Ezekiel 43 23

Ezekiel 43:23 kjv

When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.

Ezekiel 43:23 nkjv

When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without blemish, and a ram from the flock without blemish.

Ezekiel 43:23 niv

When you have finished purifying it, you are to offer a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect.

Ezekiel 43:23 esv

When you have finished purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish.

Ezekiel 43:23 nlt

When you have finished the cleansing ceremony, offer another young bull that has no defects and a perfect ram from the flock.

Ezekiel 43 23 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Ezekiel 43Sin offering for their atonement, burnt offering for their burnt offering.Leviticus 4:1-3 (Sin offering)
Ezekiel 43sin offering for them, and a burnt offering for the people.Leviticus 16:3 (Day of Atonement)
Ezekiel 43This is the burnt offering for the sabbaths, for the new moons, and for the appointed feasts of the Lord.Numbers 28:9-10 (Sabbath and New Moon offerings)
Ezekiel 43Your hands shall be consecrated for My service.Exodus 29:24 (Consecration of priests)
Ezekiel 43And Aaron shall offer his son's burnt offering...for his atonement.Leviticus 8:18 (Atonement for Aaron)
Ezekiel 43Let them offer to the Lord the sacrifice of thanksgiving.Psalm 107:22 (Thanksgiving offering)
Ezekiel 43He offered one ram as a sin offering, and another ram as a burnt offering.Leviticus 14:21 (Purification after leprosy)
Ezekiel 43If any person sins unknowingly...shall bring a young bull as a sin offering.Leviticus 4:27-29 (Unintentional sin)
Ezekiel 43He shall put his hand on the head of the sin offering.Leviticus 1:4 (Placement of hand)
Ezekiel 43And he shall present them before the Lord, and the priests shall cast lots for them.Leviticus 16:8 (Casting lots for goats)
Ezekiel 43God has made Him to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.2 Corinthians 5:21 (Christ as sin offering)
Ezekiel 43Through Him, therefore, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.Hebrews 13:15 (Spiritual sacrifices)
Ezekiel 43But Christ, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time.Hebrews 10:12 (Christ's perfect sacrifice)
Ezekiel 43I will accept you with your burnt offerings and your sacrifices.Isaiah 56:7 (Acceptable offerings)
Ezekiel 43You are my witnesses...and my servant whom I have chosen.Isaiah 43:10 (Servants of God)
Ezekiel 43I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud...return to Me.Isaiah 44:22 (Returning to God)
Ezekiel 43For I will pour water on the thirsty land...Isaiah 44:3 (The Spirit poured out)
Ezekiel 43God desires mercy, and not sacrifice.Hosea 6:6 (Mercy over sacrifice)
Ezekiel 43The Lord our God, who remembered His faithfulness to Israel.Psalm 106:4 (God's faithfulness)
Ezekiel 43to put away your sins, you will have to do penance.Early church teachings on repentance
Ezekiel 43"Consecrate them this day to be ministers to Me."Exodus 32:29 (Consecration of Levites)
Ezekiel 43that you may live and enter into possession of the land.Deuteronomy 16:20 (Living righteously)

Ezekiel 43 verses

Ezekiel 43 23 Meaning

This verse describes the practice of purification for the priests within the restored Temple. The sin offering was to be presented for their atonement and cleansing from past uncleannesses, signifying their continued need for redemption, even in their service. The burnt offering, placed on the altar, symbolizes their complete devotion and consecration to God. This ritual demonstrates that access to God and His presence is always through atonement and complete surrender.

Ezekiel 43 23 Context

Ezekiel 43 describes the glory of God returning to a purified and re-dedicated Temple. This vision follows the judgment of Israel and the destruction of the previous Temple. The prophet is given detailed instructions for the future worship and priesthood within this new structure. This particular verse (43:23) falls within the section outlining the daily offerings and the ordination of priests. The priests are being initiated into their service and require both a sin offering for their personal atonement and a burnt offering for their full dedication to God's service. The focus is on the holiness required for ministering in God's presence, emphasizing that even those appointed to serve must be cleansed and wholly committed. Historically, this would have been a message of hope and restoration to the exiles, painting a picture of future purified worship under God's blessing.

Ezekiel 43 23 Word analysis

  • and: (Hebrew: waaw - wa); conjunction connecting clauses, indicating addition or continuation.

  • a sin offering: (Hebrew: chaṭṭa’th - khaw-tath); refers to an animal sacrifice offered for sin. This signifies the removal of guilt and impurity.

  • for them: (Hebrew: lahem - lah-hem); for the priests. Emphasizes personal atonement needed by those who would serve in God's presence.

  • and: (Hebrew: waaw - wa); another conjunction.

  • a burnt offering: (Hebrew: ‘ôlah - o-law); refers to a sacrifice wholly consumed by fire on the altar. It signifies total devotion, consecration, and acceptance by God.

  • for them: (Hebrew: lahem - lah-hem); for the priests. Reinforces the idea of complete dedication of the individual priest to God's service.

  • the sin offering is for them; the burnt offering is for them: The repetition highlights the dual necessity for the priests: atonement for their sin and complete surrender in their service. It shows that priestly ministry is grounded in both cleansing from sin and total consecration.

Ezekiel 43 23 Bonus Section

The placement of a sin offering and a burnt offering for the priests on the ordination days reflects a principle found throughout the Mosaic Law. For example, Aaron and his sons were consecrated with both a sin offering and a burnt offering (Leviticus 8:14-21). This highlights that holy service requires a cleansed vessel. The anticipation of a restored Temple and purified worship also echoes the prophetic promises of a Messiah who would provide the ultimate atonement and present Himself as the perfect sacrifice for all humanity, fulfilling the deeper meaning of these Old Testament rituals (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 10:12). The daily offerings were also meant to cover the continuous need for atonement and dedication, signifying an ongoing relationship with God that requires constant reliance on His provision for sin and unwavering commitment in service.

Ezekiel 43 23 Commentary

This verse underscores a fundamental principle of approaching God: the need for both propitiation and dedication. The sin offering addresses the reality of human imperfection and the necessity of atonement, even for those in priestly service. The burnt offering signifies a complete yielding of oneself to God's will and purpose. This duality is essential; without atonement, one cannot draw near, and without dedication, one's service is not acceptable. The future vision of restored worship demonstrates that even in the perfection of God's house, the path to Him is marked by repentance and devoted consecration.