Ezekiel 47 14

Ezekiel 47:14 kjv

And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.

Ezekiel 47:14 nkjv

You shall inherit it equally with one another; for I raised My hand in an oath to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance.

Ezekiel 47:14 niv

You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your ancestors, this land will become your inheritance.

Ezekiel 47:14 esv

And you shall divide equally what I swore to give to your fathers. This land shall fall to you as your inheritance.

Ezekiel 47:14 nlt

Otherwise each tribe will receive an equal share. I took a solemn oath and swore that I would give this land to your ancestors, and it will now come to you as your possession.

Ezekiel 47 verses

Ezekiel 47 14 meaning

Ezekiel 47:14 declares the certain and equitable distribution of the land to the tribes of Israel, reaffirming God's ancient sworn promise to their ancestors. It emphasizes the divine guarantee of a permanent inheritance, apportioned fairly among them. This verse speaks of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, ensuring a secure place and possession for His people, rooting their future hope in His immutable oath.

Ezekiel 47 14 Context

Ezekiel chapter 47 is a visionary chapter set within Ezekiel's elaborate temple vision (chapters 40-48), which describes a restored and sanctified Israel in the eschatological future. This specific verse, Ezekiel 47:14, occurs within the section detailing the re-apportionment of the land to the twelve tribes of Israel (verses 13-23). Preceding it, the prophet witnessed the miraculous river flowing from the temple, bringing life and healing wherever it went, symbolizing God's vivifying presence and blessings for the land and its people. Immediately before verse 14, God instructs that the land should be inherited equally by all tribes. Verse 14 solidifies this instruction by connecting it to the ancient promises given to their fathers, establishing its divine decree and certainty. The historical context is post-exilic, a time when Israel felt dispossessed and scattered. This vision offers immense hope and reassurance of a future, permanent dwelling and identity rooted in God's faithfulness, fulfilling promises despite their unfaithfulness and exile. It subtly counters any notion that God had abandoned His covenant with Israel regarding the land or that pagan deities could provide a more stable dwelling.

Ezekiel 47 14 Word analysis

• וְנַחַלְתֶּם (wə-naḥal-tem): "And you shall inherit it."
  • וְ (wə): "And," connecting to the preceding instruction regarding land division.
  • נַחַלְתֶּם (naḥal-tem): From the Hebrew verb נָחַל (nāḥal), meaning "to inherit," "to possess," "to receive as an inheritance." The verb implies receiving something as a permanent, divinely-given possession, not by purchase or conquest alone, but as a right or gift. It denotes a secured and enduring possession.
• אוֹתָהּ (ʾôṯāh): "It," referring back to "the land" mentioned in verse 13.
• אִישׁ כְּאָחִיו (ʾîš kə-ʾāḥîw): "Each man like his brother," or "one as his brother."
  • אִישׁ (ʾîš): "Man," or "each man."
  • כְּ (kə): "Like," or "as," a preposition of comparison.
  • אָחִיו (ʾāḥîw): "His brother." This phrase emphasizes complete equality and equity in the distribution of the land among the tribal families, leaving no room for favoritism, disproportionate shares, or disputes. It signifies fraternal unity and fairness under God's governance.
• אֲשֶׁר (ʾăšeר): "Which," a relative pronoun connecting to the following clause.
• נָשָׂאתִי (nāśāʾṯî): "I swore" (literally "I lifted up").
  • From the verb נָשָׂא (nāśāʾ), meaning "to lift up," "to bear," "to carry." In this context, it is part of an idiomatic expression, "to lift up the hand," signifying the taking of an oath (as seen in Gen 14:22; Ex 6:8; Num 14:30). God is not merely stating a desire but providing a binding, irrevocable divine oath. This underscores the absolute certainty and reliability of the promise.
• אֶת־יָדִי (ʾeṯ-yāḏî): "My hand." (Not explicitly translated as "hand" in some English versions due to the idiomatic translation of "swore," but implicit in "lifted up.")
• לְתִתָּהּ (lə-ṯiṯṯāh): "To give it."
  • לְ (lə): "To," indicating purpose.
  • תִתָּהּ (ṯiṯṯāh): From the verb נָתַן (nāṯan), "to give." Reinforces the land as a divine gift.
• לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם (laʾăḇōṯêḵem): "To your fathers."
  • לַ (la): "To," indicating recipient.
  • אֲבֹתֵיכֶם (ʾăḇōṯêḵem): From אָב (ʾaḇ), "father." This directly links the future inheritance described in the vision to the ancient covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (the patriarchs), establishing a deep historical and theological continuity.
• וְנָפְלָה (wə-nāp̄əlāh): "And it shall fall."
  • From the verb נָפַל (nāpal), "to fall." In the context of land division, "to fall by lot" or "to be allotted." It emphasizes that the division is a divinely ordered outcome, leaving no doubt about its source and authority. It is an act of sovereign appointment.
• הָאָרֶץ (hāʾāreṣ): "The land." The definite article points to the specific land of Israel promised since antiquity.
• לָכֶם (lāḵem): "To you," referring to the present generation of Israel and their descendants who will receive the inheritance.
• בְּנַחֲלָה (bə-naḥalāh): "For an inheritance."
  • בְּ (bə): "In" or "for."
  • נַחֲלָה (naḥalāh): "Inheritance," "possession." This noun form from the root נָחַל reinforces the permanent, divinely-granted nature of the land's possession. It's a fundamental aspect of their identity and security.

• וְנַחַלְתֶּם אוֹתָהּ אִישׁ כְּאָחִיו ("And you shall inherit it, one as his brother"): This phrase underscores not just the certainty of inheritance, but its fundamental fairness and equality. It highlights God's justice in provision, fostering unity among the tribes.
• אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת־יָדִי לְתִתָּהּ לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם ("which I swore to give to your fathers"): This crucial clause provides the unshakeable foundation for the promise. It grounds the future vision in God's immutable past covenant with the patriarchs, validating the promise by God's own divine oath. The phrase "lifted up my hand" is a solemn gesture, signifying an unbreakable vow by the Almighty.
• וְנָפְלָה הָאָרֶץ לָכֶם בְּנַחֲלָה ("And this land shall fall to you for an inheritance"): This segment reiterates the certainty and nature of the possession. The verb "fall" implies divine allotment, indicating a predetermined and undeniable outcome from God's sovereign will, confirming it as a secure and perpetual inheritance for His people.

Ezekiel 47 14 Bonus section

This vision of land distribution can be interpreted on multiple layers. While having a specific reference to the literal land of Israel and its future re-apportionment during a millennial period according to some interpretations, it also carries profound spiritual implications for the church. Believers in Christ, as spiritual descendants of Abraham, are considered heirs of a spiritual, heavenly, and eternal inheritance (Heb 11:10, 16; 1 Pet 1:4). The promise of "each man like his brother" suggests the ideal unity and equal standing within the body of Christ, where all are joint-heirs with Christ regardless of their earthly status, background, or physical lineage (Gal 3:28-29; Rom 8:17). The absolute certainty conveyed by God's sworn oath is also foundational for the New Testament understanding of God's faithfulness to His promises of eternal life and resurrection for believers (Heb 6:13-18). This verse therefore speaks both to a physical restoration for Israel and symbolically to the spiritual and eschatological realities for the global people of God.

Ezekiel 47 14 Commentary

Ezekiel 47:14 serves as a foundational verse within the eschatological vision of Israel's restoration. It encapsulates God's unwavering faithfulness, confirming His ancient land promises with a solemn, divine oath. The emphasis on each individual inheriting "one as his brother" signifies an unprecedented equity and unity in the new Israel, starkly contrasting with potential past inequalities or tribal rivalries. This inheritance is not a new or conditional grant, but the sure fulfillment of what God swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The phrasing "and it shall fall to you for an inheritance" powerfully conveys the certainty of divine decree; it's an assured destiny, reflecting God's sovereign plan to settle His people permanently and justly in their land. Ultimately, this verse underscores the permanence of God's covenant with Israel and points to a future where divine provision is perfectly administered, foreshadowing aspects of the New Covenant's spiritual inheritance and the eternal rest in the new creation for all who are truly His.