Original Word: גְרֻשָׁה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: grushah
Pronunciation: geh-roo-SHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (gher-oo-shaw')
KJV: exaction
NASB: expropriations
Word Origin: [feminine passive participle of H1644 (גָּרַשׁ - drive)]

1. (abstractly) dispossession

exaction

Feminine passive participle of garash; (abstractly) dispossession -- exaction.

see HEBREW garash

Word Origin
from garash
Definition
expulsion, violence
NASB Translation
expropriations (1).

[גְּרוּשָׁה] noun feminine expulsion, violence. Only plural suffix גְּרֻשֹׁתֵיכֶם Ezekiel 45:9 your acts of expulsion (compare Ew Da; 'Raubereien' Sm Co).

Term Overview

Derived from a root conveying the idea of being “driven out” or “expelled,” גְּרוּשָׁה appears but once in the Hebrew canon at Ezekiel 45:9, where it is rendered “evictions”. The prophet uses the noun to denounce oppressive practices among Israel’s leaders, calling for the cessation of forced removals that violate covenantal justice.

Canonical Setting in Ezekiel 45:9

“Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression and execute justice and righteousness. Stop dispossessing My people,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Ezekiel addresses princes who, through corrupt administration, confiscate lands and homes, compelling families to abandon their inheritance. The term therefore functions as a concrete indictment of systemic sin within the nation during the exile, highlighting social injustice as a breach of divine law.

Historical Background

1. Pre-exilic land distribution safeguarded family inheritance (Numbers 36:7; 1 Kings 21:3).
2. Babylonian devastation introduced political chaos; local officials exploited power vacuums to enlarge estates, replicating Ahab’s seizure of Naboth’s vineyard.
3. Ezekiel’s vision (chapters 40–48) sketches a restored order centered on holiness; the call to end גְּרוּשָׁה becomes foundational for that renewal.

Theological Significance

Justice and righteousness are twin pillars of God’s throne (Psalm 89:14). Unlawful dispossession contradicts His covenant ethics:
• Violates the eighth commandment (Exodus 20:15).
• Undermines the Jubilee principle of returning land (Leviticus 25:10).
• Perverts leadership’s stewardship mandate (2 Samuel 23:3).

By singling out גְּרוּשָׁה, Ezekiel exposes sin not merely as personal immorality but as institutional oppression, demanding structural repentance before worship can be acceptable (Ezekiel 45:9–10).

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Advocacy: Church leaders are called to oppose modern parallels—forced evictions, land grabs, predatory lending—reflecting God’s concern for the vulnerable (James 1:27).
2. Governance: Christian officials must enact policies that protect property rights and restrain corruption (Romans 13:4).
3. Discipleship: Teaching on stewardship should include respect for others’ possessions and promotion of equitable systems (Proverbs 31:8–9).

Biblical Theology and Christological Foreshadowing

Jesus, the righteous Prince, inaugurates a kingdom where no subject is dispossessed (Luke 4:18). His ministry fulfilled Isaiah’s jubilee vision, offering eternal inheritance that cannot be “taken away” (1 Peter 1:4). Ezekiel’s prohibition of גְּרוּשָׁה thus anticipates the Messiah’s reign of justice.

Related Concepts and Cross-References

• Oppression (Exodus 22:21–24; Micah 2:1–2)
• Inheritance rights (Numbers 27:1–11)
• Jubilee restoration (Leviticus 25:8–13)
• Shepherd leadership model (Ezekiel 34:1–4; John 10:11)

Summary

Though occurring only once, גְּרוּשָׁה encapsulates Scripture’s unwavering stance against coercive displacement. Ezekiel’s rebuke urges leaders—and by extension every believer—to align social structures with God’s justice, anticipating the ultimate restoration secured in Christ.

גְרֻשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ גרשתיכם ḡə·ru·šō·ṯê·ḵem gerushoteiChem ḡərušōṯêḵemInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts