What does Ezekiel 46:16 mean?
"¶ 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." - Ezekiel 46:16

Ezekiel 46:16 (KJV) reads:
"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."
This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Ezekiel, which is considered one of the major prophets in the Hebrew Bible. The book is set during the Babylonian exile, when the Israelites are captives in Babylon. In this particular passage, Ezekiel is describing the stipulations for the inheritance of the prince's sons.
In this verse, "the prince" refers to the leader or ruler of the people, presumably the king or a high-ranking official. The gifts that the prince gives to his sons are not to be considered as the prince's possessions but rather as the inheritance of the sons. This signifies that the prince's gifts are not meant to be taken back or controlled by the prince once given; they are to be the permanent possession of the sons.
The context of this verse is important in understanding its significance. The book of Ezekiel is generally focused on the theme of judgment and restoration. The Israelites have been disobedient to God, and as a result, they are facing exile and judgment. However, in the midst of this judgment, there is also the promise of restoration and hope for the future. This passage on the inheritance of the prince's sons can be seen in light of this theme of restoration.
One possible interpretation of this verse is that it reflects God's faithfulness and generosity towards His people. Despite their disobedience and exile, God is still ensuring that their inheritance and blessings remain intact for future generations. The gifts that the prince gives to his sons can be seen as symbolic of the blessings and promises that God has bestowed upon His people, and these blessings are meant to be lasting and secure.
Another interpretation of this verse is that it speaks to the concept of stewardship and responsibility. The prince is responsible for ensuring that his sons receive their inheritance, and this implies a sense of accountability and care for the next generation. Similarly, as God's people, we are called to be good stewards of the blessings and gifts that God has given us, ensuring that they are passed down to future generations.
Symbolically, this verse can also be seen as a representation of God's covenant and promise to His people. The inheritance that the prince's sons receive is a sign of their status as heirs to the promise, and it reflects the unchanging nature of God's covenant with His people. The permanence of the inheritance emphasizes the enduring nature of God's promises and the security of His commitment to His people.
In conclusion, Ezekiel 46:16 holds rich theological and symbolic significance within the larger context of the book of Ezekiel. It reflects God's faithfulness, the concept of stewardship, and the enduring nature of God's covenant with His people. As with many passages in the Bible, this verse invites readers to contemplate the deeper meanings and implications of God's word for their own lives and faith journeys.
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Ezekiel 46:16 - "¶ 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."
"¶ 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." - Ezekiel 46:16
Ezekiel 16:46 - "And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters."
Ezekiel 46:24 - "Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people."
Ezekiel 23:46 - "For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled."
Ezekiel 46:3 - "Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons."
Ezekiel 46:15 - "Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering."
Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
Genesis 46:16 - "¶ And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli."
Ezekiel 46:22 - "In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure."
Ezekiel 46:23 - "And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about."
Ezekiel 46:10 - "And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth."
Ezekiel 20:46 - "Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;"
Ezekiel 46:6 - "And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish."
Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
Ezekiel 46:13 - "Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning."
Ezekiel 46:5 - "And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah."
Ezekiel 40:46 (KJVA) 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
Ezekiel 46:7 - "And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah."
Ezekiel 46:8 - "And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof."
Ezekiel 46:11 - "And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah."
"And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters." - Ezekiel 16:46
Ezekiel 46:4 - "And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish."
Ezekiel 46:21 - "Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court."
Ezekiel 40:46 - "And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him."
Ezekiel 46:19 - "¶ After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward."
"¶ And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli." - Genesis 46:16
Ezekiel 46:17 - "But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them."