Ezekiel 48:34
At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
Original Language Analysis
פְּאַת
side
H6285
פְּאַת
side
Strong's:
H6285
Word #:
1 of 17
properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity
יָ֗מָּה
At the west
H3220
יָ֗מָּה
At the west
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
2 of 17
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
אֲלָפִ֔ים
thousand
H505
אֲלָפִ֔ים
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
6 of 17
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
שְׁלֹשָׁ֑ה
with their three
H7969
שְׁלֹשָׁ֑ה
with their three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
8 of 17
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
גָּ֞ד
of Gad
H1410
גָּ֞ד
of Gad
Strong's:
H1410
Word #:
10 of 17
gad, a son of jacob, including his tribe and its territory; also a prophet
אָשֵׁר֙
of Asher
H836
אָשֵׁר֙
of Asher
Strong's:
H836
Word #:
13 of 17
asher, a son of jacob, and the tribe descended from him, with its territory; also a place in palestine
Historical Context
Ezekiel's vision (chapters 40-48) dates to 573 BC, fourteen years after Jerusalem's destruction. The exiles needed assurance that God's purposes for Israel endured despite catastrophic judgment. These symbolic measurements and tribal assignments weren't architectural blueprints but theological declarations: restoration would be complete, inclusive, and permanent.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the equal honoring of sons born to handmaids reveal about God's redemptive inclusion?
- How does Ezekiel's vision of an open, accessible city challenge exclusive or tribal approaches to faith communities?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. The final verse of Ezekiel completes the circuit of the eschatological city's gates, naming the three western portals after northern tribes. The west (yam, יָם, literally 'sea') orients toward the Mediterranean, symbolizing openness to the nations.
Gad (gad, גָּד, 'fortune'), Asher (asher, אָשֵׁר, 'blessed/happy'), and Naphtali (naftali, נַפְתָּלִי, 'my wrestling') were Leah's and Rachel's handmaids' sons, yet receive equal honor with Jacob's direct heirs. In the New Jerusalem, all twelve tribes—regardless of birth status—have permanent entrance rights, anticipating Revelation 21:12-13 where the gates never close.