Ezekiel 44:1 kjv
Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
Ezekiel 44:1 nkjv
Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut.
Ezekiel 44:1 niv
Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut.
Ezekiel 44:1 esv
Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut.
Ezekiel 44:1 nlt
Then the man brought me back to the east gateway in the outer wall of the Temple area, but it was closed.
Ezekiel 44 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 44:1 | "Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary toward the east; and it was shut." | Ezekiel's Vision of the Temple, Divine Ordinances |
| Ezekiel 44:2 | "And the LORD said to me, 'This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it.'" | God's Exclusive Access, Holiness of God's Presence |
| Ezekiel 44:3 | "It is for the prince; the prince may sit there to eat bread in the presence of the LORD. He shall enter by way of the porch of the gate, and go out the same way." | Role of the Prince, Royal Worship |
| Ezekiel 43:4 | "Now the glory of the LORD came into the temple by the way of the gate toward the east." | Divine Presence in the Temple |
| Isaiah 58:13 | "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and shall honor it, not doing your own ways, nor seeking your own pleasure, nor speaking | |
| Hebrews 10:20 | "by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh," | Christ as the Way to God, New Covenant Access |
| John 10:9 | "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." | Jesus as the Way of Access |
| Revelation 21:12 | "Also it had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:" | Heavenly Jerusalem, Symbolism of Gates |
| Revelation 21:25 | "Its gates shall not be shut at all by day; there shall be no night there." | Eternal Light and Access in Heaven |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" | Jesus as the Sole Access to the Father |
| Acts 4:12 | "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” | Salvation only through Jesus Christ |
| Ezekiel 46:2 | "And the prince shall go out by the way of the porch of the gate from without, and the gate shall be shut after him." | Prince's Departure from the Sanctuary |
| Matthew 27:51 | "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earthquake, and the rocks were split," | Christ's Sacrifice Opens Access |
| Mark 15:38 | "Then the veil of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom." | Access to the Holy of Holies Opened |
| John 1:51 | "And he said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'" | Heavenly Gateways Opened through Christ |
| Ezekiel 44:5 | "And the LORD said to me, “Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears, and consider all that I tell you about all the ordinances of the house of the LORD and all its laws; and consider well who may go out and who may go in to the temple." | Importance of Understanding Divine Laws |
| 1 Corinthians 10:17 | "For there is one loaf, we are one body; for we all partake of that one loaf." | Unity in Christ, Partaking Together |
| Philippians 3:10 | "that I may know Him, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death," | Fellowship with Christ, Shared Experience |
| 1 Corinthians 6:17 | "But he who is joined to the LORD becomes one spirit with Him." | Union with Christ |
| 1 Peter 2:5 | "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as Living Stones, Spiritual Priesthood |
Ezekiel 44 verses
Ezekiel 44 1 Meaning
The verse describes the re-opening of the east gate of the sanctuary, which had been shut by divine command. This gate is specifically reserved for the Prince to enter and eat bread within the inner court.
Ezekiel 44 1 Context
Ezekiel's vision in chapters 40-48 describes a future, rebuilt temple. Chapter 44 focuses on the ordinances for the restored house of the LORD, particularly concerning the priesthood and worship. The preceding verses (Ezekiel 43:1-27) detail the glory of the LORD returning to the temple through the eastern gate. This specific verse (Ezekiel 44:1) sets the stage for the specific restrictions and privileges associated with that same eastern gate, emphasizing its holiness and exclusive use by the Prince and God. Historically, the Jerusalem Temple had been desecrated and destroyed, so this vision offered hope and a blueprint for future, purified worship. The closing of the gate signifies God's righteous separation and the sacredness of His presence, distinguishing it from common access.
Ezekiel 44 1 Word Analysis
- Then (וְעוֹד - wəʿôḏ): And moreover; and also. This connects this observation to what has just been stated or shown.
- he brought (וַיָּשֶׁב - wayāšěḇ): And he turned, or returned. Implies a return to a previous point or direction.
- me (אֹתִי - ʾōṯî): Me (objective case). The prophet is the recipient of the action.
- back (אַחֲרֵי - ʾăḥărê): After, behind. Indicates a backward movement or direction.
- to the outer gate (אֶל־שַׁעַר־חִיצוֹן - ʾel-šaʿar-ḥîṣô n): To the gate that is outward or external. Refers to the outermost gate of the court.
- of the sanctuary (הַמִּקְדָּשׁ - hammiqdāš): Of the sanctuary or holy place. Specifies the area concerned.
- toward the east (קָדִמָה - qāḏîmāh): Eastward, toward the east. Indicates the direction of the gate.
- and it was shut (וְהוּא סָגוּר - wəhū sǎgûr): And it was shut. Describes the state of the gate.
- shut (סָגוּר - sǎgûr): Shut, closed. Passive participle indicating the action of closing.
- and no one shall enter by it (וְאִישׁ לֹא־יַעֲבֹר - wəʾîš lō-yaʿăḇōr): And no man shall pass through it. A strong prohibition of access.
- because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it (כִּי־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בּוֹ־בָא - kî-YHWH ʾĕlōhê yiśərāʾēl bô-bā’): For the LORD, the God of Israel, has come in by it. The reason for its closure: it was the entry point for God's glory.
Word-Group Analysis:
- "the outer gate of the sanctuary toward the east": This specific gate is identified by its location (eastward) and its relation to the sanctuary.
- "and it was shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it": This reiterates the closure and prohibits any human passage, highlighting its exclusive status.
- "because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it": This phrase provides the theological grounding for the prohibition, linking the gate’s closure to the past divine occupancy and inherent holiness.
Ezekiel 44 1 Bonus Section
This eastern gate, designated for the Prince's use (to "eat bread" in the LORD's presence), signifies a unique relationship of communion. In the New Testament, Jesus describes himself as the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35) and invites believers to "eat his flesh and drink his blood" (John 6:53-56), through which they have eternal life and unity with Him. The Prince's authorized access foreshadows Christ's ultimate role as the intercessor and facilitator of worship, enabling believers to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22). The shut gate in Ezekiel, therefore, doesn't represent a permanent denial of access but points to a more glorious, Christ-centered access, where the former exclusivity is transcended by a spiritual reality of continuous communion with God through His Son.
Ezekiel 44 1 Commentary
Ezekiel 44:1 emphasizes the ultimate sanctity and exclusivity associated with the presence of God. The east gate, where God's glory entered in chapter 43, is sealed. This sealing signifies that no ordinary person can access this divine pathway. It serves as a tangible representation of God's holiness and separation from sin. In the future fulfillment, this concept is powerfully echoed in the New Testament understanding of Jesus Christ as the only true access to God. The closed eastern gate, paradoxically, points to the open way provided through Christ's sacrifice, which allows believers into the presence of God. The verse underscores that direct and unmediated access to God is a privilege reserved for divine authority and later, for those who are united with the "Prince," Jesus.