Ezekiel 48:15

And the fiue thousand that are left in the breadth ouer against the fiue and twentie thousand, shall bee a prophane place for the citie, for dwelling, and for suburbs, and the citie shall be in the midst thereof. Ezekiel 48:15 (KJV)

In this verse the prophet Ezekiel records a specific allocation of land in the future restoration of Israel. It is part of the extensive vision recorded in chapters 40‑48, which describes the rebuilt temple, the surrounding sanctuary, and the division of the promised land among the twelve tribes. The passage mentions a strip five thousand cubits wide that lies opposite a larger strip twenty‑five thousand cubits wide. That five‑thousand‑cubit portion is designated as a “profane place” for the city, its dwellings, and its suburbs, with the city itself situated in the middle of that area.

The term “profane” here does not imply impurity or sinfulness; rather it signals that this tract is set apart for secular, civic use rather than for sacred temple functions. By contrast, other portions of the restored land are assigned to the Levites and to the holy sanctuary. The distinction underscores a deliberate planning principle: the restored community will contain both holy spaces devoted to worship and secular spaces for everyday urban life. This balance reflects the broader prophetic expectation that Israel’s future settlement will be orderly, with each function—cultic, residential, agricultural—clearly delineated.

Ezekiel’s vision therefore conveys more than a mere topographical map; it presents a theological statement about the harmony between the sacred and the ordinary in God’s renewed creation. The city’s central location within the profane strip illustrates that civic life will be integrated into the heart of the restored nation, while still respecting the sanctity of the temple precincts. The careful measurement of each portion demonstrates the precision with which God intends the restored land to be apportioned, ensuring that both holy and secular needs are met in the coming age.