Ezekiel 46:17
But if hee giue a gift of his inheritance to one of his seruants, then it shalbe his to the yeere of libertie: after, it shall returne to the Prince, but his inheritance shalbe his sonnes for them. Ezekiel 46:17 (KJV)
This verse belongs to a larger passage in Ezekiel that sets out detailed regulations concerning the prince’s possessions and inheritance. To grasp its meaning we must look at the surrounding verses, which outline the prince’s duties and limits.
In Ezekiel 46 the prophet describes the prince’s access to the temple and the specific offerings he is to bring. The prince mentioned here is understood as the future ideal king in the Messianic era or as a reference to a restored monarchy in Israel.
Verse 16 states, “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,” emphasizing that gifts to the prince’s sons are treated as their own inheritance. Verse 18 further prohibits the prince from taking the people’s inheritance by oppression, commanding him to give his sons inheritance out of his own possession so that the people are not scattered from their property.
Verse 17 introduces a different scenario: the prince may give a gift from his own inheritance to one of his servants. This gift is temporary and remains with the servant only until the “year of liberty,” a term that points to the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10) when debts are cancelled, slaves are freed, and property reverts to its original owner. At that time the gift returns to the prince.
The passage also makes clear that, while the prince can make such temporary gifts, the ultimate ownership of his inheritance is reserved for his sons. The inheritance refers to land and property that are to be passed down through generations, underscoring the perpetuity of the prince’s lineage and the preservation of his family’s rights.
These regulations demonstrate God’s careful ordering of the prince’s possessions. They highlight the temporary nature of gifts to servants, the enduring significance of inheritance for the prince’s descendants, and the broader principle of justice that safeguards property rights during the year of liberty.
Overall, Ezekiel 46:17 teaches the importance of maintaining order, fairness, and continuity of inheritance within the community, whether in a future Messianic kingdom or a restored Israelite monarchy.
