Ezekiel 47:23
And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֣ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בַשֵּׁ֔בֶט
And it shall come to pass that in what tribe
H7626
בַשֵּׁ֔בֶט
And it shall come to pass that in what tribe
Strong's:
H7626
Word #:
2 of 12
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
3 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
גָּ֥ר
sojourneth
H1481
גָּ֥ר
sojourneth
Strong's:
H1481
Word #:
4 of 12
properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);
אִתּ֑וֹ
H854
אִתּ֑וֹ
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
6 of 12
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
שָׁ֚ם
H8033
תִּתְּנ֣וּ
there shall ye give
H5414
תִּתְּנ֣וּ
there shall ye give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
8 of 12
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
נַחֲלָת֔וֹ
him his inheritance
H5159
נַחֲלָת֔וֹ
him his inheritance
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
Historical Context
Ruth (Moabite) became Israelite through marriage and faithfulness, entering Messiah's genealogy (Ruth 4:13-22, Matthew 1:5). Rahab (Canaanite) similarly joined Israel (Joshua 6:25, Matthew 1:5). These examples prefigure Ezekiel's principle: foreigners fully incorporated. Ezekiel's vision universalizes this: all resident aliens receive inheritance. New covenant fulfills completely: every believer, regardless of ethnicity, is Abraham's seed (Galatians 3:7-9, 28-29), inheriting equally.
Questions for Reflection
- What does full inheritance for foreigners teach about God's inclusive grace?
- How do Ruth and Rahab prefigure Ezekiel's foreign inclusion?
- How does equal inheritance in millennial kingdom relate to equal standing in Christ?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel—Resident aliens treated כְּאֶזְרָח (kĕʾezrāḥ, 'as native-born') among בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (bĕnê yiśrāʾēl, 'children of Israel'). וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְנַחֲלָה בְּתוֹךְ שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (wĕhāyû lākhem lĕnaḥălāh bĕtôkh shivṭê yiśrāʾēl, 'and they shall be to you for inheritance among the tribes of Israel').
Full equality: foreigners receive נַחֲלָה (naḥălāh, 'inheritance') among tribes—not separate territory but integrated into tribal structures. This transcends ethnic Israel, defining membership by residence, faithfulness, and reproduction in community rather than pure genealogy. It prefigures new covenant: believers adopted as sons (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5), receiving full inheritance (Romans 8:17, Ephesians 1:11, 1 Peter 1:3-4), equal with natural branches (Romans 11:17). No second-class citizens in God's kingdom—all share equally in Messiah's inheritance.