What is the meaning of Ezekiel 47:20? And on the west side - Ezekiel is still describing the future land allotment for Israel. The phrase places us at the western edge of the territory. - Similar directional phrases appear in Ezekiel 47:18–19, showing the prophet walking each border step by step, just as God detailed the borders in Numbers 34:2–12. - By starting with “west,” the text balances earlier mentions of “east” (Ezekiel 47:18), illustrating a complete, orderly outline—nothing random, everything deliberate (1 Corinthians 14:33). the Great Sea will be the boundary - The “Great Sea” is the Mediterranean (Joshua 15:47). For Ezekiel’s original audience, this was an unmistakable landmark. - As in Numbers 34:6—“The western border will be the Great Sea”—God anchors His promise to visible geography, confirming that the restoration is tangible, not symbolic. - God’s faithfulness is tied to real places; the same sea Elijah stood by at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:42–45) will someday border the renewed inheritance. - The unchanging coastline hints at the permanence of God’s covenant (Psalm 89:34). up to a point opposite Lebo-hamath - “Lebo-hamath” defines the northern reach. A matching phrase appears in Ezekiel 47:15 and 1 Kings 8:65, marking the entrance to Hamath. - This clause shows the western border running north–south until it aligns with that northern marker, forming a clean rectangle. - Physical precision reflects moral precision: God keeps His word exactly (Isaiah 55:11). - The mention reminds readers that God’s promise covers the full range of Israel’s historic north–south spectrum (Genesis 15:18–21). This will be the western boundary - By restating the boundary, the Lord closes the loop, removing ambiguity. - Repetition emphasizes certainty; compare Genesis 41:32 where doubling a matter confirms it is fixed by God. - The defined border assures every tribe of its inheritance (Ezekiel 48:1–7, 23–29). God’s gifts are not vague; each family will know where it belongs (Joshua 21:43–45). summary Ezekiel 47:20 anchors the future land of Israel to the unmistakable Mediterranean coast, stretching northward until it lines up with Lebo-hamath, and then God stamps it as the definitive western edge. Just as He outlined borders in Moses’ day, the Lord again marks real geography, underscoring that His covenant blessings are concrete, reliable, and awaiting fulfillment. |
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