This verse confirms that God’s holiness and proximity are foundational for His people’s future.
In Ezekiel 48:10, we read: “This shall be the holy portion for the priests, toward the north twenty-five thousand cubits in length, toward the west ten thousand in width, toward the east ten thousand in width, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length; and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in its midst.” (v.10) This verse is set in the final chapters of Ezekiel’s prophetic writings, where he receives visions of how the restored land should be apportioned among the tribes of Israel. The prophet Ezekiel ministered during the seventh to sixth centuries BC (circa 593-571 BC), a time when many Israelites were in Babylonian exile. By describing a “holy portion,” the passage outlines a special territory reserved for priests to serve and dwell, ensuring that the line of Israel’s spiritual leadership always has a defined place to honor God and help guide the people.
When the text says “the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in its midst” (v.10), it emphasizes that God’s dwelling—His very presence—remains central to the community. This emphasis reflects the broader Biblical theme that the Lord’s holiness should be recognized and that His people must orient their lives around Him (just as Christ later taught believers to remain in Him for spiritual nourishment, John 15:4). The specific measurements—twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width—highlight meticulous care toward divinely given instructions, much like the detailed construction of the tabernacle in earlier scriptures.
Geographically, this holy portion would have been situated in a restored territory of Israel. Ezekiel, prophesying during the Babylonian captivity, likely saw this vision as a future hope, promising both practical and spiritual rebuilding. The exact location is not described in modern coordinates, but historically it implies a central place in a renewed land where the priests and people could return after exile, ensuring daily access to worship and fellowship with the Lord. The priests’ portion underscores that spiritual leadership and divine presence go hand in hand, foreshadowing the ultimate promise of God dwelling with His people in a perfected future kingdom (Revelation 21:3).
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Ezekiel 48:10 meaning
In Ezekiel 48:10, we read: “This shall be the holy portion for the priests, toward the north twenty-five thousand cubits in length, toward the west ten thousand in width, toward the east ten thousand in width, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length; and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in its midst.” (v.10) This verse is set in the final chapters of Ezekiel’s prophetic writings, where he receives visions of how the restored land should be apportioned among the tribes of Israel. The prophet Ezekiel ministered during the seventh to sixth centuries BC (circa 593-571 BC), a time when many Israelites were in Babylonian exile. By describing a “holy portion,” the passage outlines a special territory reserved for priests to serve and dwell, ensuring that the line of Israel’s spiritual leadership always has a defined place to honor God and help guide the people.
When the text says “the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in its midst” (v.10), it emphasizes that God’s dwelling—His very presence—remains central to the community. This emphasis reflects the broader Biblical theme that the Lord’s holiness should be recognized and that His people must orient their lives around Him (just as Christ later taught believers to remain in Him for spiritual nourishment, John 15:4). The specific measurements—twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width—highlight meticulous care toward divinely given instructions, much like the detailed construction of the tabernacle in earlier scriptures.
Geographically, this holy portion would have been situated in a restored territory of Israel. Ezekiel, prophesying during the Babylonian captivity, likely saw this vision as a future hope, promising both practical and spiritual rebuilding. The exact location is not described in modern coordinates, but historically it implies a central place in a renewed land where the priests and people could return after exile, ensuring daily access to worship and fellowship with the Lord. The priests’ portion underscores that spiritual leadership and divine presence go hand in hand, foreshadowing the ultimate promise of God dwelling with His people in a perfected future kingdom (Revelation 21:3).