Ezekiel 48:35
The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The prophet's final words emphasize that the city's true glory isn't in its vast size but in its name: "The LORD Is There." This isn't just a symbolic name; it declares God's tangible, abiding presence, a reality that will ultimately define His people and His dwelling place.
This passage marks the grand conclusion of Ezekiel's vision, detailing the divine blueprint for a restored city and temple. Following extensive descriptions of land division and temple layout, the focus shifts to the city's immense dimensions and its profound new name, signifying God's perpetual presence. This final image serves as a powerful promise of restoration and God's unwavering commitment to His people, a stark contrast to His departure described earlier in the book.
Imagine a city so special, its name isn't just a label, but a declaration of its very essence. This verse gives us just that – a name brimming with divine significance.
Ezekiel 48:35 closes the prophet's grand vision with a powerful naming convention. The city, with its vast dimensions (18,000 cubits around!), is given a name that speaks volumes: 'The LORD Is There.' This isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a prophetic declaration, a promise that God's tangible presence will inhabit this place.
Think about it:
What does it mean for God to 'be there'? This verse isn't just talking about real estate; it's about a profound spiritual reality that redefines community and worship.
The name 'The LORD Is There' (Jehovah-Shammah in the original language) is more than just a geographical marker. It signifies a radical shift in relationship and presence.
God's Active Presence:
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, eternal nature, and personal faithfulness to His people. It signifies the God who reveals Himself and enters into a relationship with humanity.
sham · Hebrew Adverb
The Hebrew word for 'there' (sham). When combined with the name of the Lord (Yahweh Shammah), it signifies the promise of God’s abiding, immanent presence among His people in the restored kingdom.
Ezekiel's vision of a renewed city named 'The LORD Is There' was given during the deep despair of the Babylonian exile, after Jerusalem and its temple had been destroyed. This name stands in stark contrast to the city's current reality and points forward to a future restoration where God's presence would be the defining characteristic, a promise that finds ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ and his church.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem and deports some of the royal family and elite, including the prophet Daniel. This marks the beginning of Judah's decline.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Jerusalem's population, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. This significantly weakens the kingdom.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent temple, ending the Kingdom of Judah and leading to a massive deportation of its people.
c. 571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Final Vision
Ezekiel receives the complex vision of the future temple, city, and land, as recorded in chapters 40-48. This vision, including the description of the city's name, is given during the exile.
This passage speaks of Jerusalem being called the 'throne of the LORD,' signifying God's active presence and rule within the city, echoing Ezekiel's vision of 'The LORD Is There.'
Zechariah 2:10Zechariah prophesies, 'Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD,' directly paralleling the concept of God's dwelling and presence that defines the name in Ezekiel.
John 1:14This New Testament verse states, 'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,' which is a profound fulfillment of God's presence, showing how 'The LORD Is There' is embodied in Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:3The vision of the new Jerusalem declares, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God,' directly echoing and expanding upon the promise of God's immanent presence.
1 Corinthians 3:16Paul's teaching that believers are 'the temple of God' and that 'God dwells in you' extends the idea of 'The LORD Is There' from a physical city to the community and individual hearts of those who follow Christ.
clarkeEzekiel 48:35: "It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there."
The name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there - It would have been better to have retained the original words: - יהוה שמה Yehovah Shammah. This is an allusion to the shechinah, or symbol of the Divine Presence, which was in the first, but most certainly was not in the second temple; but Ezekiel tells us that the Divine Presence should be in the cit…
jfbEzekiel 48:35: "It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there."
- Lord is there—Jehovah-Shammah. Not that the city will be called so in mere name, but that the reality will be best expressed by this descriptive title (Jer 3:17; 33:16; Zec 2:10; Re 21:3; 22:3).
The prophet's final words emphasize that the city's true glory isn't in its vast size but in its name: "The LORD Is There." This isn't just a symbolic name; it declares God's tangible, abiding presence, a reality that will ultimately define His people and His dwelling place.
This passage marks the grand conclusion of Ezekiel's vision, detailing the divine blueprint for a restored city and temple. Following extensive descriptions of land division and temple layout, the focus shifts to the city's immense dimensions and its profound new name, signifying God's perpetual presence. This final image serves as a powerful promise of restoration and God's unwavering commitment to His people, a stark contrast to His departure described earlier in the book.
This passage marks the grand conclusion of Ezekiel's vision, detailing the divine blueprint for a restored city and temple. Following extensive descriptions of land division and temple layout, the focus shifts to the city's immense dimensions and its profound new name, signifying God's perpetual presence. This final image serves as a powerful promise of restoration and God's unwavering commitment to His people, a stark contrast to His departure described earlier in the book.
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A Spiritual Blueprint:
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, opening the door for Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem.
516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The Second Temple is completed and dedicated in Jerusalem, a significant step in the restoration of Jewish life after the exile. However, it lacks the visible glory of the first temple.
"The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.”" — The prophet's final words emphasize that the city's true glory isn't in its vast size but in its name: "The LORD Is There." This isn't just a symbolic name; it declares God's tangible, abiding presen…
