and the perfect communion found in the new heavens and new earth, rather than a literal terrestrial re-division in a future earthly state. It provides assurance that God's plans are detailed, just, and ultimately culminate in complete restoration and dwelling with His people.

Ezekiel 48 24 Commentary

Ezekiel 48:24 outlines the ideal inheritance for the tribe of Asher in the eschatological vision of the restored Israel. Positioned directly south of Dan, Asher receives one uniform, distinct portion stretching fully from the eastern to the western borders of the land. This meticulously ordered and equitable distribution, significantly differing from historical tribal allocations, speaks to a future marked by divine justice, completeness, and the peaceful, abundant dwelling of all God's people in a land intimately centered around His presence. It signifies God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and His ultimate desire for perfect order and unity within His redeemed nation.