Ezekiel 48 30

Ezekiel 48:30 kjv

And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.

Ezekiel 48:30 nkjv

"These are the exits of the city. On the north side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits

Ezekiel 48:30 niv

"These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which is 4,500 cubits long,

Ezekiel 48:30 esv

"These shall be the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure,

Ezekiel 48:30 nlt

"These will be the exits to the city: On the north wall, which is 1 1?2 miles long,

Ezekiel 48 verses

Ezekiel 48 30 meaning

Ezekiel 48:30 meticulously describes the length of the northern boundary of the holy city in the visionary restoration of Israel. This precision underscores the divine authorship and perfect order within God's future, idealized dwelling place. It signifies a carefully planned, sacred space where God's presence will dwell perfectly among His people, reflecting a restored relationship and comprehensive divine governance.

Ezekiel 48 30 Context

Ezekiel 48 is the concluding chapter of a grand visionary section (chapters 40-48) detailing a new temple, a reorganized land for Israel's tribes, and a holy city. The prophet receives this vision while in Babylonian exile, offering a message of hope and restoration for a devastated people. This chapter specifically describes the allocation of land portions to the remaining seven tribes after the priestly, Levitical, and princely allocations (48:1-29). Following this, verses 30-35 describe the "holy city" itself. Verse 30 begins the detailed outline of this city's dimensions and characteristics, focusing on its square shape and the placement of its twelve gates, ultimately culminating in its divine name, Yahweh Shammah ("The Lord is There") in verse 35. This ideal city represents God's perfect habitation among a restored and sanctified people.

Ezekiel 48 30 Word analysis

• And these are (וְאֵלֶּה, v'elleh): A conjunction ("and") combined with a demonstrative pronoun ("these"). It connects the preceding text concerning tribal land divisions to this new, specific detail about the city. It signals a shift in focus to a precise description following a general overview.
• the goings out (תּוֹצְאֹת, totza'ot): Hebrew noun meaning "goings out," "issues," "exits," but in architectural or topographical contexts, it refers to "boundaries," "borders," or the outer edges of something. Here, it denotes the entire length of the northern side of the city, not merely a single exit point or gate. It highlights the established perimeter.
• of the city (הָעִיר, ha'ir): "The city." In this vision, it refers specifically to the "holy city" described, not necessarily the historical Jerusalem. This city is distinct, representing a pure and sacred dwelling, consecrated within the holy portion of the land. It emphasizes the urban structure as a central component of God's new order.
• on the north side (מִצָּפוֹן, mizzafon): Hebrew preposition "from" combined with "north." It explicitly designates the specific direction of the city's boundary being measured. This directional specification, along with subsequent verses for other sides, establishes the city's precise, divinely ordained orientation within the new holy land.
• four thousand and five hundred (אַרְבַּעַת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת, arba'at alafim vachamesh me'ot): The numerical measurement. It represents exactitude and careful planning. The repetition of this specific number for all four sides (Ezek 48:30-34) establishes the city's perfect square shape, a symbol of stability, order, and completeness in sacred geometry (cf. Holy of Holies, Rev 21:16).
• measures: This word is often implicitly understood from the context of the larger vision (Ezek 40:5) where the measuring instrument is a "reed" (qaneh), which is six long cubits. Therefore, "4500 measures" means 4500 reeds. This specific unit, guided by the measuring angel, assures the divine precision and authenticity of the dimensions.

• "And these are the goings out": Introduces a detailed list of the city's external boundaries, underscoring the shift from general land divisions to the specific blueprint of the central city. It signals a comprehensive enumeration of its borders.
• "the goings out of the city": Refers to the fixed, outer perimeter of the designated holy city, emphasizing its defined and sacred boundaries that delineate its consecrated space from the surrounding "profane" areas for ordinary habitation and service (Ezek 48:15).
• "on the north side": Specifies one of the four cardinal directions, beginning a sequential description of each of the city's precisely measured sides. This organized approach reflects the overall structured nature of the entire temple and land vision.
• "four thousand and five hundred measures": Provides the exact linear dimension of this specific side of the city. The precise, divinely-given measurement signifies the meticulous order of God's restoration and the sacredness imbued in every aspect of this future city, which will ultimately bear the name, "The Lord is There."

Ezekiel 48 30 Bonus section

• The repeated measure of 4500 for each of the four sides (Ezek 48:30-34) means the city forms a perfect square. This shape holds profound symbolic significance in biblical thought, echoing the squareness of the Holy of Holies in both the Tabernacle (Exod 26) and Solomon's Temple (1 Ki 6:20), indicating that the entire city itself will be a holy and divine habitation.
• The sum of all four sides, 4500 x 4, gives a total perimeter of 18,000 measures, a number explicitly stated in Ezek 48:35, further emphasizing its overall sacred and perfect dimensions.
• This idealized city stands in stark contrast to the historical Jerusalem, which suffered destruction and defilement due to human sin and idolatry. The emphasis on exact, divinely given measurements implies a future era of unwavering obedience and divine presence, where disorder and corruption are banished.
• While the architectural details are incredibly precise, the vision is largely understood as a prophetic picture of ultimate spiritual reality rather than a literal building project. It symbolizes God's ultimate desire to dwell among a sanctified people in a perfected environment, a theme that finds its eschatological fulfillment in the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21-22.

Ezekiel 48 30 Commentary

Ezekiel 48:30 serves as the opening specification for the detailed architecture of the visionary holy city. This verse, with its precise measurement of 4500 reeds for the north side, immediately establishes the motif of divine order and meticulous design that pervades the entire temple vision. It underscores that every aspect of God's future dwelling among His people is carefully ordained and perfectly dimensioned. This geometric exactitude is not arbitrary; it signifies the purity, stability, and completeness of God's restored kingdom. The careful designation of boundaries highlights the set-apart nature of the city as a truly consecrated space, fundamentally different from the defiled Jerusalem of the past, preparing the stage for the declaration "The Lord Is There" as its ultimate characteristic.