Ezekiel 45:7
And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.
Original Language Analysis
וְלַנָּשִׂ֡יא
And a portion shall be for the prince
H5387
וְלַנָּשִׂ֡יא
And a portion shall be for the prince
Strong's:
H5387
Word #:
1 of 30
properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist
מִזֶּ֣ה
H2088
וּמִזֶּה֩
H2088
תְרֽוּמַת
on the one side and on the other side of the oblation
H8641
תְרֽוּמַת
on the one side and on the other side of the oblation
Strong's:
H8641
Word #:
4 of 30
a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙
of the holy
H6944
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙
of the holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
5 of 30
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
אֲחֻזַּ֣ת
portion and of the possession
H272
אֲחֻזַּ֣ת
portion and of the possession
Strong's:
H272
Word #:
6 of 30
something seized, i.e., a possession (especially of land)
הָעִ֔יר
of the city
H5892
הָעִ֔יר
of the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
7 of 30
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
פְּנֵי֙
before
H6440
פְּנֵי֙
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
9 of 30
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
תְרֽוּמַת
on the one side and on the other side of the oblation
H8641
תְרֽוּמַת
on the one side and on the other side of the oblation
Strong's:
H8641
Word #:
10 of 30
a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙
of the holy
H6944
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙
of the holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
11 of 30
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
פְּנֵי֙
before
H6440
פְּנֵי֙
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
13 of 30
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲחֻזַּ֣ת
portion and of the possession
H272
אֲחֻזַּ֣ת
portion and of the possession
Strong's:
H272
Word #:
14 of 30
something seized, i.e., a possession (especially of land)
הָעִ֔יר
of the city
H5892
הָעִ֔יר
of the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
15 of 30
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
וּמִפְּאַת
side
H6285
וּמִפְּאַת
side
Strong's:
H6285
Word #:
16 of 30
properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity
יָ֖ם
from the west
H3220
יָ֖ם
from the west
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
17 of 30
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
יָ֖ם
from the west
H3220
יָ֖ם
from the west
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
18 of 30
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וּמִפְּאַת
side
H6285
וּמִפְּאַת
side
Strong's:
H6285
Word #:
19 of 30
properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity
קֵ֖דְמָה
and from the east
H6924
קֵ֖דְמָה
and from the east
Strong's:
H6924
Word #:
20 of 30
the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the east) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
קָדִֽימָה׃
eastward
H6921
קָדִֽימָה׃
eastward
Strong's:
H6921
Word #:
21 of 30
the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
לְעֻמּוֹת֙
shall be over against
H5980
לְעֻמּוֹת֙
shall be over against
Strong's:
H5980
Word #:
23 of 30
conjunction, i.e., society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with
גְּב֥וּל
border
H1366
גְּב֥וּל
border
Strong's:
H1366
Word #:
26 of 30
properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed
יָ֖ם
from the west
H3220
יָ֖ם
from the west
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
27 of 30
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
Cross References
Ezekiel 48:21And 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 37:24And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.Ezekiel 34:24And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
Historical Context
Written during Babylonian exile (circa 573 BCE), Ezekiel's vision offered hope for restoration with reformed governance. Israel's monarchy had frequently exploited the people (1 Samuel 8:10-18), and kings like Ahab murdered to seize vineyards (1 Kings 21). By designating the prince's land, this vision prevents such abuse in the restored community.
Questions for Reflection
- How does designated provision for leaders prevent corruption and abuse of power?
- What does the prince's position—alongside the holy portion, not controlling it—teach about the relationship between civil and spiritual authority?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion—Ezekiel's temple vision allocates land to the prince (הַנָּשִׂיא, hannasi), a civil ruler distinct from the priesthood. Unlike Israel's corrupt monarchy that seized property (1 Kings 21), this prince receives designated territory flanking the sacred district, preventing oppression. The Hebrew terumah (תְּרוּמָה, "oblation" or "contribution") refers to the consecrated land set apart for temple, priests, and Levites.
The detailed boundaries—from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward—ensure the prince's portion runs parallel to the tribal allotments, symbolizing that civil authority serves alongside, not above, sacred worship. This geographical arrangement embodies the proper relationship between governance and religion: the prince protects and provisions worship but does not control it. In Christ, this finds ultimate fulfillment—He is both our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), perfectly uniting civil authority and spiritual mediation.