Ezekiel 46:18 kjv
Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.
Ezekiel 46:18 nkjv
Moreover the prince shall not take any of the people's inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people may be scattered from his property." ' "
Ezekiel 46:18 niv
The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people, driving them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that not one of my people will be separated from their property.'?"
Ezekiel 46:18 esv
The prince shall not take any of the inheritance of the people, thrusting them out of their property. He shall give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that none of my people shall be scattered from his property."
Ezekiel 46:18 nlt
And the prince may never take anyone's property by force. If he gives property to his sons, it must be from his own land, for I do not want any of my people unjustly evicted from their property."
Ezekiel 46 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 46:18 | "The ruler shall not take from the people’s inheritance… lest my people be scattered from their inheritance." | (Primary Verse) |
| Leviticus 25:23 | "The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is mine and you are strangers and sojourners with me." | God's ultimate ownership of land |
| Numbers 33:54 | "You shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance… to your tribes." | Land inheritance by lot |
| Joshua 14:1-2 | "These are the inheritances of the Israelites… as the Lord commanded Moses." | Inheritance division |
| 2 Samuel 23:3 | "The Rock of Israel spoke to me… ‘When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,' " | Just rule and fear of God |
| Psalm 101:3-4 | "I will not set in order anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cleave to me. Perverse hearts shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly—him I will destroy." | Rulers' responsibilities |
| Proverbs 28:15 | "As a roaring lion and a prowling bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people." | Dangers of oppressive rulers |
| Isaiah 1:17 | "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause." | Mandate for justice |
| Isaiah 10:1-2 | "Woe to those who enact iniquitous statutes and to the scribes who make decrees that oppress, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their plunder, and they may rob the fatherless!" | Consequences of oppression |
| Jeremiah 22:3 | "Thus says the Lord: Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who is plundered. And do no wrong, do not do violence to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, or shed innocent blood." | Executing justice |
| Jeremiah 22:17 | "But your eyes and your heart look not except for your own gain, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression and wrongdoing." | Selfish gain in leadership |
| Micah 6:8 | "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" | God's requirements |
| Matthew 22:39 | "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." | Love of neighbor |
| Luke 12:15 | "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." | Warning against covetousness |
| Acts 20:33-34 | "I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. I myself worked with my own hands to provide for myself and for those who are with me." | Apostle Paul's example |
| Romans 13:7 | "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." | Obligations of subjects/rulers |
| 1 Peter 5:2-3 | "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight… not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." | Pastoral responsibility |
| Philippians 2:3 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." | Humility and regard for others |
| James 5:1-6 | "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you... You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you." | Judgment on the rich oppressors |
| Deuteronomy 28:36 | "The Lord will bring you and your king, whom you set over you, to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known..." | Consequences of disobedience |
| 1 Samuel 8:11-18 | "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you... And you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.”" | Warning about kingship |
Ezekiel 46 verses
Ezekiel 46 18 Meaning
This verse prohibits the ruler from taking a portion of the inheritance land from God's people, emphasizing that such land is consecrated to God. It highlights the ruler's responsibility to ensure the people retain their divinely allocated inheritance, rather than dispossessing them. This serves as a principle for righteous leadership, safeguarding the people's God-given rights.
Ezekiel 46 18 Context
Ezekiel 46 is part of the extensive vision of the future temple and its worship described in the latter half of the book of Ezekiel. This section outlines specific regulations for the prince (ruler) and the people concerning offerings, gate usage, and Sabbath/New Moon worship. Specifically, verse 18 follows instructions about the prince's hereditary possession and his obligations on the Sabbath and New Moon. It directly addresses the prince's responsibility regarding property and inheritance rights of the common people within the organized structure of God's renewed kingdom. Historically, the concept of hereditary land ownership was central to Israelite society, established at the conquest of Canaan (Numbers 33:54). The integrity of this inheritance was a sacred trust, linked to God's covenant promises. This verse, therefore, reinforces principles of justice and protection against the abuses of power by a ruling class, a recurrent theme in prophetic literature concerning kings who exploited their people.
Ezekiel 46 18 Word analysis
"Moreover" (Hebrew: וְעוֹד - we'od) - Continues the discourse, adding another regulation.
"the prince" (Hebrew: הַנָּשִׂיא - han-nasî') - Refers to the future leader in the restored kingdom, likely symbolic or a purified monarchy.
"shall not take" (Hebrew: לֹא יִקַּח - lo yiqqaḥ) - A prohibition; he is forbidden from taking.
"a lamb" (Hebrew: כֶּבֶשׂ - kebes) - Refers to a young sheep, a common sacrificial animal, but here it symbolizes a portion or possession.
"of his inheritance" (Hebrew: מִנַּחֲלָתוֹ - min-naḥalâto) - From his portion of land; inheritance land was sacred, allotted by God.
"from the people's" (Hebrew: מֵהָעָם - meha-'am) - From the common people.
"inheritance" (Hebrew: נַחֲלָה - naḥalâ) - The divinely appointed allotment of land for each tribe and family in Canaan, signifying permanence and God's provision.
"for his own" (Hebrew: לוֹ - lo) - For himself personally, distinguishing personal gain from public duty.
"in inheritance" (Hebrew: בְּנַחֲלָה - bᵉnaḥalâ) - This phrase is debated. It could mean as his own private possession, or in a manner that undermines their permanent entitlement.
"because" (Hebrew: כִּי - kî) - Gives the reason for the prohibition.
"the people’s inheritance" (Hebrew: נַחֲלַת הָעָם - naḥalat ha-'am) - The collective inheritance belonging to the people of Israel.
"are mine" (Hebrew: לִי - lî) - God asserts His ownership of the land and His people's tenure within it.
"said the Lord" (Hebrew: אָמַר אֲדֹנָי - amar Adonai) - Divine authority backing the commandment.
Word Group Analysis: The core of the prohibition is centered around the concept of "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה - naḥalâ). This term underscores that the land is not merely a possession but a sacred trust granted by God. The prince's role is to uphold, not usurp, this God-given right. The phrase "for his own" points to the temptation of personal enrichment at the expense of the people's well-being, a transgression against God's ownership and mandate. The parallel structure and repetition of "inheritance" emphasize the sanctity of the people's portion.
Ezekiel 46 18 Bonus section
The prohibition against the prince taking the people's inheritance aligns with the prophetic critique of Israel's kings who often lived luxuriously by taxing and dispossessing the common people (1 Samuel 8:11-18). This future vision in Ezekiel presents a model of righteous rulership that acts as a restoration from past abuses. The spiritual implication is that all earthly leaders are stewards, accountable to the heavenly Sovereign. The fear of scattering the people implies the destruction of community and faith when justice is absent. This verse emphasizes a socio-theological principle: that just governance preserves God's covenant community.
Ezekiel 46 18 Commentary
This verse lays down a critical boundary for the prince, a spiritual leader within the community. It emphasizes that the land granted to the tribes of Israel is fundamentally God's property, and each Israelite holds it as a hereditary inheritance from Him. The prince, though holding a position of authority and responsibility for administering justice, is explicitly forbidden from encroaching upon the people's ancestral portions for personal gain. To do so would be to defy God's ultimate ownership and the covenant rights of His people. This restriction safeguards the people from arbitrary dispossession and economic exploitation by those in power, ensuring that their connection to the land, which symbolized their covenant relationship with God, remains secure. It echoes Old Testament warnings against oppressive rulers and foreshadows New Testament teachings on selfless leadership and stewardship, rooted in love for God and neighbor. The ultimate aim is to prevent the scattering of the people from their divinely appointed inheritance, preserving the integrity of God’s community.