Ezekiel 48:10

Authorized King James Version

And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּ֠לְאֵ֜לֶּה
these or those
#2
תִּהְיֶ֣ה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#3
תְרֽוּמַת
oblation
a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute
#4
הַקֹּדֶשׁ֮
shall be this holy
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
#5
לַכֹּֽהֲנִים֒
And for them even for the priests
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
#6
צָפ֜וֹנָה
toward the north
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
#7
חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה
five
five
#8
וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים
and twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#9
אָ֑לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#10
וְיָ֙מָּה֙
in length and toward the west
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
#11
רֹ֚חַב
in breadth
width (literally or figuratively)
#12
עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת
ten
ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
#13
אָ֑לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#14
וְקָדִ֗ימָה
and toward the east
the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
#15
רֹ֚חַב
in breadth
width (literally or figuratively)
#16
עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת
ten
ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
#17
אָ֑לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#18
וְנֶ֕גְבָּה
and toward the south
the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)
#19
אֹ֕רֶךְ
in length
length
#20
חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה
five
five
#21
וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים
and twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#22
אָ֑לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#23
וְהָיָ֥ה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#24
מִקְדַּשׁ
and the sanctuary
a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of jehovah or of idols) or asylum
#25
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#26
בְּתוֹכֽוֹ׃
shall be in the midst
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ezekiel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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