Bible Strands
Ezekiel 47:22
You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners who dwell among you and who have children. You are to treat them as native-born Israelites; along with you, they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord God speaks through Ezekiel to the exiled Israelites, detailing the boundaries and division of the restored land. This instruction occurs during the vision of the temple's life-giving river and the precise allocation of its surrounding territory.
The words — תַּפִּ֣לוּ (ta.Pi.lu) translates literally as "you will make fall" or cast lots, referring to the allotment process. בְּ/נַחֲלָה֒ (be./na.cha.Lah) means "as an inheritance," designating the permanent land grant for both native Israelites and resident foreigners.
The thread — The inclusion of foreigners in the inheritance echoes Paul's teaching that Gentiles are fellow heirs and partakers of the promise through the gospel (Ephesians 3:6). This pattern of ethnic unity in inheritance aligns with the New Testament declaration that Christ is all in all, transcending ethnic and social divisions (Colossians 3:11).
Why it lands — The text commands the community to legally recognize and grant land rights to resident foreigners on equal terms with native-born citizens. A reader must apply this directive by ensuring equitable treatment and shared provision for non-natives within their own communities.
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
King James Version
And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: 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.
Cross-references
- Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
- Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,
- Isaiah 56:6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—
- Isaiah 14:1 For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.
- Acts 15:9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
- Ephesians 2:19 Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
- Ezekiel 47:13 This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions.
- Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.