Ezekiel 48:24

Translation
King James Version
And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And by the border H1366 of Benjamin H1144, from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side H6285, Simeon H8095 shall have a H259 portion.
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Complete Jewish Bible
"'Shim'on's territory will run alongside the territory of Binyamin from east to west.
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Berean Standard Bible
Simeon will have one portion bordering the territory of Benjamin from east to west.
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American Standard Version
And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon, one portion.
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World English Bible Messianic
By the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon, one portion.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And by the border of Beniamin, from the East side vnto the West side Simeon a portion.
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Young's Literal Translation
and by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon one,
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See also
Joshua 19:1Joshua 19:9Genesis 29:33Genesis 49:5Genesis 49:7
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Ezekiel’s Promised Land
Ezekiel’s Promised Land View full PDF

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In the KJVVerse 21,727 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ezekiel 48:24 is a precise and pivotal verse within Ezekiel's climactic vision of the restored Israel, specifically detailing the geographical allocation for the tribe of Simeon. It describes Simeon's inheritance as a distinct, horizontally-oriented strip of land, stretching from the eastern to the western boundaries of the promised land, situated immediately south of the territory assigned to Benjamin. This meticulous division underscores God's sovereign plan for a perfectly ordered and equitable restoration of His people, ensuring every tribe receives its full and independent share in the future, idealized kingdom.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Ezekiel 48:24 is situated within the final section of the Book of Ezekiel (chapters 40-48), which presents an elaborate prophetic vision of a new temple, a renewed priesthood, and a meticulously re-divided land. This entire section serves as a blueprint for a future, ideal state of Israel, often interpreted as a depiction of the millennial kingdom or a symbolic representation of God's ultimate restoration. Following the detailed descriptions of the temple and the "holy oblation"—a sacred district designated for the temple, priests, and Levites (as seen in Ezekiel 45:1-8)—Ezekiel 48 outlines the precise boundaries and allocations for each of the twelve tribes. The land is envisioned as being divided into horizontal strips, each extending from the east to the west, with the centrally located holy portion. The tribes are listed in a specific order from north to south, starting with Dan (as seen in Ezekiel 48:1) and concluding with Gad (as described in Ezekiel 48:27). Simeon's portion, as described in this verse, is strategically placed directly south of Benjamin's territory, emphasizing a contiguous and orderly distribution within this divinely orchestrated plan.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Historically, the initial division of the land under Joshua saw the tribe of Simeon receiving its inheritance within the territory of Judah (as recorded in Joshua 19:1-9). This unique arrangement was likely due to their smaller size and perhaps a consequence of Jacob's prophecy concerning Simeon and Levi, who were to be "divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel" because of their violent actions (see Genesis 49:5-7). By the time of the divided monarchy and the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, the tribal distinctions had largely blurred, and the land lay desolate. Ezekiel's vision, delivered to the exiles in Babylon, offered a profound message of hope and restoration. Culturally, land inheritance was paramount in ancient Israel, signifying identity, security, and a direct fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham (e.g., Genesis 15:18). The meticulous detail of this re-division would have resonated deeply with a people who had lost their land and their sense of national identity, promising a future where God's promises would be perfectly realized, and every tribe would have its rightful, independent place.
  • Key Themes: This verse, along with the entire land division in Ezekiel 48, contributes to several major theological and narrative themes. Firstly, it powerfully underscores Divine Order and Restoration. The precise allocation for each tribe, including Simeon, highlights God's meticulous and sovereign plan to restore and reorder His people, providing each with a secure and distinct inheritance. This speaks to a future era of peace, stability, and perfect justice under God's rule, ensuring Israel's complete restoration after exile (a theme also prominent in Ezekiel 36:24-28). Secondly, the inclusion of Simeon with its own independent strip of land, rather than being subsumed within Judah as historically, emphasizes Simeon's Included Inheritance and Reversal of Judgment. This signifies a complete and equitable restoration for all tribes, regardless of past circumstances, numerical strength, or historical judgments. It points to a fulfillment of God's covenant promises in a way that transcends historical limitations, demonstrating God's grace and faithfulness to all His people. Finally, the recurring phrase "from the east side unto the west side" for each tribal portion, including Simeon's, conveys Completeness and Wholeness. It signifies a full and complete inheritance, emphasizing that every tribe receives its full share across the breadth of the land, reflecting the comprehensiveness and abundance of God's future blessings.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Benjamin (Hebrew, Binyâmîyn', H1144): From the Hebrew for "son of (the) right hand," Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and the progenitor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In Ezekiel's vision, Benjamin's territory is situated immediately north of Simeon's, indicating a specific and ordered placement within the restored land. The tribe of Benjamin was historically significant, known for its fierce warriors and for producing Israel's first king, Saul. Its placement here emphasizes the re-establishment of all tribal identities.
  • Border (Hebrew, gᵉbûwl', H1366): Properly meaning "a cord (as twisted)," this word refers to a boundary or, by implication, the territory enclosed by such a boundary. Its usage here highlights the precise and defined nature of the tribal allotments in Ezekiel's vision. It signifies order, demarcation, and the secure possession of land, contrasting with the chaotic and dispossessed state of the exilic period. The "border" defines the limits of each tribe's divinely appointed inheritance.
  • Simeon (Hebrew, Shimʻôwn', H8095): Derived from the Hebrew root meaning "hearing," Simeon was the second son of Jacob and Leah. Historically, the tribe of Simeon faced challenges, including a reduced population and an inheritance within Judah's territory. Its explicit mention here receiving a distinct, independent "portion" underscores the theme of complete restoration and God's meticulous care for every part of His people, ensuring that none are forgotten or diminished in the final, ideal state.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And by the border of Benjamin": This clause precisely locates Simeon's future inheritance. It indicates that Simeon's allotted territory will immediately adjoin the southern boundary of the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin, establishing a clear and orderly geographical relationship between these two tribes within the restored land. This proximity highlights the meticulous and systematic nature of God's re-division.
  • "from the east side unto the west side": This phrase describes the full breadth of Simeon's portion. It signifies that Simeon's territory, like those of the other tribes in this vision, will extend completely across the land, from its easternmost boundary to its westernmost boundary. This emphasizes a full, complete, and unhindered inheritance, reflecting the comprehensiveness of God's provision and the secure nature of the land.
  • "Simeon [shall have] a [portion].": This final clause declares the specific recipient and nature of the allotment. It explicitly states that the tribe of Simeon will receive a distinct "portion" or share of the land. The inclusion of Simeon, despite its historical challenges and diminished status, highlights God's faithfulness to all His covenant people and His plan for a perfectly equitable distribution in the restored kingdom, ensuring no tribe is overlooked.

Literary Devices

The verse employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is Symbolism, where the meticulously detailed division of the land for each tribe, including Simeon, symbolizes God's perfect order, justice, and faithfulness in the eschatological age. It represents not merely a physical reallocation of territory but a spiritual restoration of identity, security, and covenant blessing for all Israel. The phrase "from the east side unto the west side" functions as Hyperbole or Merism, signifying the entirety and completeness of the inheritance, emphasizing that each tribe receives its full, unhindered share across the entire breadth of the land. This reinforces the theme of God's abundant provision and the boundless nature of the future kingdom. Furthermore, the very act of listing and specifying each tribe's portion, particularly Simeon's, which had a historically complicated inheritance, serves as a powerful Reversal motif, demonstrating God's capacity to overturn past judgments and fulfill His promises beyond human expectation, showcasing His transformative grace.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 48:24, by detailing Simeon's distinct inheritance, powerfully affirms God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and His meticulous care for every segment of His people. The vision of a perfectly ordered land, where every tribe, regardless of past status or historical challenges, receives its full and independent share, speaks to a divine justice that transcends human failings and historical circumstances. It underscores the theme of comprehensive restoration, not merely of land, but of identity, dignity, and purpose for the entire nation of Israel. This future state, characterized by divine order and equitable provision, serves as a profound theological statement about God's ultimate intention to bring about perfect shalom and complete His redemptive plan for His chosen people, ensuring all are included and fully blessed.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ezekiel's vision of the land's re-division, with Simeon receiving a full and distinct portion, offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that God is a God of meticulous order, perfect justice, and unwavering faithfulness. Even when circumstances seem chaotic or when past failures appear to diminish our standing, God's ultimate plan is one of complete restoration and abundant provision. Just as Simeon, a tribe historically integrated into Judah and associated with Jacob's curse, is given a full and independent inheritance, so too does God remember and restore all who are His. This vision invites us to trust in God's sovereign blueprint for our lives and for the world, knowing that His future is characterized by perfect equity and comprehensive blessing, far beyond what we can imagine or deserve. It calls us to live with hope, confident that God will ultimately set all things right and fulfill every promise, ensuring that no one truly belonging to Him will be forgotten or left without their full inheritance.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the meticulous detail of God's plan for Simeon's inheritance encourage you about God's care for every individual and group within His people?
  • In what ways might you be tempted to feel "less than" or overlooked, and how does Ezekiel 48:24 challenge that perspective?
  • How does the concept of a complete and unhindered "portion" from "east side unto west side" speak to the comprehensiveness of God's blessings in your own life?

FAQ

What is the significance of Simeon receiving its own independent portion in Ezekiel's vision?

Answer: The significance lies in the profound theme of complete and equitable restoration. Historically, the tribe of Simeon had a unique and somewhat diminished inheritance, receiving its territory within the larger tribal allotment of Judah (as detailed in Joshua 19:1-9). This was likely due to its smaller size and perhaps related to Jacob's prophecy concerning Simeon and Levi being "scattered in Israel" (see Genesis 49:5-7). In Ezekiel's idealized vision, Simeon is granted its own distinct, independent strip of land, equal in breadth to the other tribes. This signifies a reversal of any historical judgments or diminishment, highlighting God's grace and faithfulness to ensure that every tribe, without exception, receives a full and secure inheritance in the restored kingdom. It underscores that God's ultimate plan is one of perfect justice, order, and comprehensive blessing for all His covenant people.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

While Ezekiel 48:24 describes a literal land division for the twelve tribes of Israel, its ultimate fulfillment and spiritual significance are profoundly realized in Christ. The meticulous and equitable distribution of land, ensuring every tribe receives a full and secure inheritance, foreshadows the spiritual inheritance believers receive in Christ. Just as Simeon, historically marginalized, receives a full portion, so too in Christ are all believers, regardless of their past or origin, granted full access to the blessings of God's kingdom. The "border" and "portion" in Ezekiel point to the secure and eternal dwelling place prepared for God's people, not merely in a physical land, but in the new heavens and new earth, where Christ is the center. Through His atoning work, Jesus, the true Lamb of God, has secured for His followers an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven (as described in 1 Peter 1:3-5). The promise of a full "east to west" portion finds its spiritual parallel in the boundless and comprehensive grace and glory that believers inherit as co-heirs with Christ (see Romans 8:17). Ultimately, the perfectly ordered community in Ezekiel's vision anticipates the church, the spiritual Israel, where Jew and Gentile are united in Christ, each having a place and a portion in God's eternal kingdom (as seen in Ephesians 2:19-22). The final vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21, with its twelve gates named for the tribes of Israel and its twelve foundations for the apostles, beautifully synthesizes these Old Testament promises into their ultimate Christ-centered reality, where all God's people find their complete and eternal inheritance in Him.

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Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers . Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Vers. 23 seqq.) And the rest of the tribes, from the eastern boundary to the western boundary, belong to Benjamin. And against the boundary of Benjamin, from the eastern boundary to the western boundary, belong to Simeon. And along the boundary of Simeon, from the eastern boundary to the western boundary, belong to Issachar. And along the boundary of Issachar, from the eastern boundary to the western boundary, belong to Zebulun. And along the boundary of Zebulun, from the eastern boundary to the sea, belong to Gad. And the border shall go to Gad towards the south side, and the end shall be at Thamar unto the waters of contradiction of Cades: the inheritance shall be against the great sea. This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, says the Lord God. The portion which is always placed at the end in the numbering of the five and seven tribes is understood either as a part, a possession, or an inheritance: although Aquila and Symmachus interpret it as a neutral gender τὸ ὅριον, which means boundary. And it must be noted briefly that in the last five tribes, the tribe of Gad, which was mentioned earlier as being beyond the Jordan, is placed in the same area that Judas previously held, namely the southern region, and its boundary stretches from Thamar to the waters of contradiction at Kadesh, opposite the Great Sea: Thamar itself, which we have already mentioned, is now called Palmyra, and was built long ago by Solomon; for 'palm' in Hebrew is called Thamar, and some believe that it received this name because there are many palm trees there. And what follows: Even to the waters of contradiction of Cades, the inheritance against the great sea; for which seventy transferred from Theman, and the water of Mariboth, ((also Marimoth)) Cades, the inheritance even to the great sea, it is to be observed in the Hebrew language that the same word, Nehela (), is ambiguous, signifying both inheritance and torrent, and here it should be understood more as a torrent than as an inheritance. For this is the torrent that enters the great sea of Rhinocorura, as we have already mentioned. The place called Kadesh, which is also called Kadesh-Barnea in the book of Joshua, is in the desert, extending to the city of Petra. However, Mariboth, which means contradiction, is not a place name as many think, but a name for the waters in which the people contradicted the Lord and Moses offended God, as the Psalm says: They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that Moses suffered for their sins (Psalm 106:32). The entire inheritance of the Holy Land is bordered to the south by the boundaries of Egypt, Rhinocorura, and the River of Egypt. And because Gad is interpreted as temptation, in his possession we pass from the palm groves to the waters of contradiction, even to Kadesh, which is interpreted as holy, so that we may understand that even after the victory of the world we must be solicitous, and always in fear, and remember that verse: The life of man upon earth is a temptation (Job 7:1); and to attain holiness, resisting adversaries, and thus achieve victory, so that we may contemplate the nearby stream full of rain showers.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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