Ezekiel 47:21 kjv
So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 47:21 nkjv
"Thus you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 47:21 niv
"You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 47:21 esv
"So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 47:21 nlt
"Divide the land within these boundaries among the tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 47 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 47:21 | "You shall therefore divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel." | Ezekiel 47:22 (continuation of instruction) |
| Ezek 47:22 | "It shall be that you will divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and as an inheritance for your sojourners who sojourn among you, who will beget children among you; and they will be to you as your native-born among the children of Israel. They will have a portion of the inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel." | Ezekiel 45:1 (previously detailed land division principles) |
| Gen 13:14-15 | "The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I will give to you and your offspring forever." | Genesis 13:14-15 (God's promise of land to Abraham) |
| Josh 14:1-2 | "Now these were the lands which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided to them by inheritance. By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and for the half-tribe." | Joshua 14:1-2 (division of Canaan by lot) |
| Num 26:55-56 | "However, the land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit." | Numbers 26:55-56 (instruction on inheritance by lot) |
| Num 34:13 | "So Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families." | Numbers 34:13 (distribution of land to Reuben) |
| Deut 32:8-9 | "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance." | Deuteronomy 32:8-9 (God's sovereign distribution and Israel's special portion) |
| Josh 1:6 | "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them." | Joshua 1:6 (Joshua's commission to divide the land) |
| Psa 105:10-11 | "And He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.”" | Psalm 105:10-11 (historical affirmation of land inheritance) |
| Isa 60:21 | "Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified." | Isaiah 60:21 (righteousness and perpetual inheritance) |
| Zech 10:3-4 | "My anger was kindled against the shepherds, And I punished the male goats; For the LORD of hosts has visited His flock, The house of Judah, And has made them His glorioussward. The stone of Israel shall be their corner, " | Zechariah 10:3-4 (shepherding and portioning of God's people) |
| Rev 21:12 | "Also a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels: and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:" | Revelation 21:12 (representation of tribes in the New Jerusalem) |
| Rev 7:5-8 | "of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed." | Revelation 7:5-8 (listing of tribes with seals, note the variation from standard 12) |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." | 1 Corinthians 10:11 (Old Testament events as examples for believers) |
| Rom 8:17 | "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." | Romans 8:17 (Believers as heirs with Christ) |
| Heb 11:13-16 | "These all died in faith, not receiving the promises, but they saw them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind from which they were cut, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." | Hebrews 11:13-16 (faith and looking for a heavenly city) |
| Gal 3:29 | "And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to promise." | Galatians 3:29 (Believers as heirs of Abraham) |
| 1 Pet 1:3-4 | "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you," | 1 Peter 1:3-4 (inheritance in heaven) |
| Gen 49:1-28 | "The blessings of Jacob upon his sons" | Genesis 49 (Jacob's prophecies regarding each tribe's future, including territorial aspects) |
| Num 34:16-29 | "Joshua's apportioning of land to the tribes" | Numbers 34 (detailed accounts of land apportionment by Joshua) |
Ezekiel 47 verses
Ezekiel 47 21 Meaning
The division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel will be based on their inheritance. The tribes who received land previously in Gilead and Bashan (Manasseh's portion east of the Jordan) and then the tribes of Judah and Benjamin who received their allotments in the south, will now also have land designated. The statement emphasizes the allocation and assignment of territory for each tribe.
Ezekiel 47 21 Context
Ezekiel 47 describes a prophetic vision of a river flowing from the temple, bringing life and healing to the land. This chapter is part of a larger vision of the restored Jerusalem and its temple, detailed from chapter 40 onwards. The vision in chapter 47 moves from the water source outward to the eastern sea. Verse 21 specifies how the land, rejuvenated by this river, is to be divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. This division reflects the divinely ordained inheritance promised in the earlier books of Moses, particularly Joshua. The context here is a future, idealized restoration of Israel, a perfected land, and a renewed relationship with God centered on the rebuilt temple. The prophecy speaks of inclusivity, as even sojourners (strangers or Gentiles who dwell among them) who have integrated into the community are to receive an inheritance. This division is not just geographical but also a theological statement about God's ordering of His people and their allotted place in His redeemed kingdom.
Ezekiel 47 21 Word analysis
"You shall therefore divide": The imperative verb implies a direct command and divine instruction for this future distribution of land. The "therefore" links this division to the preceding vision of the life-giving river.
"this land": Refers to the territory of Israel, which is envisioned in this prophetic chapter as being purified and renewed by the river flowing from the temple. This is the land of promise.
"among you": Addresses the beneficiaries of this land division, understood to be the tribes of Israel in their restored state.
"according to the tribes of Israel": Indicates that the distribution will be made along the traditional lines of Israel's twelve ancestral tribes, harkening back to the original covenant and promised inheritance.
"according to their fathers' tribes": This phrase reiterates the basis of the division, grounding it in familial and ancestral lineage as established from the Exodus and conquest of Canaan. The emphasis is on heritage and covenant.
Ezekiel 47 21 Bonus section
The mention of dividing land "according to the tribes of Israel" echoes the original land division after the exodus, meticulously recorded in books like Joshua. While the exact geographical boundaries and allocations might differ from historical precedents due to the prophetic and symbolic nature of Ezekiel's vision, the principle of ordered inheritance based on tribal identity is consistently applied. The inclusivity shown towards "sojourners" anticipates a future where Gentiles can also be grafted into God's people and share in the blessings. This concept of a universal blessing and inclusion, originating in the Old Testament, is a key theme in the New Testament concerning the spiritual inheritance in Christ for all believers. The enumeration of tribes, even with some variations found in other biblical lists (like in Revelation 7, where Manasseh is often counted separately from Joseph, or the omission of Dan), reinforces the enduring identity and significance of Israel in God's redemptive plan.
Ezekiel 47 21 Commentary
This verse instructs on the divisional allotment of the promised land in a future, restored Israel. The division is to be made "according to the tribes of Israel," signifying a return to the original covenant structure. This process is divinely ordained, highlighting God's sovereignty in assigning portions. Importantly, the broader context, as seen in verse 22, extends this inheritance to include sojourners who integrate into the community, reflecting God's inclusive plan for His kingdom. This symbolic division speaks to order, belonging, and the fulfillment of ancient promises within a revitalized land, mirroring the structured inheritance given by Joshua. The theological significance lies in God's faithfulness to His people and His comprehensive provision for both native-born Israelites and those who join them.