Ezekiel 45:8

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 45:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “In the land it shall be to him for a possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; but they shall give the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

In the land it shall be to him for a possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; but they shall give the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
Ezekiel 45:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 45

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8In the land it shall be to him for a possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; but they shall give the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“In the land shall be his possession in Israel, &c.] Or, “as for the land, it shall be his for a possession in Israel”f819; the people of the land shall be a people for possession, as in (<600209>1 Peter 2:9) or a peculiar people of his throughout all Israel; all the spiritual Israel, whether Jew or Gentile, shall be Christ’s possession and inheritance: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; neither ecclesiastical princes, as the Scribes and Pharisees formerly, nor civil magistrates; not the one with false doctrines, carnal rites and ceremonies; nor the other with heavy taxes, and rigorous exactions: and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“On either side of the 25,000 reeds a strip of land, running westward to the sea, eastward to the Jordan, formed the possession of the prince (see Ezekiel 46:18 note). For the other tribes the limits from west to east are the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan Ezekiel 48:8. Ezekiel 45:7 And the length shall be over against - Or, “and” in length “over against.” The definition of the prince’s territory was to prevent the oppressions foretold (1 Samuel 8:14 ff), described 2 Kings 23:35, and reproved Jeremiah 22:0. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“45:8-9 One tangible expression of the Lord’s kingly rule was that he distributed the land to the prince as well as to the people. The prince was assigned a large enough piece of his own land to meet his needs and to allow him to support the ministry of the Temple without having to oppress and rob the people.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and my princes: In the predicted period, not only shall the ministers and worshippers of God be liberally provided for, but the princes will be both able and willing to defray the expenses of government, without oppressing their subjects, and will rule over them with equity and clemency, as the vicegerents of God; while the people will submit to them conscientiously, and live in peace, prosperity, and holiness. These things seem to be represented in language taken from the customs of the times in which the prophet wrote. Tithes are not mentioned in part of the vision, which shows that the ritual Mosaic law will not be in force. Eze 19:3, Eze 19:7, Eze 22:27, Eze 46:18; Pro 28:16; Isa 11:3-5,…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification