Ezekiel 43:24 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Ezekiel 43:24 kjv
And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Ezekiel 43:24 nkjv
When you offer them before the LORD, the priests shall throw salt on them, and they will offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.
Ezekiel 43:24 niv
You are to offer them before the LORD, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the LORD.
Ezekiel 43:24 esv
You shall present them before the LORD, and the priests shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.
Ezekiel 43:24 nlt
You are to present them to the LORD, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering to the LORD.
Ezekiel 43 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 2:13 | Every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither.. | Salt essential for all grain offerings |
| Num 18:19 | All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel.. | Covenant of salt, enduring covenant |
| 2 Chr 13:5 | Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over.. | Covenant of salt, a perpetual covenant |
| Mk 9:49-50 | For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be.. | Salt symbolizes purification and preservation |
| Col 4:6 | Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know | Graceful, wise, and preserving communication |
| Lev 1:9 | But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall.. | Burnt offering fully consumed |
| Ex 29:42 | This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations.. | Continual burnt offering for daily atonement |
| Ps 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart.. | Inner sacrifice is paramount |
| Ps 51:19 | Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt.. | Acceptance of righteous burnt offerings |
| Heb 10:4-7 | For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take.. | Animal sacrifices temporary, Christ superior |
| Heb 9:14 | How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit.. | Christ's sacrifice, eternal atonement |
| Ex 28:1 | And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from.. | Aaron's sons chosen for priesthood |
| Num 3:10 | And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their.. | Priestly role is to serve at the altar |
| Heb 5:1 | For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things.. | Priest mediates for men to God |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood.. | Believers are spiritual priests |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar.. | Believers have priestly access and calling |
| Ex 29:43-46 | And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle.. | God's presence sanctifies the sanctuary |
| Lev 19:2 | Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto.. | Call to holiness for all Israel |
| Rom 12:1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present.. | Believers as living, spiritual sacrifices |
| Heb 12:14 | Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: | Holiness essential for God's presence |
| Eze 44:15-16 | But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of.. | Zadokite priests faithful in new temple |
| Hag 2:9 | The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former.. | Future temple glory foreshadowed |
| Rev 21:22 | And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are.. | God and the Lamb are the ultimate temple |
Ezekiel 43 verses
Ezekiel 43 24 meaning
This verse outlines a crucial step in the consecration ritual for the new temple's altar in Ezekiel's vision. It commands the presentation of specific offerings "before the LORD" by the priests, with the distinctive inclusion of salt, before they are offered entirely as a "burnt offering unto the LORD." The passage emphasizes strict adherence to divine protocol, ensuring the sacrifices are acceptable and holy in God's sight.
Ezekiel 43 24 Context
Ezekiel 43:24 is part of a larger vision in chapters 40-48, detailing a new, magnificent temple and its rituals following the destruction of the first temple. Chapter 43 specifically focuses on the return of God's glory to this temple and the meticulous consecration of its altar. The verses immediately preceding (43:18-23) give instructions for various offerings during a seven-day purification of the altar, with sacrifices for atonement and cleansing. The overall purpose of this elaborate vision, delivered to Ezekiel in Babylonian exile, was to offer hope and a blueprint for a purified, future worship, underscoring the necessity of perfect obedience to God's divine statutes, in contrast to the past failures and defilement that led to judgment.
Ezekiel 43 24 Word analysis
- And thou shalt offer them: The pronoun "thou" (וְהִקְרַבְתָּ - vehikravta) is singular, likely referring to the officiating priest (or possibly Ezekiel himself in his visionary role being given the instructions). The verb qarab means "to bring near" or "to present," signifying the act of drawing close to God through sacrifice, an act of mediation.
- before the LORD: (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifnei Yahweh). This phrase denotes the direct presence and authority of God. The offerings are not merely ritual acts, but performed in full cognizance of God's sovereign gaze, for His acceptance and approval. It implies a demand for purity and reverent observance.
- and the priests: (הַכֹּהֲנִים - hakkohanim). Refers to the specific individuals consecrated and authorized for sacrificial service. In Ezekiel's vision, particular emphasis is placed on the faithful Zadokite priests (Eze 44:15), who had maintained their faithfulness during Israel's apostasy, distinguishing them for their renewed holy service.
- shall cast salt upon them: (מֶלַח יַקְרִיבוּ עֲלֵיהֶם - melach yaqrivu aleihem, lit. "salt they shall offer upon them"). The instruction echoes Lev 2:13, where salt is required with all grain offerings. Salt (melach) here symbolizes several things: purity (salt cleanses), preservation (it prevents decay), and most importantly, the enduring nature of a covenant ("covenant of salt" – Num 18:19). Its inclusion renders the sacrifice acceptable and eternal in its significance to God, signifying incorruption and faithfulness. It implies a sacrifice that endures without corruption.
- and they shall offer them up: Repetition of the act of offering emphasizes its solemnity and divine instruction. The active role of the priests is highlighted again in presenting the offering.
- for a burnt offering: (עֹלָה - olah). This specific type of offering signifies complete devotion. An olah was wholly consumed on the altar, representing the offerer's total surrender and dedication to God. It was primarily for general atonement and symbolized a desire for communion with God, fully ascending to Him.
- unto the LORD: (לַיהוָה - laYahweh). Re-emphasizes the sole recipient and ultimate purpose of the sacrifice: for God alone. Every part of the ritual is directed towards acknowledging His sovereignty and seeking His divine acceptance.
Ezekiel 43 24 Bonus section
The vision of Ezekiel's temple, particularly these detailed sacrificial instructions, also serves as a pedagogical tool. It taught the exilic community and future generations about the seriousness of worship, the absolute necessity of holiness in God's presence, and the divine expectation of an undefiled priesthood. The covenant of salt, by its enduring and preserving nature, reflects God's steadfast love and unchanging promises, even in the midst of Israel's infidelity. Though much of the detailed temple structure and sacrifice found fulfillment in Christ and the New Covenant (rendering such animal sacrifices obsolete), the underlying spiritual principles of complete surrender, purification, and enduring faithfulness to God remain timeless.
Ezekiel 43 24 Commentary
Ezekiel 43:24 delineates a sacred act within the consecration of the new temple's altar, embodying foundational principles of divine worship. The "burnt offering," as a complete and whole burnt sacrifice, symbolized utter surrender and atonement. Its ritualistic application with "salt" profoundly links this act to the enduring covenant between God and His people, as salt signifies purity, incorruption, and perpetual faithfulness (Lev 2:13; Num 18:19). The emphasis on specific priests and offerings "before the LORD" underscores that access to God, especially for atonement, is meticulously regulated by divine command, not human invention. This precise ritual for the restoration temple served as a polemic against Israel's past defiled worship, calling for a return to holiness and unblemished devotion. Ultimately, while this vision described a literal future temple, the principles foreshadow Christ's perfect, singular, and eternal sacrifice, which truly sanctifies and preserves all believers, forming them into a royal priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Him (Heb 10:1-14; 1 Pet 2:5,9; Rom 12:1). The salt in the offering resonates with believers being "the salt of the earth," a preserving and purifying influence in the world (Matt 5:13).