TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on Ezekiel 47 verses 13–23
We are now to pass from the affairs of the sanctuary to those of the state, from the city to the country. 1. The Land of Canaan is here secured to them for an inheritance (Eze 47:14): I lifted up my hand to give it unto your fathers, that is, promised it upon oath to them and their posterity. Though the possession had been a great while discontinued, yet God had not forgotten his oath which he swore to their fathers. Though God's providences may for a time seem to contradict his promises, yet the promise will certainly take place at last, for God will be ever mindful of his covenant. I lifted up my hand to give it, and therefore it shall without fail fall to you for an inheritance. Thus the heavenly Canaan is sure to all the seed, because it is what God, who cannot lie, has promised. 2. It is here circumscribed, and the bounds and limits of it are fixed, which they must not pass over to encroach upon their neighbours and which their neighbours shall not break through to encroach upon them. We had such a draught of the borders of Canaan when Joshua was to put the people in possession of it, Num 34:1, etc. That begins with the salt sea in the south, goes round and ends there. This begins with Hamath about Damascus in the north, and so goes round and ends there, Eze 47:20. Note, It is God that appoints the bounds of our habitation; and his Israel shall always have cause to say that the lines have fallen to them in pleasant places. The lake of Sodom is here called the east sea, for it, being healed by the waters of the sanctuary, it is no more to be called a salt sea, as it was in Numbers. 3. It is here ordered to be divided among the tribes of Israel, reckoning Joseph for two tribes, to make up the number of twelve, when Levi was taken out to attend the sanctuary, and had his lot adjoining to that (Eze 47:13, Eze 47:21): You shall inherit it, one as well as another, Eze 47:14. The tribes shall have an equal share, one as much as another. As the tribes returned out of Babylon, this seems unequal, because some tribes were much more numerous than the other, and indeed the most were of Judah and Benjamin and very few of the other ten tribes; but as the twelve tribes stand, in type and vision, for the gospel-church, the Israel of God, it was very equal, because we find in another vision an equal number of each of the twelve tribes sealed for the living God, just 12,000 of each, Rev 7:5, etc. And to those sealed ones these allotments did belong. It intimates likewise that all the subjects of Christ's kingdom have obtained like precious faith. Male and female, Jew and Gentile, bond and free, are all alike welcome to Christ and made partakers of him. 4. The strangers who sojourn among them, who shall beget children and be built up into families, and so help to people their country, shall have inheritance among the tribes, as if they had been native Israelites (Eze 47:22, Eze 47:23), which was by no means allowed in Joshua's division of the land. This is an act for a general naturalization, which would teach the Jews who was their neighbour, not those only of their own nation and religion, but those, whoever they were, that they had an opportunity of showing kindness to, because from them they would be willing to receive kindness. It would likewise invite strangers to come and settle among them, and put themselves under the wings of the divine Majesty. But it certainly looks at gospel-times, when the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile was taken down, and both one in Christ, in whom there is no difference, Rom 10:12. This land was a type of the heavenly Canaan, that better country (Heb 11:16), in which believing Gentiles shall have a blessed lot, as well as believing Jews, Isa 56:3.
(Verse 13, 14) Thus says the Lord God: This is the boundary in which you shall possess the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel, for Joseph has a double portion. Each of you shall possess it equally as his brother, to whom I raised my hand to give it to your fathers; and this land shall fall to you as a possession. Because we said that Joseph has a double portion, the Septuagint translated it as an increase of the portion. For indeed Joseph is interpreted as increase; understanding the matter instead of the name, and confusing the mind of the reader. For when the Levite tribe was subtracted and delegated to temple sacrifices, there remained eleven tribes, of which the tribe of Joseph was divided into two, Ephraim and Manasseh, who said to Joshua the son of Nun: Why have you given me the possession of one lot and one portion, since I am of such a great multitude, and the Lord has blessed me? To which Joshua responded: If you are a large population, go up into the forest and clear for yourself the spaces in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaim, because the possession of the mountain of Ephraim is narrow for you (Joshua 17: 14, 15). And again, Joshua said to the house of Ephraim and Manasseh: You are a large and powerful people, you shall not have one portion, but you shall go to the mountain and clear for yourself spaces to dwell, and you will be able to advance further when you have driven out the Canaanite, who you say has iron chariots and is strongest (Ibid., 27). We say this for the following reason: because the Scriptures now mention Joseph, that is, Ephraim and Manasseh, as having a double portion. But each tribe, according to its own multitude, receives equal portions of land, not divided by the will of the divider, but by lot, which is in the power of the Lord. Finally, even Joshua himself, who was the divider of the land, did not separate for himself a particular piece of land, so as not to appear to have chosen the best; but he received from the leaders of all the tribes, Timnath-serah in the mount of Ephraim.
Continue studying Ezekiel 47:14 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Ezekiel 47:14 culminates a profound prophetic vision of Israel's eschatological restoration, definitively declaring the certain and equitable distribution of the Promised Land among all the tribes. This verse serves as a powerful divine assurance, reiterating God's unwavering faithfulness to His ancient covenant oath made to the patriarchs. It promises the exiles that the land, miraculously transformed and revitalized by the life-giving river from the temple, would indeed become their secure, permanent, and impartially shared inheritance, signifying a complete and just restoration.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Ezekiel 47:14 is rich with literary devices that amplify its message of divine certainty and restoration. The most prominent is Repetition, with the terms "inherit" (H5157, nâchal) and "inheritance" (H5159, nachălâh) appearing multiple times within the concise verse. This deliberate repetition serves to underscore the central, non-negotiable theme of secure possession and the absolute certainty of the land's transfer to Israel. Another crucial device is Idiom, specifically the powerful phrase "I lifted up mine hand." This ancient Hebrew idiom functions as a profound declaration of a Divine Oath, emphasizing the unbreakable and unchangeable nature of God's promise. It transforms a simple statement into a solemn, covenantal guarantee, assuring the exiles of the absolute reliability of God's word. Furthermore, the phrase "shall fall unto you" employs Metonymy or Synecdoche, where the act of "falling" (as in lots falling to determine portions) represents the entire divinely orchestrated process of allotment and secure possession, making the future inheritance seem as inevitable and precise as a lot falling into its designated place.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 47:14 stands as a profound testament to God's covenant faithfulness and His unwavering commitment to His promises, enduring across generations and through periods of severe judgment. It illuminates the divine nature of inheritance, not as something earned by human merit, but as a gracious gift secured by God's solemn oath. The emphasis on equitable distribution, "one as well as another," speaks volumes about God's perfect justice and His desire for a harmonious, inclusive community where all His people are provided for without partiality. This physical inheritance of the land, while significant in its immediate context, profoundly foreshadows a deeper spiritual reality, pointing to the ultimate, eternal inheritance believers receive in Christ. This spiritual inheritance is likewise a gift of pure grace, secured by God's unchangeable word and distributed without any favoritism. The verse assures us that God's overarching plans for His people, both corporately and individually, will unfailingly come to fruition, powerfully demonstrating His sovereign power to restore, establish, and bless His kingdom.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 47:14 offers a profoundly encouraging message of hope, assurance, and divine certainty for all who place their trust in God's promises. For the exiled Israelites, it was a tangible, divinely guaranteed promise of return and restoration to their homeland, a powerful reminder that God had not forgotten His ancient covenant despite their sin and suffering. For us today, this verse serves as a foundational truth about God's immutable character: He is utterly faithful to His word, His promises are absolutely sure, and His provision is always just, equitable, and abundant. We are powerfully reminded that even in seasons of desolation, profound loss, or overwhelming uncertainty, God's ultimate plan for restoration, blessing, and inheritance remains perfectly intact. Just as the physical land was irrevocably secured for Israel by divine oath, so too are the spiritual blessings, the promise of eternal life, and our heavenly inheritance securely guaranteed for all who are in Christ. This verse profoundly encourages us to rest in God's unfailing faithfulness, trusting with unwavering confidence that He will fulfill every single promise He has made, both individually in our lives and corporately for His church, leading us into a glorious and eternal inheritance.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of God "lifting up His hand" in this verse?
Answer: The phrase "I lifted up mine hand" (Hebrew: nasa'ti yadi) is a profoundly significant idiomatic expression in the Old Testament. It signifies a solemn, binding oath or a sworn promise made by God Himself. When God uses this phrase, it conveys His absolute commitment, His unchangeable character, and the inviolable nature of His word. It's an unshakeable divine guarantee, as seen in other crucial passages like Exodus 6:8 where God swears to bring Israel into the Promised Land. In Ezekiel 47:14, it powerfully underscores the divine certainty that the land, despite the intervening period of exile and destruction, would indeed be restored and given as a permanent inheritance to His people, thereby fulfilling His ancient covenant with their patriarchs.
How does this verse relate to the concept of "inheritance" in the Bible?
Answer: The concept of "inheritance" (Hebrew: nachălâh) in the Bible is multifaceted but primarily refers to a divinely granted possession, particularly the land of Canaan given to Israel. It signifies a secure, permanent, and often unearned gift from God, a tangible manifestation of His covenant faithfulness. In Ezekiel 47:14, it emphatically emphasizes the certainty of Israel's re-possession of their physical territory as a fulfillment of God's oath. Theologically, this physical inheritance serves as a powerful type or foreshadowing of the spiritual inheritance believers receive in Christ. This spiritual inheritance is also a gift of pure grace, secured by God's unchangeable promise, and eternal in its nature. Just as the land was a tangible sign of God's covenant faithfulness to ancient Israel, our spiritual inheritance in Christ is a tangible and eternal sign of God's New Covenant faithfulness to all who believe in His Son.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 47:14, with its promise of a secure, equitable, and divinely guaranteed inheritance of the land, finds its ultimate, glorious, and expansive fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the immediate context speaks to a physical land for the nation of Israel, the New Testament profoundly reveals that the true and eternal "inheritance" is not a geographical location but a spiritual reality experienced in and through Christ. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus, the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, has secured for His people an inheritance that is "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). The promise made to the "fathers" (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) was always, at its deepest level, about a spiritual seed and a heavenly city, as recognized by the author of Hebrews who speaks of Abraham looking forward to "the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). The equitable distribution "one as well as another" perfectly prefigures the reality of the New Covenant in Christ, where there is "neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28), all equally heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29). Thus, the promised land in Ezekiel points to the new creation and the heavenly Jerusalem, where believers inherit eternal life and co-reign with Christ, a promise secured not by God's "lifted hand" in an oath to an earthly territory, but by the very blood of God's Son, establishing an everlasting and superior covenant (Hebrews 9:15).