Ezekiel 46:16

This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘If the prince gives a gift to any of his sons as an inheritance, it will belong to his descendants. It will become their property by inheritance.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel within the vision’s temple regulations, addressing the prince’s role in property distribution. This directive follows daily offering instructions and precedes laws governing gifts to servants.

The words — The Hebrew נָשִׂיא (na.Si') identifies the prince, while מַתָּנָה (ma.ta.Nah) denotes a gift or grant. Paired with יִתֵּן (yi.Ten), meaning he will give, they establish a conditional transfer framework.

The thread — Permanent inheritance to a son appears in Genesis 25:5 when Abraham leaves everything to Isaac, and 2 Chronicles 21:3 records kings distributing fortified cities and wealth. Galatians 4:7 later contrasts this earthly transfer with the permanent status of a son and heir through God.

Why it lands — The text states that a prince’s gift to his sons becomes permanent property for his descendants, unlike temporary grants to servants. It requires readers to distinguish between revocable royal favors and irrevocable inheritance rights.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כֹּה־koh-thus אָמַ֞ר'a.Marhe says אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהֹוִ֗הYah.wehYahweh כִּֽי־ki-if יִתֵּ֨ןyi.Tenhe will give הַנָּשִׂ֤יאha./na.Si'the/ prince מַתָּנָה֙ma.ta.Naha gift לְאִ֣ישׁle./'Ishto/ anyone מִבָּנָ֔יוmi./ba.Na/vfrom/ sons/ his נַחֲלָת֥וֹna.cha.la.T/o[will be] inheritance/ his הִ֖יאhi'it לְבָנָ֣יוle./va.Na/vto/ sons/ his תִּֽהְיֶ֑הtih.Yehit will belong אֲחֻזָּתָ֥ם'a.chu.za.Ta/m[will be] possession/ their הִ֖יאhi'it בְּנַחֲלָֽה׃be./na.cha.Lah<in>/ an inheritance

King James Version

Thus saith the Lord God; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 21:3 Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and precious things, as well as the fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.
Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
Genesis 25:5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.
Psalms 37:18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.
Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Luke 10:42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
John 8:35 A slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.