Ezekiel 44:15 kjv
But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
Ezekiel 44:15 nkjv
"But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 44:15 niv
"?'But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 44:15 esv
"But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 44:15 nlt
"However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 44 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 28:1,40 | Vestments for Aaron and his sons, signifying priestly honor and glory. | Dignity and importance of priesthood |
| Lev 1:5-9 | Instruction on presenting burnt offerings, highlighting the role of priests in mediation. | Priestly function and mediation |
| Lev 16:12 | The high priest taking incense within the veil, representing unique access to God's presence. | Priestly access to God's presence |
| Num 3:5-10 | Levites consecrated for service, showing divine appointment for sanctuary duties. | Divine appointment for service |
| Num 18:1-7 | Levites and priests given charge of the sanctuary and the right to minister. | Exclusive priestly rights |
| 1 Chron 6:3-8 | Genealogies of the sons of Levi, detailing their service in the tabernacle and temple. | Continuity of Levitical service |
| 1 Chron 9:11 | Mention of other Levites (like Azariah) serving in the house of God. | Oversight and responsibility |
| 1 Chron 23:28-31 | Specific duties of the Levites, including preparing sacrifices and offerings. | Preparation of offerings |
| Psa 134:1 | A call to bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD. | Service and praise |
| Psa 135:1-3 | Exhortation to praise the LORD by praising His servants in His house. | Praise for those in service |
| Isa 61:6 | You shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God. | Prophetic affirmation of priestly role |
| Jer 33:21-22 | God's covenant with the Levites for a perpetual priesthood. | Covenant of priesthood |
| John 1:14 | The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (tabernacled). | Incarnation as fulfillment |
| John 3:14 | As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. | Symbolism of lifting and sacrifice |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. | Spiritual priesthood |
| 1 Cor 6:20 | You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. | Glorifying God through sacrifice |
| Heb 1:3 | [Christ] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. | Christ's ultimate priestly role |
| Heb 3:1 | Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus Christ. | Jesus as High Priest |
| Heb 4:14-16 | Having a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. | Christ's mediatorial work |
| Heb 7:24-27 | Jesus holds His priesthood permanently because He continues forever. | Eternal priesthood of Christ |
| Heb 8:1-2 | Christ ministers in the holy place, the true tabernacle. | Christ ministering in heaven |
| Heb 9:11-12 | Christ entered once for all into the holy places, not by the means of goats' blood and calves' blood. | Christ's superior sacrifice |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us. | Access to God through Christ |
| Rev 1:6 | [He] has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father. | Believers as priests |
| Rev 5:10 | You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. | Priestly reign |
Ezekiel 44 verses
Ezekiel 44 15 Meaning
The sons of Zadok, Levites, who ministered faithfully in the sanctuary during the apostasy, are singled out for continued service in the restored temple. They will approach the LORD to minister to Him, and stand before Him to offer the fat and blood of sacrifices, signifying their priestly role and special access to God.
Ezekiel 44 15 Context
This verse is found in Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple, detailing the future millennial kingdom. Following a period of exile and God's judgment, Ezekiel is given extensive prophecies concerning the renewed relationship between God and His people. Chapters 40-43 describe the structure and order of this new temple. Chapter 44 begins to delineate the regulations and privileges of those who will serve within its precincts. This specific verse highlights the faithful Levites, specifically the sons of Zadok, who remained loyal to God and His worship during times of unfaithfulness among other Levites. Their steadfastness earns them the privilege of ministering directly before the Lord in the restored sanctuary.
Ezekiel 44 15 Word Analysis
- And (Hebrew: וְ, wə): A conjunctive particle, indicating sequence or addition, connecting this verse to the preceding descriptions of priestly duties.
- the sons (Hebrew: בְּנֵי, bənê): Plural of son; signifies lineage and inheritance of priestly duties. The descendants of those who were faithful.
- of Zadok (Hebrew: צָדוֹק, Tzāḏōq): Zadok was a righteous High Priest during the time of David and Solomon. His lineage represented fidelity to God and proper priestly conduct. This name signifies loyalty and adherence to divine law in priestly service.
- even the sons (Hebrew: הֵמָּה, hēmmah): Literally "they"; emphasizing or specifying "the sons of Zadok," to distinguish them clearly. A emphatic pronoun.
- of the Levites (Hebrew: הַלְוִיִּם, halləwiyyîm): Belonging to the tribe of Levi, designated by God for service in the sanctuary.
- that kept the charge (Hebrew: שֹׁמְרֵי, šōmərê): From the root שָׁמַר (šāmar), meaning to keep, guard, preserve, observe. Highlights their responsibility and diligence in maintaining the sanctity and ordinances of the sanctuary.
- of my sanctuary (Hebrew: מִקְדָּשַׁי, miqədāšay): "My sanctuaries" or "my holy places." Refers to the holy and most holy places within the Tabernacle or Temple. The plural form might indicate the distinct sections of the sanctuary or a more extensive implication of holiness.
- when the children (Hebrew: בִּהְיוֹת, bîhyōṯ): "In being" or "when it was."
- of Israel (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yiśrā’ēl): The nation of Israel.
- were gone astray (Hebrew: שָׁגַגּוּ, šāḡāggû): From שָׁגַג (šāḡag), meaning to err, wander, go astray, sin through ignorance or carelessness. This implies a deviation from God's commands, possibly due to general apostasy affecting the broader nation.
- from me: Signifies a separation or deviation from relationship and obedience to the LORD.
- they (Hebrew: הֵמָּה, hēmmah): Referring back to the sons of Zadok.
- shall go in (Hebrew: יָבֹאוּ, yāḇō’û): "They will come" or "enter." Denotes entrance into a place of privilege and service.
- to my ministers (Hebrew: לְשָׁרְתַנִי, ləšārəṯannî): "To minister to Me." The infinitive ləšārəṯ combined with the first-person singular object pronoun nî. This highlights personal service directly to God.
- unto me: Direct service and presentation before the Lord.
- to offer (Hebrew: לְהַקְרִיב, ləhaqərîḇ): From the root קָרַב (qārav), meaning to draw near, present, offer. The infinitive used here refers to the act of bringing sacrifices.
- the fat (Hebrew: הַחֵלֶב, haḥȇlev): The fatty portions of the animals designated for sacrifice. In offerings, the fat was specifically for the Lord.
- and the blood (Hebrew: וְאֶת־הַדָּם, wə’eṯ–hadām): The blood of the offerings, essential for atonement and reconciliation.
- at the altar (Hebrew: עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, ʿal–hamizbēaḥ): Upon the altar of sacrifice. The designated place for presenting offerings.
- upon me: Expresses proximity and presentation directly before God.
- saith (Hebrew: נְאֻם, nə’um): "Utterance of," "thus says." Often used as a formula introducing divine speech or pronouncements.
- the Lord (Hebrew: יְהוָה, Adonai or YHWH): The LORD God, emphasizing His authority and pronouncements. In this context, usually YHWH.
Words-Group Analysis:
- Sons of Zadok / Kept the charge of my sanctuary / When the children of Israel were gone astray from me: This grouping emphasizes the faithfulness and loyalty of a specific lineage (Zadok's sons) to God's sanctuary during times of widespread apostasy in Israel. It contrasts their obedience with the nation's disobedience.
- They shall go in to my ministers / to offer the fat and the blood upon me: This phrase highlights the privilege of direct service and presentation of sacrifices (fat and blood, which were specific portions for God) within the sanctuary to the LORD Himself. It underscores their designated priestly function and unique access to God.
- saith the Lord: This firmly attributes the entire declaration and these privileges to the ultimate authority of God, affirming His sovereign decree in establishing this order.
Ezekiel 44 15 Bonus Section
The exclusion of certain Levites and the restoration of Zadok's line is a recurring theme of faithfulness being rewarded with privilege and unfaithfulness resulting in a loss of service, seen also in Nehemiah's time when certain positions were reinstated to their rightful owners based on their adherence to tradition and divine law. The specific mention of "fat and blood" as what they offer to the Lord points to the most consecrated parts of the sacrifice, symbolizing the best and the very life essence of the offering presented directly to God. This prefigures Christ’s perfect sacrifice where His own lifeblood and sacrificial essence are the ultimate offering.
Ezekiel 44 15 Commentary
Ezekiel 44:15 distinguishes a faithful remnant within the Levitical priesthood. The sons of Zadok, noted for their steadfast service to God's sanctuary, even when Israel strayed, are given the prerogative to minister directly before the LORD. This includes offering the crucial components of sacrifice: the fat and the blood, representing the acceptable and vital aspects of worship and atonement. Their continued access and responsibility to minister to God Himself highlights their enduring integrity and God’s faithfulness in preserving a line of service. This principle extends to believers today, who, through Christ, become part of a spiritual priesthood, serving and having direct access to God, offering sacrifices of praise and their lives as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1).