King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 48:21 Mean?

Ezekiel 48:21 in the King James Version says “And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 48 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.

Ezekiel 48:21 · KJV


Context

19

And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.

20

All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.

21

And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.

22

Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince's, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.

23

As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion. A portion: Heb. one portion


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The residue shall be for the prince—the Davidic ruler (nasi, prince/leader) receives land on both sides of the sacred square, extending east to the Jordan and west to the Mediterranean. Unlike monarchic land-grabbing (1 Kings 21, Ahab seizing Naboth's vineyard), this prince's portion is divinely prescribed, preventing royal encroachment on sacred space.

The sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof—the climactic phrase centers everything on God's dwelling. Prince, priests, Levites, city, and agricultural lands all orient around the sanctuary, establishing theocentric geography where God's presence—not human power—defines the center. This corrects the exilic crisis: God didn't lose His sanctuary; He temporarily withdrew it. Here He returns, enthroned at Israel's heart, with all other realities properly ordered around His glory.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Pre-exilic kings often treated the temple as personal chapel (2 Kings 16:10-18, Ahaz remodeling the altar). Ezekiel 43:7-8 condemns kings who built palaces adjoining the temple, defiling it. This vision separates royal residence from sanctuary while still providing princely territory—the proper balance between honoring Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) and preventing royal presumption.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the prince receiving prescribed (not seized) land challenge human tendencies to grasp power and accumulate possessions?
  2. What does the sanctuary "in the midst" teach about Christ as the center around whom all life—personal, communal, political—must orient?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 35 words
וְהַנּוֹתָ֣ר1 of 35

And the residue

H3498

to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve

לַנָּשִׂ֑יא2 of 35

for the prince

H5387

properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist

מִזֶּ֣ה׀3 of 35
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וּמִזֶּ֣ה׀4 of 35
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

תְּרוּמַ֣ת5 of 35

oblation

H8641

a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute

הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ6 of 35

and it shall be the holy

H6944

a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

וְלַאֲחֻזַּ֪ת7 of 35

and of the possession

H272

something seized, i.e., a possession (especially of land)

הָעִ֟יר8 of 35

of the city

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

אֶל9 of 35
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

פְּ֠נֵי10 of 35

over against

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה11 of 35

the five

H2568

five

וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים12 of 35

and twenty

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

אֶ֙לֶף֙13 of 35

thousand

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

תְּרוּמַ֣ת14 of 35

oblation

H8641

a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute

עַד15 of 35
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

גְּב֣וּל16 of 35

border

H1366

properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

קָדִימָה֒17 of 35

toward the east

H6921

the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)

יָ֔מָּה18 of 35

and westward

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

עַל19 of 35
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פְּ֠נֵי20 of 35

over against

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה21 of 35

the five

H2568

five

וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים22 of 35

and twenty

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

אֶ֙לֶף֙23 of 35

thousand

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

עַל24 of 35
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

גְּב֣וּל25 of 35

border

H1366

properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

יָ֔מָּה26 of 35

and westward

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

לְעֻמַּ֥ת27 of 35

over against

H5980

conjunction, i.e., society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with

חֲלָקִ֖ים28 of 35

the portions

H2506

properly, smoothness (of the tongue)

לַנָּשִׂ֑יא29 of 35

for the prince

H5387

properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist

וְהָֽיְתָה֙30 of 35
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

תְּרוּמַ֣ת31 of 35

oblation

H8641

a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute

הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ32 of 35

and it shall be the holy

H6944

a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

וּמִקְדַּ֥שׁ33 of 35

and the sanctuary

H4720

a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of jehovah or of idols) or asylum

הַבַּ֖יִת34 of 35

of the house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

בְּתוֹכֹֽה׃35 of 35

shall be in the midst

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 48:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 48:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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