Ezekiel 45:6
And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel.
Original Language Analysis
וַאֲחֻזַּ֨ת
the possession
H272
וַאֲחֻזַּ֨ת
the possession
Strong's:
H272
Word #:
1 of 17
something seized, i.e., a possession (especially of land)
הָעִ֜יר
of the city
H5892
הָעִ֜יר
of the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
2 of 17
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
תִּתְּנ֗וּ
And ye shall appoint
H5414
תִּתְּנ֗וּ
And ye shall appoint
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
3 of 17
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
5 of 17
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
10 of 17
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
לְעֻמַּ֖ת
over against
H5980
לְעֻמַּ֖ת
over against
Strong's:
H5980
Word #:
11 of 17
conjunction, i.e., society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with
תְּרוּמַ֣ת
the oblation
H8641
תְּרוּמַ֣ת
the oblation
Strong's:
H8641
Word #:
12 of 17
a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ
of the holy
H6944
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ
of the holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
13 of 17
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
לְכָל
H3605
לְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 17
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בֵּ֥ית
portion it shall be for the whole house
H1004
בֵּ֥ית
portion it shall be for the whole house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
15 of 17
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Historical Context
This vision presents an idealized land distribution correcting pre-exilic inequities where some tribes dominated while others were marginalized. The equal access for all Israel prefigures the church's unity transcending ethnic and tribal divisions (Ephesians 2:14-19).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the city 'for the whole house of Israel' challenge ethnic or denominational exclusivism in the church?
- What does the balanced allocation of sacred space and civic space teach about integrating worship and daily life?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long—this urban allocation (approximately 1.7 by 8.3 miles) for the ir (עִיר, city) parallels the priestly and Levitical portions, creating a balanced theocratic structure centered on worship and God's presence.
Over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel—the phrase lenokhach terumot hakkodesh (לְנֹכַח תְּרוּמַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ, opposite/alongside the contribution of the holy portion) indicates the city's relationship to the sacred district. Unlike priestly territory (for specific tribes), this city serves kol beit Yisrael (כֹּל בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, the whole house of Israel), demonstrating unity and equal access. In Christ, all believers—not just select tribes—have citizenship in the heavenly city and access to God (Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 12:22-24).