Ezekiel 46:17

But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them.

But if he give {H5414} a gift {H4979} of his inheritance {H5159} to one {H259} of his servants {H5650}, then it shall be his to the year {H8141} of liberty {H1865}; after it shall return {H7725} to the prince {H5387}: but his inheritance {H5159} shall be his sons {H1121}' for them.

But if he gives part of his hereditary property to one of his slaves, it will be his until the year of freedom, at which time it will revert to the prince, so that the prince's heritage will go to his sons.

But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it shall be theirs.

But if he give of his inheritance a gift to one of his servants, it shall be his to the year of liberty; then it shall return to the prince; but as for his inheritance, it shall be for his sons.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 46:17 is part of a detailed section (chapters 40-48) where the prophet Ezekiel receives a comprehensive vision of a new temple, its sacrificial system, and the division of land in a restored Israel. This particular verse focuses on the laws concerning the "prince" (or leader) and the distribution of his inheritance. The regulations here are precise, outlining how the prince's personal property and gifts are to be managed, ensuring order and preventing perpetual dispossession within the community. This vision follows the Babylonian exile and offers a blueprint for an ideal, future state, emphasizing divine order and justice in the land. For a broader understanding of the prince's role, see Ezekiel 45:7-8, which describes his designated portion.

Key Themes

  • The Year of Liberty (Jubilee): The verse's central tenet is the "year of liberty," a direct allusion to the Year of Jubilee established in Mosaic Law. This divinely ordained fifty-year cycle ensured that alienated land returned to its original families, preventing the permanent loss of ancestral inheritance and promoting socio-economic stability. Here, it applies to gifts from the prince, ensuring they are temporary.
  • Distinction Between Permanent and Temporary Gifts: The passage clearly differentiates between the prince's permanent inheritance, which is reserved for his sons, and any gifts he bestows upon his servants. Gifts to servants are temporary, reverting to the prince after the year of liberty, while his sons' inheritance is perpetual. This distinction highlights the importance of lineage and the preservation of inherited property.
  • Divine Order and Justice: These regulations underscore God's concern for meticulous order and justice in the administration of the land and its resources. Even the prince, though in a position of authority, operates under specific divine laws that prevent abuse of power and ensure equitable distribution over time.
  • Stewardship and Responsibility: The prince acts as a steward of the land. His ability to give gifts is balanced by the requirement that these gifts do not permanently diminish the inheritance intended for his heirs. This principle resonates with broader biblical teachings on responsible management of God's blessings.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "year of liberty" (Hebrew: ืฉึฐืื ึทืช ื”ึทื“ึฐึผืจื•ึนืจ, shenat hadderor) is precisely the term used in Leviticus 25:10 to refer to the Year of Jubilee. This connection is crucial, as it grounds Ezekiel's visionary laws in the established principles of the Mosaic covenant, emphasizing restoration, release from debt and servitude, and the return of land to its original owners. The inclusion of this law in Ezekiel's temple vision suggests the enduring importance of these principles in the ideal future state.

Practical Application

While these specific regulations pertain to a future temple and land division, the underlying principles offer timeless insights:

  • God's Provision and Fairness: This verse illustrates God's deep concern for fairness and preventing perpetual disadvantage. It reminds us that God's ideal system includes mechanisms for restoration and fresh starts, ensuring that no one is permanently dispossessed.
  • Stewardship of Resources: We are called to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us, recognizing that ultimately, all possessions belong to God (Psalm 24:1). Our giving should reflect wisdom and adhere to principles of justice.
  • Temporary vs. Eternal Inheritance: The distinction between temporary earthly gifts and permanent inheritance can be spiritually applied. Earthly possessions and positions are often temporary, but believers receive an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance in Christ, which is eternal and secure.
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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 25:10

    And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

  • Galatians 4:30

    Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

  • Galatians 4:31

    So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

  • Matthew 25:14

    ยถ For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

  • Matthew 25:29

    For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

  • Luke 19:25

    (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

  • Luke 19:26

    For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.