Ezekiel 48:35

[It was] round about eighteen thousand [measures]: and the name of the city from [that] day [shall be], The LORD [is] there.

It was round about {H5439} eighteen {H8083}{H6240} thousand {H505} measures: and the name {H8034} of the city {H5892} from that day {H3117} shall be, The LORD is there {H3074}.

"'The perimeter of [the city] will be just under six [miles] long. And from that day on the name of the city will be ADONAI Shamah [ADONAI is there].'"

The perimeter of the city will be 18,000 cubits, and from that day on the name of the city will be: THE LORD IS THERE.”

It shall be eighteen thousand reeds round about: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah is there.

Commentary

Ezekiel 48:35 marks the grand conclusion of the prophet Ezekiel's extensive visions concerning the future of Israel, the temple, and the holy city. Following detailed descriptions of the new temple's dimensions and the land's distribution among the tribes, this verse provides the ultimate, climactic declaration about the city's identity and significance.

Context

The book of Ezekiel opens with the prophet in exile in Babylon, witnessing the glory of God by the Chebar river. A significant portion of his prophecy deals with the judgment on Jerusalem and the departure of God's glory from the temple due to Israel's idolatry and sin. Chapters 40-48 present a detailed vision of a restored temple, a redivided land for the twelve tribes, and a holy city. The "eighteen thousand measures" mentioned refers to the vast circumference of this new city, emphasizing its immense scale and divine perfection. This final verse encapsulates the entire restoration vision, shifting focus from physical dimensions to spiritual reality.

Key Themes

  • The Divine Presence: The central theme is the name of the city: "The LORD is there." This signifies God's permanent, tangible, and glorious presence dwelling among His people once more. It reverses the earlier narrative of God's glory departing.
  • Restoration and Fulfillment: This verse represents the culmination of God's promises for Israel's restoration after exile. It speaks to a future era of complete blessing, peace, and security under God's direct sovereignty.
  • Hope and Assurance: For a people in exile, this vision offered immense hope—a future where God's presence would be an undeniable reality, ensuring their prosperity and holiness.
  • New Creation / New Jerusalem: While rooted in a specific historical context, the grandeur and divine indwelling described here foreshadow the ultimate reality of God's dwelling with humanity in the New Jerusalem described in the New Testament.

Linguistic Insights

The most profound insight comes from the city's name itself: "The LORD is there." In Hebrew, this is Yahweh Shammah (or Jehovah Shammah), a powerful compound name for God. Yahweh is the personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature. Shammah means "there" or "present." Thus, the name is not merely a description but a declaration of God's active and abiding presence. It signifies that the very essence of the city is defined by the dwelling of God within it, making it the most holy and blessed place imaginable.

Significance and Application

Ezekiel 48:35 offers profound hope and meaning for believers today:

  • God's Faithfulness: It testifies to God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, even after judgment. He always provides a way for reconciliation and renewed fellowship.
  • The Ultimate Fulfillment: While some interpret Ezekiel's temple and city literally in a future millennial kingdom, the spiritual truth of Yahweh Shammah finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Through Him, God truly tabernacled among us (John 1:14).
  • God's Presence in Believers: In the New Testament, believers are called the temple of the Holy Spirit, meaning God's presence dwells within us individually and collectively as the church.
  • Eternal Hope: The vision culminates in the eternal reality where God Himself will dwell among His people in the New Heaven and New Earth, wiping away every tear and bringing ultimate peace. The name Yahweh Shammah is a promise that God's ultimate dwelling place is with humanity, bringing perfect joy and complete restoration.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 21:3 (13 votes)

    And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.

  • Zechariah 2:10 (9 votes)

    ¶ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

  • Revelation 22:3 (7 votes)

    And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

  • Jeremiah 33:16 (7 votes)

    In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

  • Isaiah 12:6 (7 votes)

    Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

  • Jeremiah 3:17 (6 votes)

    At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

  • Isaiah 24:23 (5 votes)

    Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.