Ezekiel 48:15
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.
Original Language Analysis
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
2 of 17
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
הַנּוֹתָ֣ר
that are left
H3498
הַנּוֹתָ֣ר
that are left
Strong's:
H3498
Word #:
3 of 17
to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֨י
over against
H6440
פְּנֵ֨י
over against
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
6 of 17
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
9 of 17
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
ה֣וּא
H1931
ה֣וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
11 of 17
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
הָעִ֖יר
and the city
H5892
הָעִ֖יר
and the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
12 of 17
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
לְמוֹשָׁ֖ב
for dwelling
H4186
לְמוֹשָׁ֖ב
for dwelling
Strong's:
H4186
Word #:
13 of 17
a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place or the time); by implication, population
וּלְמִגְרָ֑שׁ
and for suburbs
H4054
וּלְמִגְרָ֑שׁ
and for suburbs
Strong's:
H4054
Word #:
14 of 17
a suburb (i.e., open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea
וְהָיְתָ֥ה
H1961
וְהָיְתָ֥ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
15 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Cross References
Ezekiel 45:6And 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.Ezekiel 42:20He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.
Historical Context
Unlike ancient Near Eastern temple cities where priests monopolized resources, Ezekiel's vision includes common people serving the sanctuary community. The "profane" designation doesn't diminish but dignifies ordinary labor supporting sacred service. Archaeological evidence from Jerusalem shows the ancient city intermingled sacred and domestic spaces without formal zoning.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the distinction between "holy" and "common" (not "profane" as defiled) shape your understanding of secular work?
- What does centralized planning around the sanctuary teach about orienting all of life toward worship?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The five thousand, that are left...shall be a profane place for the city—the term profane (חֹל, chol) means "common" or "secular," not defiled but simply non-sacred. This distinction creates balanced theology: not all space is temple-holy, yet common life adjacent to sacred space receives dignity and purpose.
For dwelling, and for suburbs (לְמוֹשָׁב וּלְמִגְרָשׁ, le-moshav u-le-migrash)—residential areas with open lands for agriculture, showing God's concern for ordinary human needs alongside sacred worship. The city shall be in the midst thereof—centrally located, the city serves those who minister in the temple, creating integrated sacred-secular community rather than isolated monasticism.