Ezekiel 48:30

“These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which will be 4,500 cubits long,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The prophet Ezekiel records God’s declaration concerning the future division of the land among the tribes of Israel. This instruction follows the allocation of tribal portions and introduces the architectural specifications of the holy city.

The words — The Hebrew phrase תּוֹצְאֹת הָעִיר (totz'ot ha'ir) literally means "exits of the city," marking the boundary points where the city's perimeter meets the surrounding land. The directional term מִפֶּ֣אַת צָפ֔וֹן (mi-pe'at tzaFon) specifies "from the side of the north," anchoring the measurement to a cardinal orientation.

The thread — This measurement aligns with the city's overall square dimensions recorded in Ezekiel 48:16 and anticipates the gate arrangements detailed in Ezekiel 48:31-32. The symmetrical layout later serves as a structural pattern for the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:16.

Why it lands — The text demands precise attention to God's ordered design rather than abstract spiritualization. It requires the reader to recognize that divine promises are fulfilled within concrete, measured boundaries.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאֵ֖לֶּהve./'E.lehand/ these תּוֹצְאֹ֣תtotz.'Ot[will be] [the] exits of הָעִ֑ירha./'Irthe/ city מִפְּאַ֣תmi./pe.'Atfrom/ [the] side of צָפ֔וֹןtza.Fon[the] north חֲמֵ֥שׁcha.Mesh[will be] five מֵא֛וֹתme.'othundred<s>וְאַרְבַּ֥עַתve./'ar.Ba.'atand/ four אֲלָפִ֖ים'a.la.Fimthousand [cubits]מִדָּֽה׃mi.Dah[the] measurement

King James Version

And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 48:16 and will have these measurements: 4,500 cubits on the north side, 4,500 cubits on the south side, 4,500 cubits on the east side, and 4,500 cubits on the west side.
Ezekiel 48:32 On the east side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.
Revelation 21:16 The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height.