Ezekiel 46:16-18

Contemporary English Version

Laws about the Ruler's Land

¹⁶The Lord God said:

If the ruler of Israel gives some of his land to one of his children, it will belong to the ruler's child as part of the family property. ¹⁷^(A) But if the ruler gives some of his land to one of his servants, the land will belong to the servant until the Year of Celebration, when it will be returned to the ruler.^[a] Only the ruler's children can keep what is given to them.

¹⁸The ruler must never abuse my people by taking land from them. Any land he gives his children must already belong to him.

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Footnotes

46.17 the Year of Celebration … to the ruler: This was a sacred year for Israel, traditionally called the “Year of Jubilee.” During this year, all property had to go back to its original owner (see Leviticus 25.8-34).