Ezekiel 47 23

Ezekiel 47:23 kjv

And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 47:23 nkjv

And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give him his inheritance," says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 47:23 niv

In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance," declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 47:23 esv

In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 47:23 nlt

These foreigners are to be given land within the territory of the tribe with whom they now live. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!

Ezekiel 47 verses

Ezekiel 47 23 meaning

Ezekiel 47:23 commands that a sojourner (a non-Israelite resident alien) dwelling within a particular Israelite tribe shall be given an inheritance of land within that very tribe. This decree signifies an unprecedented level of inclusion and equity, elevating the resident alien to the status of a native-born Israelite regarding their fundamental right to a portion of the Promised Land in the restored kingdom. It ensures that those who have settled among God's people are fully integrated into the community and its most vital covenant blessing – land ownership – rather than remaining marginalized.

Ezekiel 47 23 Context

Ezekiel 47 begins with the iconic vision of a life-giving river flowing from the new Temple, transforming the land from barren desert to fertile plain, culminating in the healing of the Dead Sea (Eze 47:1-12). Following this vision of radical renewal and abundant life, the chapter transitions to describe the new, expansive boundaries of the land of Israel (Eze 47:13-21) and instructions for its division. The immediately preceding verse, Ezekiel 47:22, introduces the revolutionary concept of allocating land not only to the native Israelites but also to "the sojourners who reside among you." Verse 23 specifies the practical implementation of this command: a sojourner will receive land within the specific tribal territory where they choose to settle.

Historically, Ezekiel was a prophet speaking during the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE). His visions offered immense hope and solace to a devastated people stripped of their land, temple, and monarchy. The idea of land inheritance was foundational to Israelite identity and the covenant. Against a backdrop of national humiliation and possible exclusivity, these visionary instructions painted a picture of a glorious, inclusive future. The mandate to give resident foreigners a land inheritance would have been groundbreaking, challenging any tendencies toward ethno-nationalism and highlighting God's broader redemptive purposes even in ancient society, where foreigners typically lacked property rights.

Ezekiel 47 23 Word analysis

• And (וְ – ve): A simple conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding general command. It indicates a continuation and a further specification of the land distribution policy.
• in whatever tribe (בְּאֵ֥יזוּ שֵׁ֖בֶט – b’eizu shevet):
  • בְּ – be: Preposition meaning "in" or "among."
  • אֵיזוּ – eizu: An interrogative or indefinite pronoun translated as "whatever," "which," or "what kind of." Here, it signifies that the choice of dwelling tribe is open to the sojourner, making the land allocation flexible based on their established residence. This grants a degree of agency to the ger.
  • שֵׁבֶט – shevet: Refers to one of the traditional twelve tribes of Israel. The tribal designation was central to Israelite identity, social structure, and particularly land inheritance.
• the sojourner (הַגֵּ֖ר – haggēr):
  • הַ – ha: The definite article "the."
  • גֵּר – gēr: A crucial Hebrew term meaning "sojourner," "resident alien," or "foreigner." Not a casual visitor, but someone who has settled permanently among a people, typically lacking hereditary land rights and dependent on the host community. This term highlights their traditionally vulnerable status, which God repeatedly commanded Israel to protect and treat justly (e.g., Exod 22:21; Lev 19:33-34; Deut 10:18-19).
• dwells (גָּר֙ – gar):
  • Derived from the same root (גור – gur) as gēr. Means "to dwell," "to reside," "to abide." This word reinforces that the ger is not transient but has established a stable, long-term habitation within that specific tribe. It signifies commitment and integration into the community.
• there (שָׁ֖ם – sham): An adverb of place, meaning "there" or "in that place." It directly links the sojourner's place of stable dwelling with the place where their inheritance will be granted, emphasizing a direct correlation.
• you shall give him (תִּתְּנוּ־ל֣וֹ – titnu-lo):
  • תִּתְּנוּ – titnu: A plural imperfect verb in the Hiphil stem, meaning "you (plural) shall give" or "you shall assign." This is a command, likely directed to the leaders or the entire community responsible for dividing the land, indicating their divinely mandated obligation.
  • *ל֣וֹ – lo: A pronominal suffix meaning "to him." The recipient is clearly the sojourner (haggēr).
• his inheritance (נַחֲלָה֙ – nachalâ):
  • Meaning "inheritance," "possession," or "allotment." In Israel, land inheritance was paramount, symbolizing divine blessing, family lineage, economic security, and national identity. To grant this to a gēr elevates their status fundamentally, bestowing upon them proprietary rights and covenantal belonging that were traditionally exclusive to native-born Israelites by tribal lineage.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And in whatever tribe the sojourner dwells": This phrase establishes the condition and locality for the land grant. The flexibility implied by "whatever tribe" signifies an inclusive approach, accommodating the sojourner's existing or chosen place of residence. The act of "dwelling" reinforces the sojourner's settled status, transforming their former vulnerability into a claim of legitimate belonging within that tribal region.
• "there you shall give him his inheritance": This declarative command directly links the location of dwelling to the right of inheritance. "There" powerfully reinforces the direct consequence of settling. The imperative "you shall give" underscores the divine authority and the binding obligation upon the Israelite community to enact this radical inclusion. Granting "his inheritance" (a direct, personal allotment) is not merely providing charity or protection, but recognizing the ger as a full participant in the foundational blessing of the land, an equal sharer in the restored covenant community's prosperity and identity.

Ezekiel 47 23 Bonus section

• The directive for the sojourner's inheritance to be allocated in whatever tribe he dwells shows that this is not an arbitrary assignment, but one respecting the settled life and social integration of the individual. This localized assignment would facilitate genuine belonging and participation rather than creating separate, isolated communities for resident aliens.
• This verse represents a high point in the Old Testament's trajectory of progressively greater inclusion. It stands in contrast to the more guarded pre-exilic sentiments (such as the exclusion of non-Israelites from certain religious functions or even parts of the Temple, as seen later in Ezra and Nehemiah during post-exilic reconstruction) and propels the concept of the true Israel beyond narrow ethnic confines.
• Some scholars interpret this as a messianic vision that anticipates the eschatological ingathering of all nations, implying a spiritual rather than purely literal fulfillment. The "land" then becomes symbolic of the heavenly inheritance and the church, where all believers, whether Jew or Gentile, share equally in the spiritual blessings of Christ.

Ezekiel 47 23 Commentary

Ezekiel 47:23 is a profoundly revolutionary statement, amplifying the command from the preceding verse to provide for sojourners. It goes beyond the Mosaic Law's injunctions to protect and show kindness to resident aliens, commanding their full inclusion in the fundamental blessing of the land through an allocated tribal inheritance. In the ancient world, land ownership defined one's identity, security, and place within a nation. By decreeing that sojourners should receive land within the very tribe where they reside, Ezekiel's vision shatters the ethnic and hereditary barriers typically associated with land division in Israel. It implies an eschatological redefinition of "Israelite" to include those who choose to align themselves with God's people and His covenant, regardless of birth. This unprecedented inclusivity foreshadows the New Testament's broader revelation of God's grace, where Gentiles are made fellow heirs and citizens in Christ (Eph 2:19, Gal 3:28-29), illustrating a divine principle of radical hospitality, justice, and belonging within God's restored and inclusive community.