Ezekiel 43 7

Ezekiel 43:7 kjv

And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

Ezekiel 43:7 nkjv

And He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places.

Ezekiel 43:7 niv

He said: "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name?neither they nor their kings?by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death.

Ezekiel 43:7 esv

and he said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places,

Ezekiel 43:7 nlt

The LORD said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel. They and their kings will not defile my holy name any longer by their adulterous worship of other gods or by honoring the relics of their kings who have died.

Ezekiel 43 verses

Ezekiel 43 7 Meaning

This verse describes the king's presence and proximity to the altar of burnt offering within the newly described temple. It signifies the reverence and submission due to God, as even the king, the highest earthly authority, was forbidden to approach the innermost sanctuary except for this specific offering and place. This establishes a holy boundary and underscores God's supreme majesty and the proper order of worship.

Ezekiel 43 7 Context

Ezekiel 43:7 occurs within a larger visionary prophecy detailing a future temple and a renewed divine presence among a restored Israel. Following the devastation of Jerusalem and the first temple due to sin and idolatry, God reveals to Ezekiel the blueprints and specifications for a magnificent new temple. This section emphasizes holiness, order, and the return of God's glory. Verse 7 specifically describes the position of the king relative to the inner sanctuary and the altar of burnt offering, highlighting the sanctity of these areas and the proper manner of approaching God's dwelling. The historical context is post-exilic, but this prophecy looks to a future restoration and a more perfect fulfillment, often interpreted as pointing towards Christ and the New Testament church. The exclusion of the king from the inner sanctuary (Holy of Holies) is a continuation of Old Testament protocols where only the High Priest could enter, and that only once a year.

Ezekiel 43 7 Word Analysis

• And he said (Hebrew: v·yə·’ō·mēr): The conjunction "vav" (v) indicates continuation from the previous statement or narrative flow. "yə·’ō·mēr" means "he said," marking the introduction of God's words or instructions.
• unto me (Hebrew: ’ē·lai): Signifies direction or address, indicating the message is being given to the prophet Ezekiel.
• Son of man (Hebrew: bə·nî·’ā·ḏām): A common prophetic self-designation for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and his role as a recipient of divine revelation. It also serves to bridge the gap between the divine speaker and the human prophet, reminding Ezekiel and the audience of the creature-Creator distinction.
• this is (Hebrew: zōt): Demonstrative pronoun pointing to what follows.
• the place (Hebrew: ham·’ō·q): Refers to a specific location.
• of my throne (Hebrew: ḵis·’î): Indicates the seat of royalty and divine authority, pointing to the presence of God. In the tabernacle and first temple, the Ark of the Covenant was often considered God's footstool or symbolic throne, with His presence indicated between the cherubim. Here, it signifies the innermost sanctuary where God's glory will manifest.
• and the place (Hebrew: wə·ḵō·wā·ḇ): Here "kōwāḥ" can refer to "strength," "power," or, in some contexts and possibly related to the later verse describing "posts," might imply the entryway or the established place of God's presence and power. Some interpretations connect kōwāḥ to kōwāh, meaning "hearth" or "burning place," suggesting the altar's function, but the standard understanding refers to God's powerful dwelling place.
• of the soles of my feet (Hebrew: ’ă·qō·ḇⱦy ’er·ḵām): A figurative expression for God's presence on earth, referring to the dwelling place of God, often symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant or, in this prophecy, the inner sanctuary. It continues the anthropomorphic language used for God, making His presence relatable yet retaining His transcendence.
• where (Hebrew: ’ă·šær): A relative pronoun introducing a subordinate clause.
• I will dwell (Hebrew: ’eš·ḵō·ḇ): Expresses God's intention to reside permanently. This is a promise of God's restored presence among His people, a key theme of the latter part of Ezekiel.
• in the midst (Hebrew: ḵe·rōḵ): Indicates the central location within.
• of the children of Israel (Hebrew: bě·ḇə·nê yiś·rā·’êl): Refers to the nation of Israel.
• for ever (Hebrew: lā·‘aḏ): Implies perpetual, unending duration, signifying a lasting covenant presence.
• And the house (Hebrew: wə·ha·yâ): "vav" for continuation. "yâ" means "it shall be" or "and it shall come to pass," indicating future occurrence.
• of Israel (Hebrew: yiś·rā·’êl): The nation.
• shall not (Hebrew: lō’): A negative particle.
• any more (Hebrew: ‘ō·wd): Reinforces the negation of repeated action.
• defile (Hebrew: ye·ṭa·mê): To make ceremonially unclean or desecrate.
• my holy name (Hebrew: šə·mî ’eṯ ·qō·ḏə·šî): God's reputation and honor. This refers back to Ezekiel 36:20-23 where Israel's exile caused God's name to be profaned among the nations. The new temple signifies the restoration and sanctity of God's name.
• neither they (Hebrew: gê): Implies that "they," referring to the rulers of Israel, will cease a specific action.
• nor their kings (Hebrew: û·məl·ḵê·hem): Specifies kings of Israel.
• shall defile (Hebrew: ye·ṭa·mû): Again, to make unclean or desecrate.
• my holy name (Hebrew: šə·mî ’eṯ ·qō·ḏə·šî): God's honor.
• any more (Hebrew: ’ō·wd): Repetition for emphasis on cessation.
• with their prostitutions (Hebrew: zi·nnû·ṯê·hem): Refers to sexual immorality, often used metaphorically in the Old Testament for spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry.
• or with their carcases (Hebrew: û·pə·ḡō·rê·ḵem): "pə·ḡō·rêḵem" can refer to carcasses of sacrifices or even idols themselves. This refers to the detestable objects associated with their idolatry.
• of their kings (Hebrew: məl·ḵê·hem): Kings of Israel, specifically their participation in or sanctioning of idolatry.
• in their high places (Hebrew: bə·mō·ṯê·ḵem): Cultic places of worship, often associated with pagan practices and idolatry, located on elevated sites. These were places of defilement.

Phrase/Group Analysis:

• "the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet": This dual description highlights both God's supreme majesty (throne) and His tangible presence dwelling among His people (soles of His feet). It encapsulates His immanence and transcendence. The concept of God's dwelling, particularly His "footstool," is rooted in ancient Near Eastern royal ideology, where the conquered king's palace might be made a footstool for the victorious king. In Scripture, it refers to the Ark or the Temple.
• "where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever": This is a promise of permanence and covenant faithfulness, directly addressing the catastrophic failures that led to the first temple's destruction and Israel's exile. It signifies a restored relationship, rooted in God's initiative.
• "neither shall the house of Israel defile my holy name any more... with their prostitutions, or with their carcases of their kings in their high places": This phrase unequivocally states that the period of such egregious defilement, particularly through idolatry and the corrupt practices of their kings at unauthorized high places, would cease in this restored future. It’s a strong declaration of a clean break from past sins that desecrated God's name.

Ezekiel 43 7 Bonus Section

The specific instruction regarding the king's position relative to the altar and inner sanctuary here reinforces a consistent theological theme throughout Scripture: God's holiness is paramount. Even the highest earthly authority must approach God with reverence and according to His prescribed ways. This contrasts with the self-styled worship and corrupted practices that characterized Israel's decline. The prophecy aims to inculcate a profound respect for the divine presence, a lesson learned at great cost through the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The inclusion of "carcases of their kings" is particularly striking, possibly referring to idols set up by kings or even the deceased kings themselves being venerated, practices abhorrent to Yahweh and diametrically opposed to the purified worship envisioned for this future temple. This verse serves as a blueprint for corrected worship, a testament to God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant despite Israel's unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 43 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 43:7 marks a significant shift in the prophecy, emphasizing God's absolute holiness and the restored, inviolable nature of His presence among His people. The detailed description of the temple and its ordinances aims to teach Israel what true worship looks like, preventing a repeat of the sins that led to exile. The exclusion of even kings from the most holy precincts, except as specified, reiterates that God is sovereign and supreme. The promise that the people and their kings would no longer defile His name through idolatry (spiritual prostitution) or their king's cultic practices (carcases of their kings in their high places) highlights a new era of obedience and covenant faithfulness. This new covenant order ensures God’s presence is not only restored but also securely enshrined in holiness, making His name honored among all nations. This future depicted points prophetically to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Temple, through whom believers, as living stones, can draw near to God without defilement.