Ezekiel 40:45 kjv
And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
Ezekiel 40:45 nkjv
Then he said to me, "This chamber which faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple.
Ezekiel 40:45 niv
He said to me, "The room facing south is for the priests who guard the temple,
Ezekiel 40:45 esv
And he said to me, "This chamber that faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple,
Ezekiel 40:45 nlt
And the man said to me, "The room beside the north inner gate is for the priests who supervise the Temple maintenance.
Ezekiel 40 45 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 44:31 | Shall not eat anything found dead or torn by beasts, whether bird or beast. | Leviticus 22:8 (Sacrifices) |
| Lev 6:16 | Aaron and his sons shall eat the grain offering. | Leviticus 10:12-14 (Offerings) |
| Num 18:9 | The sin offering, the guilt offering, and the penalty offering are most holy. | Leviticus 7:6-7 (Offerings) |
| 1 Cor 9:13 | Do not you know that those who are employed in the temple service eat what is provided at the temple? | 1 Corinthians 10:18 (Serving) |
| Deut 18:1-3 | The priests and Levites shall have no allotted portion with Israel. | Deuteronomy 18:1-3 (Levitical support) |
| Neh 10:37-39 | To bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree to the house of the LORD. | Nehemiah 12:44-47 (Temple provisions) |
| Num 18:25-26 | When you take from the Israelites the tithe which I have given to you from them as your inheritance, then you shall give a tenth of the tithe as the LORD’s offering. | Numbers 18:21-28 (Levitical tithes) |
| Lev 2:3, 10 | The remainder of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons. | Leviticus 2:3, 10 (Grain offering portions) |
| 1 Cor 9:14 | In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. | 1 Corinthians 9:14 (Gospel ministers) |
| Heb 7:20-24 | For of this He has been made priest not on account of a legal requirement concerning the coming of life but by the power of an indestructible life. | Hebrews 7:20-24 (Melchizedek priesthood) |
| Ezek 40:46 | And the chambers facing north are for the priests who attend to the duties of the altar. | Ezekiel 40:46 (Priestly quarters) |
| Lev 10:17-18 | Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary...? | Leviticus 10:17-18 (Sin offering rules) |
| Num 4:19 | But this is the service of the clans of the Gershonites, when they serve. | Numbers 4:19 (Levitical service) |
| Mal 3:8-10 | Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. | Malachi 3:8-10 (Tithing obligation) |
| John 6:56-57 | Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. | John 6:56-57 (Spiritual feeding) |
| Acts 20:35 | In all things I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, by remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ | Acts 20:35 (Labor and provision) |
| Ezek 46:19-20 | He also said to me, ‘In the chambers of the priests facing east, which face north, and in the chambers facing south, which face west, are the chambers where they eat the most holy offerings.’ | Ezekiel 46:19-20 (Specific eating chambers) |
| Lev 7:31-32 | And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast of the wave offering shall be for Aaron and his sons. | Leviticus 7:31-32 (Wave offering portions) |
| Acts 6:1-6 | And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.” | Acts 6:1-6 (Service and appointment) |
| Heb 10:1-4 | For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of those realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that they offer continually year after year, make perfect those who draw near. | Hebrews 10:1-4 (Shadow vs. reality of sacrifice) |
Ezekiel 40 verses
Ezekiel 40 45 Meaning
This verse describes a specific instruction concerning the designated portions within the temple complex, focusing on who is permitted to eat the sacred offerings. The people in charge of the service, specifically the priests and Levites, are to eat these portions. This highlights the division of labor and roles within worship and the concept of a portion belonging to those who serve in the sanctuary.
Ezekiel 40 45 Context
This verse is found within Ezekiel's visionary account of a future temple. Chapters 40-48 detail the meticulous design and arrangements of this new sanctuary and its associated ordinances. The immediate context involves the descriptions of the outer courts and specific rooms within the temple complex. This particular verse addresses the disposition of "most holy" offerings, specifically mentioning that these are to be eaten by the priests who are assigned the service of the altar. This aligns with the Levitical system of worship where certain offerings were designated for the priests' sustenance. The vision builds upon existing Israelite worship practices while introducing new specifics for this eschatological temple, possibly emphasizing a heightened holiness and distinct roles within God's presence.
Ezekiel 40 45 Word Analysis
וְאֶת־ (v'-et) - And the/and this. Connective particle, indicating continuation of the description.
מִנְחַת (minchat) - Offering; specifically a grain or food offering. Denotes a sacrifice made with foodstuff, often of fine flour, oil, and frankincense.
קֹדֶשׁ־ (qodesh-) - Holy; set apart, consecrated. Indicates that the offering is set apart for divine purposes and thus carries a special status.
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים (haqqodashim) - the most holy things/offerings. This is the plural of qodesh, emphasizing a very high degree of holiness. It distinguishes these from merely "holy" things.
יֹאכְלוּ (yochlu) - they shall eat. Future tense verb, third person masculine plural. The subject of eating these most holy things.
שָׁ֑ם (sham) - there; in that place. Refers to the specific chambers within the temple complex designated for this purpose.
בִּמְקוֹם (bimqom) - in the place. Prepositional phrase indicating location.
קֹ֖דֶשׁ (qodesh) - holy; place of holiness. Refers to the sanctuary or holy area.
מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י (meshaertei) - those who serve; minister. Pertains to individuals assigned to specific duties within the sanctuary.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (hamizbeach) - the altar. The central place of sacrifice and offerings in the temple.
לְשָׁרֵ֖ת (lesharet) - to serve. Infinitive, indicating the purpose or responsibility of those eating the offerings.
group by words: "מִנְחַת קֹדֶשׁ־הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים" (minchat qodesh-haqqodashim) - The "most holy offerings." This phrasing stresses the extreme sanctity and inviolability of these portions, reserved exclusively for specific purposes and persons within the tabernacle/temple system. It points to the elevated status of both the offerings and those who partake.
group by words: "מְשָׁרְתֵ֣י הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ" (meshaertei hamizbeach) - "Those who serve the altar." This specifically identifies the recipients as the priests who perform the sacrificial duties at the altar, highlighting their direct role and therefore their entitlement to the most holy parts of the sacrifices they handle.
Ezekiel 40 45 Bonus Section
The concept of designated sacred portions for those who serve is ancient, originating from God’s instructions to Moses for the tabernacle. The division between what was common and what was holy was strictly maintained. Ezekiel's vision elaborates on these principles for a future temple, potentially indicating a restored or perfected order of worship. The emphasis on priests eating "there" (sham) in the "place of holiness" (bimqom qodesh) highlights the immersive nature of priestly service; their life and sustenance were deeply connected to the sanctuary's operations. The provision for priests' sustenance from offerings ensured they could dedicate themselves fully to God's service without distraction from secular work, a principle mirrored in the New Testament regarding ministers of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:14). This chapter is part of a broader vision that continues to be a subject of study regarding its literal, symbolic, and futuristic interpretations within Christian eschatology.
Ezekiel 40 45 Commentary
This verse clearly demarcates the sacred space and privileges within the visionary temple. The "most holy offerings" (Hebrew: minchat qodesh-haqqodashim) are restricted in consumption solely to the priests designated for altar service (Hebrew: meshaertei hamizbeach). This reflects a consistent principle throughout biblical history: those intimately involved in ministering at the altar and serving within the holy precincts are allotted portions of the sacrifices. This was not merely about sustenance but a divine provision ensuring the continuity of worship and acknowledging the consecrated status of the priests. It underscores the distinct roles and responsibilities in the functioning of God's dwelling place. The "place of holiness" (Hebrew: bimqom qodesh) further reinforces that the eating occurs within sacred precincts, maintaining the sanctity of the food. This foreshadows the ultimate spiritual nourishment provided by Christ, whose body and blood, in a spiritual sense, feed believers, fulfilling the symbolic provision of the Old Testament temple system.