Ezekiel 40:46 kjv
And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
Ezekiel 40:46 nkjv
The chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the LORD to minister to Him."
Ezekiel 40:46 niv
and the room facing north is for the priests who guard the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who are the only Levites who may draw near to the LORD to minister before him."
Ezekiel 40:46 esv
and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the LORD to minister to him."
Ezekiel 40:46 nlt
The room beside the south inner gate is for the priests in charge of the altar ? the descendants of Zadok ? for they alone of all the Levites may approach the LORD to minister to him."
Ezekiel 40 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 40:46 | "This is the Levitical house of the priests, the sons of Zadok, who are of the sons of Levi, that minister unto me." | Specific identification of priestly line |
| Leviticus 10:3 | "And Moses said unto Aaron, This it is that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." | Sanctification of those who serve God |
| Numbers 3:10 | "And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron and before his sons, and over them shalt thou set them apart unto the LORD." | Ordination and service of Levites |
| 1 Chronicles 6:50 | "And the sons of Aaron: Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar." | Aaron's sons and priestly lineage |
| 1 Chronicles 9:11 | "And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God." | Zadok's prominent role |
| Ezra 7:10 | "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." | Ezra's dedication to the Law |
| Nehemiah 12:47 | "And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the priests and the Levites as each man required: and they gave unto the Levites the holy gifts, and the Levites gave unto the sons of Aaron, to the priests, the holy gifts out of the Levites' portions." | Levitical support and divisions |
| Hebrews 8:1 | "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the majesty in the heavens;" | Christ as our High Priest |
| Hebrews 9:11-12 | "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." | Christ's priestly ministry |
| Revelation 1:6 | "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." | Believers as priests |
| Revelation 20:6 | "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." | Future priestly reign |
| John 17:19 | "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." | Jesus' sanctification for believers |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" | Spiritual priesthood of believers |
| Exodus 28:1 | "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron." | Institution of the Levitical priesthood |
| Isaiah 61:6 | "But ye shall be named the priests of the LORD: men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves." | Future priestly honor |
| Malachi 1:1 | "The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi." | Burden of prophecy |
| Malachi 3:3 | "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer in righteousness the offerings of the LORD." | Purification of the Levites |
| Acts 6:4 | "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." | Focus on prayer and ministry |
| 1 Corinthians 3:5 | "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?" | Ministers as instruments |
| 2 Corinthians 5:18 | "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;" | Ministry of reconciliation |
| Matthew 24:45 | "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?" | Faithful and wise servant concept |
Ezekiel 40 verses
Ezekiel 40 46 Meaning
The verse describes the priests who minister in the House of the Lord and their designated location. They are to stand within the inner court, specifically in the eastern part of the outer court, to perform their duties. This indicates a hierarchical order and a specific area of service for the consecrated priests within the restored Temple complex.
Ezekiel 40 46 Context
Ezekiel chapter 40 begins a new section of the prophet's vision, focusing on the detailed specifications of a new Temple. This vision is given to Ezekiel in the year 25 of his exile, several years after the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. The overarching purpose is to reveal God's glory and His dwelling presence with His people, both in the historical restoration and ultimately in a Messianic age. The specific verse addresses the priests and their role within this meticulously designed future sanctuary, emphasizing the continuation of priestly service under God's order. It reassures the exiled Israelites of God's faithfulness to re-establish His presence and His prescribed worship, albeit in a renewed form. The emphasis on the sons of Zadok highlights their legitimacy and lineage in contrast to corrupt or unfaithful priestly lines of the past.
Ezekiel 40 46 Word Analysis
- The house of the priests:
- Mishkan (מִשְׁכָּן) - dwelling place, tabernacle, habitation. Refers to the structure itself as God's dwelling.
- Kohen (כֹּהֵן) - priest.
- This phrase identifies a specific location designated for the priests who serve within the Temple complex.
- the sons of Levi:
- Beni (בְּנֵי) - sons of.
- Levi (לֵוִי) - Levi, the third son of Jacob.
- This refers to the Levitical lineage, which historically served the Tabernacle and the Temple, assisting the sons of Aaron in their priestly duties.
- which are of the sons of Zadok:
- Mi-benei (מִבְּנֵי) - of the sons of.
- Tsadok (צָדוֹק) - Zadok. A prominent priestly family line, traced back to Eleazar, son of Aaron. They were notably faithful when others were not.
- This specifically designates the line of priests eligible for this particular service and privilege within the vision.
- that minister unto me:
- Meashsharahni (מְשָׁרְתִים) - ministering, serving.
- Li (לִי) - to me, unto me.
- This emphasizes their appointed function of serving God directly in His sanctuary.
Ezekiel 40 46 Bonus Section
The vision in Ezekiel 40-48 is extensively debated among theologians and scholars. Some interpret it as a literal future Temple to be built by Jews in a millennial kingdom. Others view it allegorically, representing the spiritual realities of the Church or the perfected state in heaven. Regardless of the interpretive framework, the detailed descriptions of the Temple, its courts, and the roles of its ministers serve as powerful symbols of God's presence, holiness, and the order of worship. The consistent mention of Zadok emphasizes the importance of righteous leadership and service. The structure's focus on the east gate for the Prince and the eastern court for the priests reflects a divine order and progression towards God's sanctuary.
Ezekiel 40 46 Commentary
This verse is crucial for understanding the continuity of God's priestly order. The distinction of the "sons of Zadok" points to faithfulness and proper lineage as essential for service in God's presence. It mirrors Old Testament regulations for priests who had to be of Aaron's lineage and, within that, the Zadokite line often represented the more loyal and qualified group. This vision anticipates a purified and ordered priesthood in a future, perfect sanctuary, reinforcing the concept of sacred service. For believers today, this echoes the New Testament teaching that all believers are part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), yet there remains a specific calling to ministry and leadership within the church, requiring spiritual purity and devotion, mirroring the qualifications of the Zadokite priests in the vision. The restored Temple, even in its visionary blueprint, speaks to God's desire for holiness in His worship.