Ezekiel 48:8 kjv
And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
Ezekiel 48:8 nkjv
by the border of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be the district which you shall set apart, twenty-five thousand cubits in width, and in length the same as one of the other portions, from the east side to the west, with the sanctuary in the center.
Ezekiel 48:8 niv
"Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.
Ezekiel 48:8 esv
"Adjoining the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be the portion which you shall set apart, 25,000 cubits in breadth, and in length equal to one of the tribal portions, from the east side to the west, with the sanctuary in the midst of it.
Ezekiel 48:8 nlt
"South of Judah is the land set aside for a special purpose. It will be 8 1?3 miles wide and will extend as far east and west as the tribal territories, with the Temple at the center.
Ezekiel 48 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 48:8 | "Beside the boundary of the priests, from the portion of the tribe of Judah, and from the boundary of the tribe of Benjamin, shall be the priests' portion." | Direct provision for priests |
| Exodus 28:1 | "Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and with him his sons from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests." | Appointment of Aaron and his sons as priests |
| Leviticus 10:15 | "The breast that is waved and the thigh that is raised, you shall eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, for they are given as your due and as your due from the sacrifices of the people of Israel." | Priests' share from sacrifices |
| Numbers 18:8 | "Whatever is taken up first of all the fat, even the best portions of the offerings that the people give, shall be yours." | Priestly rights to offerings |
| Deuteronomy 18:1-3 | "The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord’s food gifts. ... This shall be the due of the priests from the people, from those who offer, whether it be ox or sheep, giving to the priests the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach." | Laws concerning priestly and Levitical inheritance |
| Joshua 13:33 | "But to the tribe of Levi, Moses gave no inheritance. The Lord, the God of Israel, was their inheritance, as he said to them." | Levi's inheritance as God |
| Nehemiah 12:47 | "And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions due to the priests and the Levites. And the Levites gave the portions due to the sons of Aaron to the priests. The Levites stored up the portions due to their brothers, in the chambers of the house of our God." | Restoration of tithes and portions in post-exilic Jerusalem |
| Malachi 3:10 | "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." | Encouragement to give tithes for God's blessing |
| Matthew 10:10 | "nor is a wallet for the journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food." | Jesus' instructions to disciples on provision |
| 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 | "Do you not know that those who serve in the temple eat the food of the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the allotment of the altar? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | Principle of sustenance for those serving God |
| Hebrews 7:5 | "And those descendants, according to the law of carnal commandment, have the right to receive tithes from the people, and, as from their kinsmen, also to receive tithes, although these have not descended from him." | Right to tithes for sons of Levi |
| 1 Peter 2:5 | "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as a spiritual priesthood |
| Revelation 20:6 | "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years." | Future reign of priests |
| Numbers 35:1-8 | "The Lord said to Moses, 'Command the people of Israel, and let them give to the Levites from the inheritance of their property cities to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pastureland for the cities that surround them.'" | Cities for Levites to dwell in, with surrounding pastureland |
| Deuteronomy 12:19 | "Take care not to neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land." | Warning against neglecting Levites |
| 1 Chronicles 23:1-6 | "When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. ... And he gave orders for the collection of the inhabitants of Israel, and for the Levites to be appointed to the task of carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and of standing before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, as is the duty of the Levites today." | David's organization of Levites for Temple service |
| Psalm 132:9 | "Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy." | Prayer for priests and saints |
| Acts 6:4 | "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." | Apostles prioritizing prayer and ministry |
| Romans 12:1 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." | Presenting bodies as living sacrifices |
| Revelation 21:22 | "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." | New Jerusalem with no physical temple |
Ezekiel 48 verses
Ezekiel 48 8 Meaning
This verse describes a portion of land designated for the priests, a sacred territory situated alongside the sanctuary. It is part of the distribution of land within the envisioned future Israel, emphasizing the centrality of worship and the provision for those who serve God.
Ezekiel 48 8 Context
Ezekiel chapter 48 concludes the prophet's vision of a restored Israel, focusing on the distribution of the land. Following the description of the holy portion for the Lord and the city, this verse specifically addresses the allocation of land for the priests. It details how this sacred territory would be situated between the tribal inheritances of Judah and Benjamin, emphasizing the spatial relationship to the sanctuary. This vision comes after the judgment and destruction described earlier in Ezekiel, offering hope and a blueprint for future holiness and organized worship.
Ezekiel 48 8 Word Analysis
Beside: A preposition indicating proximity or adjacency.
the boundary: Denotes a dividing line or limit. In this context, it refers to the territorial demarcations.
of the priests: Pertains to the Levitical priesthood, those consecrated for sacred service in the Tabernacle and Temple.
from the portion: Refers to the allocation or inheritance assigned to a particular tribe.
of the tribe of Judah: Judah was the most prominent of the twelve tribes, with a lineage associated with kingship and from whom the Messiah would come.
and from the boundary: Again, indicating proximity and the division of territory.
of the tribe of Benjamin: Benjamin was the other tribe that remained loyal to the Southern Kingdom (Judah) after the division of the kingdom. Its territory bordered Jerusalem and the sanctuary.
shall be the priests' portion: Confirms the dedicated inheritance for the priestly class. This signifies God's provision and the sanctity of their calling.
Priests' Portion: This highlights a specific, set-aside inheritance for the Levitical priests. This concept is consistent throughout the Old Testament, where the Levites had no territorial inheritance like the other tribes, but received their sustenance through tithes, offerings, and the cities allotted to them, with specific portions set aside for their use. The "priests' portion" is directly linked to their service in the sanctuary and their role as mediators between God and the people. This underscores the divine order for ministry and the acknowledgment of those who minister.
Ezekiel 48 8 Bonus Section
The distribution of land for the priests and Levites, as detailed in Ezekiel and earlier in the Pentateuch (Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua), was fundamental to the functioning of the covenant community. Unlike the other tribes who received land for agricultural pursuits and family inheritance, the Levites received cities and pasturelands surrounding them, designated as their inheritance from God Himself (Joshua 13:33). This spiritual inheritance underscored their primary calling: to serve the Lord and mediate between God and Israel, thereby ensuring the ongoing covenant relationship and the continuity of sacrificial worship. The inclusion of a specific "priests' portion" adjacent to the sanctuary in this future vision reinforces the eternal significance of their ministry and God's unchanging commitment to establishing holiness and providing for His people's spiritual needs, even in the ultimate heavenly state where believers serve as priests.
Ezekiel 48 8 Commentary
This verse establishes a geographical designation for the priests' land within the idealized future kingdom. Its placement beside Judah and Benjamin signifies the priests' central role in the community, intrinsically linked with the lineage from which royalty and leadership would emerge. This specific allocation ensures that those dedicated to sacred service have a secure inheritance, reflecting God's promise to provide for His ministers. The allocation is not random but precisely delineated, emphasizing the importance of order and holiness in God’s plan. This section of Ezekiel is visionary, painting a picture of restored worship and a purified people ministered to by a dedicated priesthood in a land ordered according to God's will.