Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.

EZEKIEL 11:15KJV
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Ezekiel 11:15 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 11:15 mean?

Ezekiel 11:15 describes how the people still living in Jerusalem have told the exiles, including Ezekiel and his fellow captives, that they are cut off from God and that the land now belongs only to those who remain in the city. The verse highlights a division between those left in Jerusalem and those taken away, with the former claiming exclusive rights to the land and God's favor.

In this verse, God is speaking to Ezekiel, who is among the exiles in Babylon. The people still in Jerusalem have told the exiles to "get you far from the LORD," suggesting that being taken away means losing God's presence and inheritance. This reveals the attitude of the Jerusalemites, who believe they alone are God's people because they remain in the land, while the exiles are dismissed as outsiders.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 11:15

  • "Brethren" (אַחִים, 'achim): This word is repeated for emphasis, showing that Ezekiel's fellow exiles are his true family and community, not just by blood but by shared experience and fate.
  • "Kindred" (גְּאֻלָּה, ge'ullah): This word often refers to close relatives or those with a right of redemption, underlining the deep family and covenant ties among the exiles.
  • "Far" (רָחַק, rachaq): The Jerusalemites tell the exiles to "get you far from the LORD," using a word that means to be distant or separated. This shows the harshness of their rejection, as if the exiles are now outside God's reach.
  • "Possession" (מוֹרָשָׁה, morashah): The claim that the land is "given in possession" to those in Jerusalem uses a word for inherited property, stressing their belief that only they have the right to the land and its blessings.

Why Ezekiel 11:15 matters

  • This verse clears up the mistaken belief that God's presence and promises are tied only to being physically in Jerusalem or the land of Israel.
  • Ezekiel 11:15 sets up a major theme in Ezekiel: God is not limited by geography, and the exiles are not abandoned by Him, despite what those left behind claim.
  • The verse highlights the deep rift and misunderstanding between the exiles and those still in Jerusalem, which shapes much of Ezekiel's message about judgment, hope, and restoration.

Where else these words appear

“possession” Hebrew H4181 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 6:8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
  • Ezekiel 25:4 Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.
  • Ezekiel 36:2 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:

“kindred” Hebrew H1353 · used in 13 verses

  • Leviticus 25:24 And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.
  • Leviticus 25:32 Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.
  • Ruth 4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

“far” Hebrew H7368 · used in 56 verses

  • Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
  • Psalms 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
  • Ecclesiastes 12:6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.