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

Ezekiel 43:7 reveals a profound declaration from God, signifying the return of His glorious presence to His sanctuary and His people, the house of Israel. This divine re-habitation marks an end to Israel's past spiritual defilement through idolatry and the desecration of His holy name. It proclaims a permanent dwelling of God among them, a place where His throne of sovereignty and the resting place of His feet will be established eternally, signaling an unwavering commitment and a future of uncompromised holiness. The verse serves as both a promise of divine presence and a severe indictment against the historical infidelity of the nation and its leaders.

Ezekiel 43 7 Context

Ezekiel 43:7 immediately follows the vision of the measuring of the new temple, where the prophet is granted a comprehensive tour (chapters 40-42). This verse marks a pivotal moment: the Lord's return in glory to the new temple, explicitly described in Ezekiel 43:1-5, filling it as it had once departed (Eze 10-11). The immediate context describes the dimensions of the altar (43:13-17) and instructions for its dedication. Historically, Israel had faced exile due to widespread idolatry, desecration of the previous temple, and the unfaithful leadership of their kings, who often led the people into pagan practices and even interred their dead near the holy site. This declaration in verse 7 provides divine validation for the new temple vision, promising a renewed, unblemished relationship between God and His people, where the defiling actions of the past, particularly by kings, would cease permanently.

Ezekiel 43 7 Word analysis

• Son of man: ben 'adam (Hebrew: בֶן־אָדָם). This phrase emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity and his role as a mortal recipient of divine revelation, enabling the audience to relate to his perspective as he witnesses these grand, sacred truths.
• this is the place: makom (Hebrew: מְקוֹם). More than just a geographical spot, makom here signifies a consecrated, designated holy site, emphasizing the sacred space where divine presence is manifested and exclusive.
• my throne: kisse' (Hebrew: כִּסֵּא). Symbolizes God's sovereign rule, supreme authority, and unchallengeable majesty. It highlights His kingly power, from which all judgment and justice emanate.
• and the place of the soles of my feet: makhon raglay (Hebrew: וּמְקֹ֣ום כַּפֹּ֣ות רַגְלָ֔י). A euphemism for a footstool, indicating God's rest, absolute ownership, and ultimate dominion over this holy dwelling. It underscores His settled presence and intimate connection to the sacred space.
• where I will dwell: 'eshkoni (from shakan, Hebrew: וְשִֽׁכַּנְתִּ֛י). Conveys a deep sense of divine indwelling, implying an established, sustained presence, not temporary visits. It signifies His presence not merely in the structure but among the people.
• in the midst of the people of Israel: Denotes a covenantal relationship, highlighting that God's dwelling is specifically among His chosen people, affirming His commitment to them.
• forever: l'olam (Hebrew: לְעֹולָֽם). Emphasizes permanence and eternity. This is a crucial distinction from previous dispensations where God's presence could be withdrawn due to sin.
• no more shall the house of Israel defile my holy name: challal shem qodeshi (Hebrew: וְלֹא יְטַמְּא֣וּ עֹוד֩ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־שֵׁ֤ם קָדְשִׁי֙). To "defile" God's name means to bring contempt or dishonor upon Him through unholy actions, essentially breaking the covenant. This covenant violation, particularly through idolatry, had been a recurring problem. The phrase 'shem qodeshi' refers to God's intrinsic holiness and reputation.
• neither they, nor their kings: Specifically calls out both the common people and their leaders, indicating shared guilt in past idolatry and a shared future of obedience. Kings often bore significant responsibility for national sin.
• by their whorings: b'zanotam (from zanah, Hebrew: בְּזְנוּתָם). Figurative for spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry. Just as prostitution violates a marriage covenant, idolatry violates God's covenant with Israel.
• and by the carcasses of their kings: u-fagrey malkhehem (Hebrew: וּבְפִגְרֵ֣י מַלְכֵיהֶ֗ם). Pigge means dead bodies or corpses. This highly offensive imagery refers to the defilement of God's holy space, potentially by actual interments of ungodly kings within or near the temple precincts, a grave violation of purity laws. It could also refer to the idolatrous cultic practices (including child sacrifice) which left literal 'carcasses' and the spiritual deadness of their apostate leadership.
• at their high places: b'vamotam (Hebrew: בָּמֹותָֽם). High places were elevated cultic sites often used for pagan worship, strictly forbidden by God and consistently associated with idolatry and defilement.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell...forever": This declaration underscores God's permanent, majestic, and intimate presence within His restored sanctuary. The combination of "throne" (sovereignty) and "soles of my feet" (rest, ownership) signifies a complete and settled divine dominion.
• "no more shall the house of Israel defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whorings and by the carcasses of their kings and their high places": This phrase encapsulates the historical cycle of sin—idolatry ("whorings" and "high places") and royal transgression ("carcasses of their kings")—that led to God's previous departure. It is a promise of complete cessation of this defilement in the new covenant, where both the people and their leaders will be consecrated. The stark image of "carcasses" highlights the absolute abhorrence God has for past desecration of His holy space by idolatry and death rituals, often intertwined.

Ezekiel 43 7 Bonus section

The mention of "the carcasses of their kings" carries profound weight in the ancient Near East context. It suggests not only the physical interment of royal figures within or adjacent to the temple—a violation of purity laws by bringing defiling death close to absolute holiness—but also polemics against the practice of venerating deceased kings as deities or semi-divine beings. Other interpretations also include the altars erected to Molech, which involved child sacrifice (which would produce actual carcasses). The "carcasses" may symbolize the dead works and the spiritual death caused by the kings' idolatrous leadership. Their unholy legacy poisoned the spiritual landscape of Israel, effectively "defiling" God's name through their apostasy. This declaration ensures a clean break from such practices, promising a sanctuary that will forever be kept free from the stains of human arrogance, pagan influence, and the abominations led by corrupted leadership.

Ezekiel 43 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 43:7 is the climactic moment of God's return, cementing the vision of the new temple as the future dwelling of His holy presence. The phrase "this is the place" is emphatic, highlighting the unique and designated sacred space where God's throne of authority and the resting place of His divine feet will be forever established. This signifies an eternal, unchanging, and absolute dominion in the midst of Israel. The pronouncement "no more shall the house of Israel defile my holy name" directly addresses the root cause of the previous judgment and exile: the chronic spiritual infidelity of the nation. It speaks to a future covenantal relationship purified from the twin evils of idolatry ("whorings" and "high places") and the corrupt, defiling influence of their ungodly kings, who often mixed pagan worship with God's service, and whose very presence and practices, symbolized by their "carcasses," polluted the land and the sanctuary. This verse offers hope for true and lasting worship, foreseeing a time when both people and leaders fully commit to God's holiness. It looks forward to a profound spiritual restoration where God's glory dwells untarnished among His redeemed people, ultimately pointing to the new heavens and new earth.