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 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 47:23 | The foreigner… shall possess them. | Shared Inheritance |
| Genesis 12:3 | …in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. | God's Universal Purpose |
| Genesis 17:7-8 | ...to be your God... land of your sojournings... | Covenant & Promised Land |
| Exodus 12:48-49 | Let him dwell… and let him keep the Passover. One law shall be... | Assimilation in Covenant |
| Joshua 20:9 | Cities of refuge for the Israelites and for the stranger… | Protection and Law |
| Ruth 1:16 | …your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. | Commitment & Identity |
| Psalm 146:9 | The LORD preserves the strangers; He upholds the fatherless... | God's Care for Strangers |
| Isaiah 56:6-7 | …sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD... | Inclusion of Gentiles |
| Isaiah 60:10 | Strangers shall build up your walls… | Restoration and Service |
| Jeremiah 14:8 | …Why should you be like a stranger in the land… | God's Presence & Identity |
| Acts 2:39 | …as many as the Lord our God will call to himself. | The Call of God |
| Acts 8:26-38 | Ethiopian eunuch baptized. | Gentile Inclusion |
| Acts 10:34-35 | God shows no partiality… receives him who fears him… | God's Impartiality |
| Romans 11:17-24 | Gentiles grafted into the olive tree. | Spiritual Grafting |
| Romans 11:25 | …a partial hardening has come upon Israel… all Israel will be saved. | Future Israel's Salvation |
| Galatians 3:28 | …neither Jew nor Greek… you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ |
| Ephesians 2:12 | …excluded from the covenants of promise, having no hope… | Alienation & Redemption |
| Ephesians 2:19 | …fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. | New Household of God |
| Ephesians 3:6 | …Gentiles should be fellow heirs… members of the same body… | Joint Heirs |
| Hebrews 11:9 | …dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise. | Faith as Sojourners |
| 1 Peter 2:10 | Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. | New Identity in Christ |
| Revelation 7:9 | A great multitude… from every nation, tribe, people, and language. | Universal Worship |
| Revelation 21:3 | “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.” | God's Presence with Humanity |
Ezekiel 47 verses
Ezekiel 47 23 Meaning
This verse concludes Ezekiel's vision of a restored temple and land. It signifies that all who are grafted into the community through faith, specifically those belonging to Israel, will inherit the land as their permanent dwelling. Those who were aliens or foreigners are encouraged to join this covenant community, signifying inclusivity based on allegiance to God and His people. The essence is divine enablement and shared inheritance within the redeemed people of God.
Ezekiel 47 23 Context
Ezekiel 47 details a vision of a river flowing from the restored temple, bringing life and healing to the land, especially the Dead Sea. This river is described as purifying everything it touches, making the waters sweet and supporting abundant life. This culminates in the division of the land among the tribes of Israel, with specific portions designated for the prince and the priests, and boundaries for the inheritance of foreigners who had joined themselves to the Lord and to Israel. The verse's specific context is the distribution of land within this restored, purified, and divinely centered community.
Historically, the prophecy was given to the exiled Jews in Babylon, offering them hope for a future restoration of their land and temple, a return from exile, and a renewal of their covenant relationship with God. The inclusion of foreigners points to a future Messianic age where salvation and access to God's blessings extend beyond ethnic Israel.
Ezekiel 47 23 Word Analysis
The foreigner
- Meaning: One who dwells in a land where they are not native-born.
- Significance: This term refers to individuals not of Israelite descent.
- Broader biblical context: The Law of Moses provided specific regulations for "strangers" or "sojourners" residing within Israel's land (Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19).
who joins himself to the LORD
- Meaning: To adhere to, attach oneself to, or become devoted to God.
- Significance: This phrase highlights the condition for the foreigner's inheritance: not mere presence, but active allegiance and spiritual connection to God.
- Parallel concepts: Ruth's declaration to Naomi ("your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" - Ruth 1:16) illustrates this. Isaiah 56:6 speaks of foreigners "joining themselves to the LORD."
to minister to him
- Meaning: To serve, worship, or attend to the needs of.
- Significance: Implies participation in the spiritual life and service within God's community.
and to love the name of the LORD
- Meaning: To hold God's name in high regard, reverence, and devotion.
- Significance: This expresses a genuine love for God Himself, evidenced by treasuring His revealed identity and character.
to be his servants
- Meaning: To be devoted followers and worshipers.
- Significance: Encompasses all who surrender to God's will and serve Him wholeheartedly.
every one from Israel
- Meaning: Refers to the native-born descendants of Jacob.
- Significance: Differentiates ethnic Israel but shows they are also bound by the same commitment.
and their inheritance shall be the land
- Meaning: The assigned territory or portion of the land God promised to Israel.
- Significance: The promise of land is central to the covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The vision confirms this inheritance will be enjoyed.
Ezekiel 47 23 Bonus Section
The prophetic vision presented in Ezekiel 47 is rich with typological connections to the New Testament. The river flowing from the temple is often understood as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the living water He imparts, as Jesus described to the Samaritan woman in John 4:10-14 and to the crowds on the last day of the Feast of Booths in John 7:37-39. Those "foreigners" who join themselves to the Lord and become His servants find their ultimate spiritual home and inheritance not just in a geographical land but in Christ Jesus, where Jew and Gentile are united (Ephesians 2:11-22). The principle of spiritual inheritance through faith, regardless of ethnic origin, is a cornerstone of the New Covenant, aligning with passages like Galatians 3:29, which states, "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." This inclusivity in God's kingdom is a hallmark of His redemptive plan throughout history.
Ezekiel 47 23 Commentary
Ezekiel 47:23 offers a crucial insight into God's expansive grace in the future kingdom. While the land is primarily the inheritance of ethnic Israel, the door is open for Gentiles who sincerely commit to God and His people. This commitment is defined by actively joining with the LORD, serving Him, and loving His name. This isn't merely an external adherence but a deep-seated, devotional posture. The promise of land is extended to these grafted-in individuals, underscoring that belonging to God's covenant community transcends ethnic boundaries in the renewed creation. It echoes the Abrahamic promise that through him, all nations would be blessed, fulfilled in the unity found in the Messiah.