Ezekiel 45:5
Ezekiel 45:5 in Multiple Translations
An adjacent area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide shall belong to the Levites who minister in the temple; it will be their possession for towns in which to live.
And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.
And five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth, shall be unto the Levites, the ministers of the house, for a possession unto themselves, for twenty chambers.
A space of land twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand wide is to be for the Levites, the servants of the house, a property for themselves, for towns for their living-places.
The other section measuring 25,000 cubits by 10,000 cubits will be assigned the Levites who work in the Temple where they can live.
And in the fiue and twentie thousande of length, and the ten thousand of breadth shall the Leuites that minister in the house, haue their possession for twentie chambers.
'And of the five and twenty thousand of length, and of the ten thousand of breadth, there is to the Levites, ministrants of the house, for them — for a possession — twenty chambers.
Twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width shall be for the Levites, the ministers of the house, as a possession for themselves, for twenty rooms.
And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.
And five and twenty thousand of length, and ten thousand of breadth shall be for the Levites, that minister in the house: they shall possess twenty store chambers.
An area ◄8.3 miles/13.3 km.► long and ◄3.5 miles/5.3 km.► wide will be for the descendants of Levi who work in the temple. That area will belong to them, and they will be permitted to build cities there to live in.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 45:5
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 45:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה
וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
אֶ֨לֶף֙
אֹ֔רֶךְ
וַ/עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת
אֲלָפִ֖ים
רֹ֑חַב
יהיה
וְֽ/הָיָ֡ה
לַ/לְוִיִּם֩
מְשָׁרְתֵ֨י
הַ/בַּ֧יִת
לָ/הֶ֛ם
לַ/אֲחֻזָּ֖ה
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
לְשָׁכֹֽת
וַ/חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה
châmêsh
H2568
five
Conj | Adj
וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
twenty
Conj | Adj
אֶ֨לֶף֙
ʼeleph
H505
thousand
Adj
אֹ֔רֶךְ
ʼôrek
H753
length
N-ms
וַ/עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת
ʻeser
H6235
ten
Conj | Adj
אֲלָפִ֖ים
ʼeleph
H505
thousand
Adj
רֹ֑חַב
rôchab
H7341
width
N-ms
יהיה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
וְֽ/הָיָ֡ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
לַ/לְוִיִּם֩
Lêvîyîy
H3881
Levi
Prep | Ngmpa
מְשָׁרְתֵ֨י
shârath
H8334
to minister
V-Piel
הַ/בַּ֧יִת
bayith
H1004
place
Art | N-ms
לָ/הֶ֛ם
Prep | Suff
לַ/אֲחֻזָּ֖ה
ʼăchuzzâh
H272
possession
Prep | N-fs
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
twenty
Adj
לְשָׁכֹֽת
lishkâh
H3957
chamber
N-fp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 45:5
וַ/חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה
châmêsh
H2568
"five"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word simply means the number five. It is used throughout the Bible to describe quantities of five, such as five loaves of bread in Matthew 14:17. It can also mean a multiple of five.
Definition: 1) five 1a) five (cardinal number) 1b) a multiple of five (with another number) 1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Usage: Occurs in 272 OT verses. KJV: fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece). See also: Genesis 5:6; Numbers 31:45; Ezra 2:66.
וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
"twenty"
Conj | Adj
This word means twenty, and is also used as an ordinal number, like twentieth, as seen in Genesis 31:38. It can refer to a specific age or quantity.
Definition: twenty, twentieth Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
Usage: Occurs in 281 OT verses. KJV: (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). See also: Genesis 6:3; 1 Kings 9:14; Ezra 2:19.
אֶ֨לֶף֙
ʼeleph
H505
"thousand"
Adj
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Definition: : thousand 1) a thousand 1a) as numeral 2) a thousand, company 2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: thousand. See also: Genesis 20:16; Joshua 3:4; 2 Kings 18:23.
אֹ֔רֶךְ
ʼôrek
H753
"length"
N-ms
Length can refer to physical distance or a long period of time, and also to patience and self-restraint, like waiting forever for something to happen.
Definition: 1) length 1a) physical length 1b) of time 2) forbearance, self-restraint (of patience)
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] forever, length, long. See also: Genesis 6:15; Psalms 93:5; Psalms 21:5.
וַ/עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת
ʻeser
H6235
"ten"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word means the number ten, often used in combination with other numbers to describe larger quantities, such as in the story of the ten commandments in Exodus 20. It is commonly translated as 'ten' in the KJV.
Definition: 1) ten 1a) ten 1b) with other numbers Aramaic equivalent: a.sar (עֲשַׂר "ten" H6236)
Usage: Occurs in 157 OT verses. KJV: ten, (fif-, seven-) teen. See also: Genesis 5:14; 1 Kings 6:3; Isaiah 5:10.
אֲלָפִ֖ים
ʼeleph
H505
"thousand"
Adj
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Definition: : thousand 1) a thousand 1a) as numeral 2) a thousand, company 2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: thousand. See also: Genesis 20:16; Joshua 3:4; 2 Kings 18:23.
רֹ֑חַב
rôchab
H7341
"width"
N-ms
This Hebrew word means width or breadth, used to describe physical size or space. It appears in the Bible to describe the width of the earth or a room. In the KJV, it is translated as breadth or broad.
Definition: breadth, width, expanse
Usage: Occurs in 89 OT verses. KJV: breadth, broad, largeness, thickness, wideness. See also: Genesis 6:15; Ezekiel 40:13; Isaiah 8:8.
יהיה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
וְֽ/הָיָ֡ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לַ/לְוִיִּם֩
Lêvîyîy
H3881
"Levi"
Prep | Ngmpa
A Levite is a descendant of Levi, one of Jacob's 12 sons, mentioned in Genesis 29:34. Levi's brothers include Reuben, Simeon, and Judah. His descendants played a key role in Israel's spiritual life.
Definition: Someone from the tribe of Levi living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.34; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); father of: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115) Another name of le.vi (לֵוִי "Levi" H3878) § Levite, of Levi "joined to" 1) the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah 1a) the tribe descended from Levi specially set aside by God for His service
Usage: Occurs in 258 OT verses. KJV: Leviite. See also: Exodus 4:14; 1 Chronicles 6:33; Ezra 6:20.
מְשָׁרְתֵ֨י
shârath
H8334
"to minister"
V-Piel
This verb means to serve or minister to someone, often in a worship or temple setting. It is used to describe the work of priests and Levites in the Old Testament.
Definition: (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: minister (unto), (do) serve(-ant, -ice, -itor), wait on. See also: Genesis 39:4; 1 Chronicles 26:12; Psalms 101:6.
הַ/בַּ֧יִת
bayith
H1004
"place"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
לָ/הֶ֛ם
""
Prep | Suff
לַ/אֲחֻזָּ֖ה
ʼăchuzzâh
H272
"possession"
Prep | N-fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to something owned or possessed, often land inherited from family. It appears in various books, including Genesis and Leviticus. This concept of possession is important in biblical times.
Definition: 1) possession, property 1a) land 1b) possession by inheritance
Usage: Occurs in 58 OT verses. KJV: possession. See also: Genesis 17:8; Numbers 32:5; Psalms 2:8.
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
"twenty"
Adj
This word means twenty, and is also used as an ordinal number, like twentieth, as seen in Genesis 31:38. It can refer to a specific age or quantity.
Definition: twenty, twentieth Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
Usage: Occurs in 281 OT verses. KJV: (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). See also: Genesis 6:3; 1 Kings 9:14; Ezra 2:19.
לְשָׁכֹֽת
lishkâh
H3957
"chamber"
N-fp
A room or chamber in a building, like a storage room or a bedroom. This word is used in 1 Kings 20:30 to describe a room in the king's palace.
Definition: room, chamber, hall, cell
Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: chamber, parlour. Compare H5393 (נִשְׁכָּה). See also: 1 Samuel 9:22; Jeremiah 36:20; Jeremiah 35:2.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 45:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 45:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 45:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 45:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 45:5
- Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 45:5
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
Context — Consecration of the Land
3From this holy portion, you are to measure off a length of 25,000 cubits and a width of 10,000 cubits, and in it will be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.
4It will be a holy portion of the land to be used by the priests who minister in the sanctuary, who draw near to minister before the LORD. It will be a place for their houses, as well as a holy area for the sanctuary.
5An adjacent area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide shall belong to the Levites who minister in the temple; it will be their possession for towns in which to live.
6As the property of the city, you are to set aside an area 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, adjacent to the holy district. It will belong to the whole house of Israel. 7Now the prince will have the area bordering each side of the area formed by the holy district and the property of the city, extending westward from the western side and eastward from the eastern side, running lengthwise from the western boundary to the eastern boundary and parallel to one of the tribal portions.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 48:13 | Bordering the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. The whole length will be 25,000 cubits, and the width 10,000 cubits. |
| 2 | Nehemiah 10:38–39 | A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.” |
| 3 | Ezekiel 48:20 | The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits by 25,000 cubits. You are to set apart the holy portion, along with the city property. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 48:10 | This will be the holy portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side, and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center will be the sanctuary of the LORD. |
| 5 | 1 Corinthians 9:13–14 | Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. |
| 6 | 1 Chronicles 9:26–33 | But the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they were responsible for guarding it and opening it every morning. Some of them were in charge of the articles used in worship, to count them whenever they were brought in or taken out. Others were put in charge of the furnishings and other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices. And some of the sons of the priests mixed the spices. A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread. Some of their Kohathite brothers were responsible for preparing the rows of the showbread every Sabbath. Those who were musicians, the heads of Levite families, stayed in the temple chambers and were exempt from other duties because they were on duty day and night. |
| 7 | Ezekiel 40:17 | Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement, |
Ezekiel 45:5 Summary
Ezekiel 45:5 tells us that God has set aside a special area for the Levites, who serve in the temple, to live in towns. This area is similar in size to the holy portion set aside for the priests in Ezekiel 45:3-4. Just as God provided for the priests and Levites, He also provides for us as His servants, as seen in Matthew 6:33 and Philippians 4:19. This reminds us that God cares for those who serve Him and wants to provide for their needs, just as He provided for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4-36).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the measurements given in Ezekiel 45:5?
The measurements in Ezekiel 45:5 are significant because they provide a specific area for the Levites to live and minister, similar to the way God provided for the priests in Ezekiel 44:28 and Numbers 35:1-5.
Who are the Levites mentioned in Ezekiel 45:5?
The Levites mentioned in Ezekiel 45:5 are the descendants of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, who were set apart by God to serve as ministers in the temple, as seen in Numbers 3:6-10 and Deuteronomy 10:8-9.
What is the purpose of the adjacent area mentioned in Ezekiel 45:5?
The purpose of the adjacent area is to provide a place for the Levites to live in towns, as stated in Ezekiel 45:5, similar to the way God provided for the Levites in Joshua 21:1-45.
How does Ezekiel 45:5 relate to the broader context of Ezekiel's vision?
Ezekiel 45:5 is part of Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple and the new Jerusalem, as described in Ezekiel 40-48, which emphasizes God's desire to dwell among His people and provide for their needs, as seen in Ezekiel 37:26-28 and Revelation 21:1-4.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's care and provision for those who serve Him?
- How can I, as a believer, apply the principle of God's provision for His servants to my own life and ministry?
- What does the concept of 'holy portion' mean to me, and how can I set apart my own life and resources for God's purposes?
- In what ways can I, like the Levites, be a minister of God's presence and blessing to those around me?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 45:5
And the five and twenty thousand, of length, and ten thousand of breadth,.... This seems to be another portion of the land, distinct from the former, though of the same measure; see Ezekiel 48:13:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 45:5
And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
As we render the words they are a little clouded, but as they are rendered in the French they are plainer: we read them as if the verse spake of the same twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand broad, which the priests have; but the French thus, there shall be other twenty-five thousand in length and ten thousand in breadth, which shall appertain to the Levites, who do the service of the house, with twenty chambers; so they have abroad in the country equal share with the priests, and in the outer court or courts about the house twenty chambers or rows of them in which to abide for their conveniences, when, in their courses, they attend the services they were to perform, as porters, singers, and attendants on the priests.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
Ezekiel 45:5 And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.Ver. 5. For twenty chambers,] i.e., For twenty rows of chambers.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
(5) For a possession for twenty chambers.—Adjoining the priests’ portion of the oblation, another equal portion is assigned to the Levites. The last clause of the verse, as it stands, admits of no satisfactory explanation. The suggestion that it may refer to twenty out of the thirty chambers in the outer court of the sanctuary (Ezekiel 40:17) is quite out of place. Even if these were intended for the use of the Levites (which does not appear), it would be strange that they should be abruptly spoken of in the midst of this description of the oblation. A slight change in the text—the transposition of two letters in the first word, and the change of one letter in the second for another much like it—will make the clause read, “for a possession of gates to dwell in,” gates being used, as in Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 14:27; Deuteronomy 16:11 (comp. Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14), for cities. The sense would then be that this portion should be to the Levites what the former portion was to the priests, a place for their dwellings.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
Verse 5. And the five and twenty thousand] See the plan, B. See Clarke on Ezekiel 48:35.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 45:5
5. Read: and five …, and ten … shall the Levites have. (The Keri is unnecessary). for twenty chambers] Probably with LXX.: for cities to dwell in. Cf. same words Numbers 35:2; Joshua 14:4. In Ezekiel 45:6 Jerusalem, with its suburbs, is assigned a tract of land only half of this given to the Levites.
Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 45:5
For a possession for twenty chambers - literally, “For a possession twenty chambers,” possibly twenty out of the thirty chambers in the outer court Ezekiel 40:17, and assigned for their use during residence in the sanctuary.
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 45:5
1-8. Having given directions as to what the temple ministers should eat, the prophet now specifically states what portion of land shall be theirs, and also what portions shall be for the prince and the city (Ezekiel 45:7).