Ezekiel 46

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 46

1¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

2And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of [that] gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.

3Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.

4And 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.

5And 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.

6And 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.

10And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth.

11And 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.

12Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, [one] shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth [one] shall shut the gate.

13Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD [of] a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning.

14And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.

15Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning [for] a continual burnt offering.

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.

17But 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.

18Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; [but] he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.

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.

20Then said he unto me, This [is] the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear [them] not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.

21Then 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.

22In the four corners of the court [there were] courts joined of forty [cubits] long and thirty broad: these four corners [were] of one measure.

23And [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.

24Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ezekiel 46 details regulations for worship and offerings in the new temple, focusing on the prince's role and the people's participation. The east gate is opened on Sabbaths and New Moons for specific sacrifices by the prince and the people. Daily burnt offerings are commanded, and rules for the prince's inheritance are established to prevent oppression. The chapter concludes by describing designated cooking places for both priestly and communal sacrifices within the temple courts.

Medium Summary

This chapter outlines the liturgical practices and administrative rules for the prince and people in the restored temple. The east gate of the inner court is to be shut on working days but opened for the prince and the people on Sabbaths and New Moons, allowing them to offer specific burnt and meat sacrifices. The prince has a distinct entry and exit path, while the people must use opposing gates during solemn feasts. A continual daily burnt offering of a lamb with its accompanying meat offering is also commanded as a perpetual ordinance. Furthermore, the chapter defines the prince's inheritance rights, emphasizing that gifts to sons are permanent, but gifts to servants are temporary, and he must not dispossess the people. Finally, it describes specific holy chambers for priests to prepare offerings and four corner courts in the outer court for the people's sacrifices, ensuring proper ritual separation.

Long Summary

Ezekiel 46 establishes detailed ordinances concerning temple worship, the prince's role, and sacrificial procedures. The east gate of the inner court is to be shut on the six working days but opened on the Sabbath and the day of the new moon. The prince is to enter through the porch of this gate, offering specific burnt and peace offerings, and then depart, with the gate remaining open until evening. Similarly, the people are to worship at this gate on Sabbaths and new moons. Prescribed offerings for the prince include six lambs and a ram for the Sabbath, and a young bullock, six lambs, and a ram for the new moon, all without blemish, accompanied by specific meat and oil offerings. During solemn feasts, the people must enter by one gate (north or south) and exit by the opposite, never returning through the same gate, with the prince moving among them. For voluntary offerings, the east gate is opened for the prince, and then shut after his departure. A perpetual daily burnt offering is commanded, consisting of a lamb of the first year every morning, along with a specified meat offering of fine flour and oil. The chapter also addresses the prince's inheritance, stating that gifts to his sons are permanent, but gifts to servants are temporary, returning in the year of liberty. Crucially, the prince is forbidden from taking the people's inheritance by oppression, ensuring they retain their possessions. The vision then reveals holy chambers for the priests to boil trespass and sin offerings and bake meat offerings, preventing them from sanctifying the people in the outer court. Lastly, four corner courts in the utter court are shown, each measuring forty by thirty cubits, equipped with boiling places for the ministers to prepare the people's sacrifices, maintaining ritual purity and order within the temple precincts.

Core Concepts

  • East Gate RegulationsThe east gate of the inner court is to be closed on working days but opened for the prince and people on Sabbaths and New Moons for worship and offerings. This highlights the sacredness of these days and the prince's unique access.
  • Prince's OfferingsSpecific burnt and meat offerings are prescribed for the prince on Sabbaths, New Moons, and for voluntary sacrifices, demonstrating his leadership in worship and the importance of blemish-free animals.
  • People's Worship ProtocolsThe people are to worship at the east gate on Sabbaths and New Moons, and during solemn feasts, they must enter and exit through opposing gates, symbolizing orderly and reverent participation.
  • Daily Continual OfferingA perpetual ordinance mandates a daily morning burnt offering of a lamb of the first year, accompanied by a meat offering, signifying constant devotion and atonement.
  • Prince's Inheritance RulesThe prince's inheritance is secured for his sons, and while he may give gifts to servants, these are temporary, ensuring the people's land is not seized through oppression.
  • Sacrificial Cooking PlacesDesignated holy chambers are provided for priests to prepare their offerings, and four corner courts in the outer court are set aside with boiling places for the people's sacrifices, maintaining ritual purity and order.
  • Ritual Purity and SeparationThe careful distinction between the inner and outer courts, the specific locations for preparing offerings, and the prohibition against priests bearing offerings into the utter court all emphasize the importance of maintaining ritual purity and preventing the sanctification of the common people inadvertently.