Ezekiel 48:15

Authorized King James Version

And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה
And the five
five
#2
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#3
הַנּוֹתָ֣ר
that are left
to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve
#4
בָּרֹ֗חַב
in the breadth
width (literally or figuratively)
#5
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#6
פְּנֵ֨י
over against
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#7
חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה
And the five
five
#8
וְעֶשְׂרִים֙
and twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#9
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#10
חֹֽל
shall be a profane
properly, exposed; hence, profane
#11
ה֣וּא
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#12
הָעִ֖יר
and the city
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#13
לְמוֹשָׁ֖ב
for dwelling
a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place or the time); by implication, population
#14
וּלְמִגְרָ֑שׁ
and for suburbs
a suburb (i.e., open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea
#15
וְהָיְתָ֥ה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#16
הָעִ֖יר
and the city
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#17
בְּתוֹכֹֽה׃
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 revelation 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 revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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