Ezekiel 48:6
Ezekiel 48:6 in Multiple Translations
Reuben will have one portion bordering the territory of Ephraim from east to west.
And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.
And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, Reuben, one portion.
And on the limit of Ephraim, from the east side to the west side: Reuben, one part.
Reuben's allocation borders that of east to west.
And by the border of Ephraim, from the East part euen vnto the West part, a portion for Reuben.
and by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, Reuben one,
“By the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, Reuben, one portion.
And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, a portion for Reuben.
And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the side of the sea, one portion for Ruben.
South of their land will be the territory for the tribe of Reuben.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 48:6
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 48:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/עַ֣ל
גְּב֣וּל
אֶפְרַ֗יִם
מִ/פְּאַ֥ת
קָדִ֛ים
וְ/עַד
פְּאַת
יָ֖מָּ/ה
רְאוּבֵ֥ן
אֶחָֽד
וְ/עַ֣ל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Conj | Prep
גְּב֣וּל
gᵉbûwl
H1366
border
N-ms
אֶפְרַ֗יִם
ʼEphrayim
H669
Ephraim
N-proper
מִ/פְּאַ֥ת
pêʼâh
H6285
side
Prep | N-fs
קָדִ֛ים
qâdîym
H6921
east
N-ms
וְ/עַד
ʻad
H5704
till
Conj | Prep
פְּאַת
pêʼâh
H6285
side
N-fs
יָ֖מָּ/ה
yâm
H3220
West
N-ms | Suff
רְאוּבֵ֥ן
Rᵉʼûwbên
H7205
Reuben
N-proper
אֶחָֽד
ʼechâd
H259
one
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 48:6
וְ/עַ֣ל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Conj | Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
גְּב֣וּל
gᵉbûwl
H1366
"border"
N-ms
This word refers to a boundary or border, like the borders of the Promised Land in Numbers 34:1-12. It can also mean a region or territory, as in the borders of Israel in 1 Kings 8:65.
Definition: : boundary 1) border, territory 1a) border 1b) territory (enclosed within boundary) 1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.) Also means: ge.vul (גְּבוּל ": area" H1366H)
Usage: Occurs in 196 OT verses. KJV: border, bound, coast, [idiom] great, landmark, limit, quarter, space. See also: Genesis 10:19; Joshua 19:33; Psalms 78:54.
אֶפְרַ֗יִם
ʼEphrayim
H669
"Ephraim"
N-proper
Ephraim means doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph's son and the tribe that descended from him. The tribe of Ephraim was a significant part of Israel's history. Ephraim is also the name of a region in the Bible.
Definition: Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful" the country of the tribe of Ephraim Also named: Ephraim (Ἐφραίμ "Ephraim" G2187)
Usage: Occurs in 164 OT verses. KJV: Ephraim, Ephraimites. See also: Genesis 41:52; 1 Chronicles 27:20; Psalms 60:9.
מִ/פְּאַ֥ת
pêʼâh
H6285
"side"
Prep | N-fs
This word refers to the side or corner of something, like the edge of a room or a region. It is used in the Bible to describe geography or location. In the KJV, it is translated as 'corner' or 'side'.
Definition: 1) corner, edge, side, quarter, extremity 1a) corner 1b) side
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: corner, end, quarter, side. See also: Exodus 25:26; Jeremiah 25:23; Jeremiah 9:25.
קָדִ֛ים
qâdîym
H6921
"east"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means the direction east or the east wind, often used to describe geographical locations or the direction of the wind.
Definition: 1) east, east wind 1a) east (of direction) 1b) east wind
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: east(-ward, wind). See also: Genesis 41:6; Ezekiel 43:17; Psalms 48:8.
וְ/עַד
ʻad
H5704
"till"
Conj | Prep
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Definition: prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Usage: Occurs in 1128 OT verses. KJV: against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet. See also: Genesis 3:19; Exodus 32:20; Numbers 23:24.
פְּאַת
pêʼâh
H6285
"side"
N-fs
This word refers to the side or corner of something, like the edge of a room or a region. It is used in the Bible to describe geography or location. In the KJV, it is translated as 'corner' or 'side'.
Definition: 1) corner, edge, side, quarter, extremity 1a) corner 1b) side
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: corner, end, quarter, side. See also: Exodus 25:26; Jeremiah 25:23; Jeremiah 9:25.
יָ֖מָּ/ה
yâm
H3220
"West"
N-ms | Suff
Refers to a large body of water like the Mediterranean Sea or a sea in general, sometimes specifically the west or seaward direction.
Definition: This name means sea, seaward, westward Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)
Usage: Occurs in 339 OT verses. KJV: sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). See also: Genesis 1:10; Joshua 17:10; Psalms 8:9.
רְאוּבֵ֥ן
Rᵉʼûwbên
H7205
"Reuben"
N-proper
Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, and the ancestor of the tribe of Reuben. He is mentioned in Genesis as the brother of Simeon, Levi, and Judah, and the father of Hanoch and Pallu.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Reuben living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.32; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), 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: Hanoch (H2585J), Pallu (H6396), Hezron (H2696) and Carmi (H3756) § Reuben = "behold a son" 1) the eldest son of Jacob by Leah 2) the tribe descended from Reuben 3) the territory inhabited by the tribe of Reuben
Usage: Occurs in 68 OT verses. KJV: Reuben. See also: Genesis 29:32; Deuteronomy 27:13; Ezekiel 48:31.
אֶחָֽד
ʼechâd
H259
"one"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 48:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Portions for the Tribes
4Manasseh will have one portion bordering the territory of Naphtali from east to west.
5Ephraim will have one portion bordering the territory of Manasseh from east to west.
6Reuben will have one portion bordering the territory of Ephraim from east to west.
7Judah will have one portion bordering the territory of Reuben from east to west. 8Bordering the territory of Judah, from east to west, will be the portion you are to set apart. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and the length of a tribal portion from east to west. In the center will be the sanctuary.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 13:15–21 | This is what Moses had given to the clans of the tribe of Reuben: The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, to the whole plateau beyond Medeba, to Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley, Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth— all the cities of the plateau and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon until Moses killed him and the chiefs of Midian (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), the princes of Sihon who lived in the land. |
| 2 | Genesis 29:32 | And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” |
| 3 | Genesis 49:3–4 | Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it. |
Ezekiel 48:6 Summary
[This verse tells us that the tribe of Reuben will have a portion of land that borders the land of the tribe of Ephraim, from east to west. This shows us that God has a plan for His people and wants them to live in harmony with one another, as seen in Psalm 133:1 and Acts 2:44-47. Just like the tribes of Israel, we are all part of a larger community and should strive to live in peace and unity with those around us, as described in Ephesians 4:3 and Colossians 3:13. By following God's plan and living in harmony with others, we can experience the joy and blessings that come from living in community, as seen in Psalm 16:11 and John 15:11.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the tribe of Reuben's portion bordering the territory of Ephraim?
The tribe of Reuben's portion bordering the territory of Ephraim signifies the importance of the tribes' geographical arrangement in relation to one another, as seen in Ezekiel 48:6, and is a part of God's plan for the division of the land, as described in Ezekiel 47:13-48:35 and Numbers 34:1-12.
How does this verse relate to the overall division of the land in Ezekiel 48?
This verse is part of the detailed description of the division of the land among the tribes of Israel in Ezekiel 48, with each tribe receiving a portion from east to west, as seen in Ezekiel 48:1-7 and Ezekiel 48:23-29.
What can we learn from the fact that Reuben's portion borders Ephraim's from east to west?
The fact that Reuben's portion borders Ephraim's from east to west teaches us about God's attention to detail and His desire for order and harmony among His people, as seen in 1 Corinthians 14:33 and Psalm 119:133.
How does this verse fit into the larger context of Ezekiel's vision of the restored Israel?
This verse is part of Ezekiel's vision of the restored Israel, where God will dwell among His people and bring about a new era of peace and prosperity, as described in Ezekiel 40-48 and Isaiah 11:1-10.
Reflection Questions
- What can I learn from the way God has ordered the tribes of Israel in Ezekiel 48, and how can I apply that to my own life?
- How does the concept of borders and boundaries in this verse relate to my own sense of identity and community?
- What does the fact that Reuben's portion borders Ephraim's from east to west reveal about God's character and His relationship with His people?
- In what ways can I, like the tribe of Reuben, seek to live in harmony with those around me, as described in Romans 12:18 and Matthew 5:9?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 48:6
And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 48:6
And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben. A portion for Reuben - doomed formerly, for incest and instability, "not to excel" (Genesis 49:4).
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 48:6
Ezekiel 48:6 And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a [portion for] Reuben.Ver. 6. And by the border of Ephraim.] There is a continuity and conjunction of all the portions, to set forth the communion that is between the saints; a sweet mercy, a heaven beforehand.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 48:6
XLVIII. The closing chapter of Ezekiel is mainly occupied with the distribution of the land in detail. Beginning at the north, a portion is assigned to each of seven tribes (Ezekiel 48:1-7); then the “oblation” is described, with its parts for the Levites, the priests and Temple, the city and those that serve it, and for the prince (Ezekiel 48:8-22), and lastly portions for the remaining five tribes. The chapter and the book close with an account of the size and the twelve gates of the city, the whole ending with its name, “The Lord is there.” The distribution of the land is entirely different from that made under Joshua, nor is it easy to trace any historical reasons for it, except that the central portion, containing the Temple, the land of the priests and the prince, is flanked by the two tribes of the southern kingdom, Judah and Benjamin. The chapter can best be understood by the aid of a small map, the outline of which is traced from Dr. Wm. Smith’s ancient atlas. This might be drawn with the lines between the tribes perpendicular either to the general course of the Jordan, or to the general coast-line of the Mediterranean. The latter would give a little more width for the oblation, but still not enough, and would leave no space at all on the west for the prince. The former arrangement is on the whole preferred.
It will be seen that the tribes are not arranged either according to their seniority or their maternity. The territory falling to each tribe was much smaller than of old, partly because of the large space occupied by the “oblation” (fully one-fifth of the whole), and partly because the remainder was to be divided among the whole twelve tribes, instead of among only nine and a half. The portion thus given to each tribe was rather less than two-thirds that assigned, on the average, by Joshua. (1) These are his sides east and west.—Lit., The east side, the west side, shall be to him, meaning that the portion of Dan stretches across the country from the eastern to the western boundary. So of them all. The original portion of Dan was at the west of Benjamin, but a part of the tribe having conquered Laish, and settled at the extreme north, Dan is now made the most northern of the tribes. Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, and Ephraim are so far approximated to their old places as to be north of the sanctuary. (8) In length as one of the other parts.—The oblation, which has been already spoken of in Ezekiel 45:1-7 in a different connection, is here (Ezekiel 48:8-22) more exactly described. Its whole width is again stated as 25,000 reeds, and its length from the eastern to the western boundaries of the laud “as one of the other parts,” no account being taken in this of the varying distance between the Jordan and the Mediterranean. It cannot, however, be so placed as not to exceed that distance.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 48:6
1–7. The tribes to the north of the sacred oblation.
Sermons on Ezekiel 48:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Through the Bible) Genesis 47-50 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker references the story of Abraham in Genesis 15, where God reveals to him that his descendants will go down to Egypt for 400 years before being brought ou |
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12 Real Christian Morals by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of sexual immorality and its consequences. He shares a personal experience of dealing with similar situations and emphasizes the imp |
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(Genesis) Genesis 49-50 by Joe Focht | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Jacob and his sons from the Bible. He highlights the downfall of Ruben, Jacob's firstborn, who was given to lust and committed a |