What is the meaning of Ezekiel 48:20? The entire portion will be a square Ezekiel’s vision finishes with God laying out a perfect square of land for His restored people. A square speaks of balance, stability, and completeness—qualities the Lord intends for His kingdom (cf. Revelation 21:16 where the New Jerusalem is also square; 1 Kings 6:20 where the Holy of Holies is equal on all sides). By specifying a square, the Lord shows that worship, community life, and government will all be harmoniously ordered around Him. 25,000 cubits by 25,000 cubits A cubit is roughly 18 inches, making each side about 7½–8⅓ miles (Ezekiel 45:1–6 repeats these numbers). The careful dimensions underline God’s literal, measurable plan. He is not guessing; He is allocating precise space for priestly service (Ezekiel 48:10, 12), Levitical dwellings (48:13), and civic life (48:15). This accuracy reminds us of passages such as Numbers 26:52–56, where tribal inheritances were assigned “by lot” under divine oversight. You are to set apart the holy portion “Set apart” means consecrate, treat as distinct (Leviticus 20:26). God reserves the center of the land for Himself and His ministers (Ezekiel 45:3–4; 44:28). The priests’ portion will be the place of sacrifice and fellowship, echoing earlier commands to sanctify ground around the tabernacle (Leviticus 27:21). The call still rings true: holiness must not be an afterthought but the focal point of national life (1 Peter 1:15–16). Along with the city property While the central strip is holy, the surrounding strip belongs to “the whole house of Israel” (Ezekiel 48:15–19). God blends sacred and civic space so that daily life orbits around worship without losing practicality (Zechariah 14:20–21). The city will host workers, merchants, and visitors, illustrating Jeremiah 33:16: “In those days Judah will be saved… and this is the name by which she will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.” summary Ezekiel 48:20 caps the prophet’s land-allotment vision with a literal, square parcel—25,000 × 25,000 cubits—set aside for both holy service and urban life. The shape conveys divine order, the measurement shows exact planning, the consecration highlights holiness, and the adjacent city reminds us that worship and community are meant to thrive together under God’s righteous rule. |
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