Ezekiel 48:30-35 Meaning: The City Called 'The Lord Is There'
30“These are the exits of the city: On the north side four thousand five hundred reeds by measure;
31and the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.
32“At the east side four thousand five hundred reeds, and three gates: even the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.
33“At the south side four thousand five hundred reeds by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one.
34“At the west side four thousand five hundred reeds, with their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.
35“It shall be eighteen thousand reeds in circumference; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘Yahweh is there.’
30And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.
31And 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.
32And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.
33And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.
34At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
35It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.
30And these are the egresses of the city: On the north side four thousand and five hundred reeds by measure;
31and the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.
32And at the east side four thousand and five hundred reeds, and three gates: even the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.
33And at the south side four thousand and five hundred reeds by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one.
34At the west side four thousand and five hundred reeds, with their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.
35It shall be eighteen thousand reeds round about: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah is there.
30`And these are the outgoings of the city on the north side, five hundred, and four thousand measures.
31And the gates of the city are according to the names of the tribes of Israel; three gates northward: the gate of Reuben one, the gate of Judah one, the gate of Levi one.
32And on the east side five hundred, and four thousand, and three gates: the gate of Joseph one, the gate of Benjamin one, the gate of Dan one.
33And the south side five hundred, and four thousand measures, and three gates: the gate of Simeon one, the gate of Issachar one, the gate of Zebulun one.
34The west side five hundred, and four thousand, their gates three: the gate of Gad one, the gate of Asher one, the gate of Naphtali one.
35Round about is eighteen thousand, and the renown of the city is from the day Jehovah is there.'
30And these are the goings out of the city. On the north side, four thousand and five hundred [cubits] by measure.
31And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.
32And at the east side four thousand and five hundred, and three gates: the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.
33And at the south side four thousand and five hundred [cubits] by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one.
34At the west side four thousand and five hundred, [and] their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.
35Round about it was eighteen thousand [cubits]; and the name of the city from that day, Jehovah is there.
Meaning in one sentence
Ezekiel 48:30-35 describes the gates of the restored city named after the twelve tribes of Israel, with the final name: 'Yahweh is there.'
Context
Ezekiel's final vision (chapters 40-48) shows a restored land and temple. In these verses, the prophet describes the city itself: its exits and its gates. The city is a perfect square, each side measuring 4,500 units, with three gates per side. Each gate bears the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This is not a random list; it signals that every tribe has a place and an entrance. The vision then reaches its crowning point: not the dimensions or the names of the gates, but the name of the city. From that day forward it will be called 'Yahweh is there.' Everything else in the vision leads to that single promise.
Key Words
Two key terms stand out. First, the 'exits' or 'goings out' of the city. The Hebrew word means 'outgoings', the ways people leave and enter. This is not a fortress shut to the world. The city has open gates on every side, welcoming all who belong to these tribes. Second, the name 'Yahweh is there' (Jehovah-shammah). This is not just a label; it is the city's identity. The prophet is saying that what makes this city what it is, its glory, its safety, its reason for being, is that God Himself dwells there. The name replaces even the old name Jerusalem ('vision of peace') because God's presence is a deeper peace than any city could provide on its own. When you read these verses, the names of the tribes and the careful measurements all serve one purpose: to assure God's people that their God will never leave them again.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this passage in different ways. Some, like the Geneva Bible notes and many Reformers, saw it as a literal description of the city that would be rebuilt when the exiles returned from Babylon. The measurements and gates were a factual plan. Others, including many early church fathers like Jerome, understood it symbolically. Jerome said the name change from Jerusalem to 'The Lord is there' means God will hold the city as His everlasting possession, never withdrawing. In the same way, the book of Revelation picks up this imagery for the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. Both readings agree that the main point is not the architecture but the promise: God will dwell with His people.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to treat the twelve gates as a minor detail, an architectural curiosity. Some read the list of tribal names quickly, thinking it's just filling space. In fact, the naming of these gates is a deliberate statement that every tribe, every part of God's people, has equal access to His presence. No one is left outside. The gates are not locked; they stand open, bearing the names of all twelve sons of Jacob. The city is open to the whole family.
Living This Out
This passage asks you to consider what you are building your life around. The city's name is not 'safety' or 'prosperity' or 'status', it is 'Yahweh is there.' This week, you might ask yourself: If someone looked at my home, my church, my choices, would they see a place where God is present? The gates are open, but are you walking through them toward Him? The vision calls you to make God's presence the defining mark of everything you do. Even the smallest decisions, how you speak, what you worry about, where you put your trust, can carry that name.
Main takeaway: God's presence is the defining reality of His people, and His dwelling with them is the ultimate promise.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God showed Ezekiel a city with big gates. Each gate had a name from God's family. And the name of the whole city was 'God is here.' That means God promises to be with His people.
For ages 9, 12
Ezekiel's vision describes a city with twelve gates, one for each tribe of Israel. This shows that everyone in God's family has a way in. The best part is the city's new name: 'Yahweh is there.' It's not just a name; it's a promise that God will live with His people forever. That changes everything about how we see the future.
Questions People Ask
What does 'Yahweh is there' mean in Ezekiel 48:35?
This is the name of the restored city. It means that God Himself will dwell there permanently. Unlike the earlier departure of God's glory from Jerusalem (Ezekiel 10), now He will never leave. The name shows that God's presence is the city's defining feature.
Why are the gates of the city named after the twelve tribes of Israel?
The gates have the names of the twelve tribes to show that all of God's people have a place in the city. Every tribe is represented, including those that had sinned and were scattered. It emphasizes unity and inclusion in God's future kingdom.
Is the city in Ezekiel 48 the same as the New Jerusalem in Revelation?
Many Christians see a connection. Revelation 21 describes the New Jerusalem with twelve gates and the names of the twelve tribes, directly echoing Ezekiel 48. Both passages point to God dwelling with His people. Some see Ezekiel's city as a prophecy that finds its fullest meaning in the heavenly Jerusalem.
What is the significance of the city being a square with equal sides?
A square suggests perfection and completeness. The city's equal sides are also seen in Revelation 21:16, where the New Jerusalem is a cube. The symmetry shows that God's dwelling place is perfectly ordered and accessible from all directions.
Why does Ezekiel include exact measurements?
The measurements show that God has a precise plan. They give hope that the restoration is not vague but certain. However, the measurements are secondary to the city's name, the main point is God's presence.
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