Ezekiel 48:14

They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this best part of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Ezekiel conveys a vision of the future restored land of Israel to the exiled community, detailing precise territorial divisions for the tribes, priests, and Levites. This verse specifically addresses the permanent status of the Levite's allotted portion within that divided inheritance.

The words — The Hebrew יִמְכְּר֣וּ (yim.ke.Ru) means "they will sell," and יָמֵ֛ר (ya.Mer) means "anyone will exchange." These terms establish a permanent prohibition against transferring ownership of the designated land.

The thread — The restriction against selling consecrated property mirrors Leviticus 27:28, which declares that anything set apart to the LORD cannot be sold, and Leviticus 27:9, which extends holiness to vowed animals. This pattern treats designated sacred space as permanently removed from normal commercial circulation.

Why it lands — The text commands the Levites to retain their inheritance permanently, treating the land as holy to the LORD rather than a transferable asset. Readers must recognize that designated sacred space operates outside normal property rights and commercial exchange.

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

וְלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not יִמְכְּר֣וּyim.ke.Ruthey will sell מִמֶּ֗נּוּmi.Me./nuany of/ it וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not יָמֵ֛רya.Meranyone will exchange וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not יַעֲבִ֖ירya.'a.vurone will make pass over רֵאשִׁ֣יתre.Shit[the] choicest of הָאָ֑רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land כִּי־ki-for קֹ֖דֶשׁKo.desh[it is] a holy place לַיהוָֽה׃la./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh

King James Version

And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the Lord.

Cross-references

Leviticus 27:28 Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.
Leviticus 27:9 If he vows an animal that may be brought as an offering to the LORD, any such animal given to the LORD shall be holy.
Exodus 22:29 You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
Leviticus 23:20 The priest is to wave the lambs as a wave offering before the LORD, together with the bread of the firstfruits. The bread and the two lambs shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.
Leviticus 25:34 But the open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for this is their permanent possession.
Leviticus 27:32 Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD.
Ezekiel 48:12 It will be a special portion for them set apart from the land, a most holy portion adjacent to the territory of the Levites.
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings.