Ezekiel 48:19
And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
Original Language Analysis
יַעַבְד֕וּהוּ
And they that serve
H5647
יַעַבְד֕וּהוּ
And they that serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
1 of 6
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
הָעִ֑יר
the city
H5892
הָעִ֑יר
the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
2 of 6
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יַעַבְד֕וּהוּ
And they that serve
H5647
יַעַבְד֕וּהוּ
And they that serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
3 of 6
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
מִכֹּ֖ל
H3605
מִכֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
Tribal divisions plagued Israel from the judges period through the monarchy's split (930 BC). The northern kingdom's destruction (722 BC) and Judah's exile (586 BC) scattered the tribes. Ezekiel's vision of reunified tribal service addresses the deepest national wound—tribal fragmentation—through shared participation in sacred community, anticipating messianic restoration.
Questions for Reflection
- How does pan-tribal service challenge denominational divisions and ethnic barriers in God's church today?
- What does the dignity of "serving the city" teach about the spiritual value of so-called "secular" work when done in God's community?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
They that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel—the city's workforce represents pan-tribal participation, not isolated sectarianism. The verb serve (עָבַד, avad) denotes both labor and worship, suggesting secular service in the sacred city carries spiritual dignity.
This inclusive vision unifies the twelve tribes around common purpose, reversing the divisive tribalism that plagued Israel's history (the northern/southern split, Judges' intertribal warfare). Every tribe contributes laborers, ensuring no single faction dominates while all share responsibility for the sacred community. This prefigures the New Testament church drawn from all nations (Revelation 7:9), where tribal and ethnic barriers dissolve in common service to God.