Bible Strands
Ezekiel 48:31
the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. On the north side there will be three gates: the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezekiel delivers a prophetic vision detailing the final allocation of land and the architectural layout of the restored Jerusalem. The vision addresses the twelve tribes, defining their territorial boundaries and the city's sacred perimeter.
The words — שְׁמוֹת (she.mOt) means "names," and שִׁבְטֵי (shiv.Tei) means "tribes." The text explicitly states the gates will bear the tribal names rather than royal or personal titles.
The thread — This structural motif appears in Revelation 21:12, where the New Jerusalem bears twelve gates inscribed with the tribes of Israel. Isaiah 26:1 and Isaiah 54:12 also associate fortified walls and gates with divine salvation and restoration.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that the city's identity is rooted in covenantal lineage rather than human authority. It requires the reader to see the gates as markers of distributed tribal inheritance and divine order.
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
King James Version
And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.
Cross-references
- Revelation 21:12 The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates.
- Isaiah 26:1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation is established as its walls and ramparts.
- Isaiah 54:12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.
- Isaiah 60:11 Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut, day or night, so that the wealth of the nations may be brought into you, with their kings being led in procession.
- Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.
- Revelation 21:25 Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.