Ezekiel 44:17 kjv
And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
Ezekiel 44:17 nkjv
And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house.
Ezekiel 44:17 niv
"?'When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes; they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple.
Ezekiel 44:17 esv
When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen garments. They shall have nothing of wool on them, while they minister at the gates of the inner court, and within.
Ezekiel 44:17 nlt
"When they enter the gateway to the inner courtyard, they must wear only linen clothing. They must wear no wool while on duty in the inner courtyard or in the Temple itself.
Ezekiel 44 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 28:39-43 | Linen garments for priests; prohibition of wool. | Priestly attire & purity |
| Lev 16:4 | High Priest's linen garments for Yom Kippur. | Solemn ritual, purification |
| Lev 6:10 | Priests to wear linen garments and put off other garments. | Holiness in service |
| Isa 61:6, 10 | Priests as kings and priests, adorned with fine linen. | Dignity and righteousness |
| Rev 19:7-8 | Bride of Christ adorned with fine linen, symbolizing righteousness. | Believer's purity and service |
| Rev 1:5 | Jesus' cleansing blood making us priests in fine linen. | Christ's work, believer's role |
| Ezek 42:14 | Priests to lay aside garments used in service before going out. | Continued holiness |
| 1 Pet 2:5, 9 | Believers as royal priesthood, holy nation. | Spiritual priesthood |
| Col 3:12-14 | Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, patience. | Character reflection |
| Phil 4:8 | Think on what is pure, lovely, praiseworthy. | Mindful purity |
| 1 Cor 7:29-31 | Those who have wives live as if they don't, temporal focus. | Worldly vs. Eternal |
| Gal 5:22-23 | Fruits of the Spirit, a holy character. | Internal sanctification |
| Ezek 44:18 | Prohibition of anything causing sweat on them. | Unhindered service |
| Ezek 44:19 | Priests leaving the inner court, removing sacred garments. | Transition to profane space |
| Num 15:39 | Reminder to look at tassels, do not follow heart/eyes. | Avoiding lust/distraction |
| Ps 93:5 | Holiness is proper for God's house. | Sanctity of God's dwelling |
| John 17:17 | Jesus prays for believers' sanctification through truth. | Spiritual purity |
| 1 Thess 5:23 | Sanctification of spirit, soul, and body. | Whole person sanctification |
| Ezek 40:46 | Sons of Zadok permitted to minister. | Approved ministers |
| Rom 12:1-2 | Present bodies as living sacrifices, not conformed to world. | Spiritual worship |
Ezekiel 44 verses
Ezekiel 44 17 Meaning
This verse describes the linen attire of the priests who ministered in the inner court of the temple. The clothing specifically denoted their holiness and separation for service within the sacred space. The instruction that they must wear linen garments signifies purity and that no wool, representing worldly corruption or a lower spiritual state, was to be worn while performing priestly duties. This restriction extended to their heads and bodies, ensuring complete adherence to sanctification.
Ezekiel 44 17 Context
This chapter continues Ezekiel's visionary account of a future temple. Following the description of the temple's dimensions and sacred vessels, attention shifts to the priests and their duties. The previous verses (Ezekiel 44:9-14) detail the disqualifications for service, focusing on those who had been idols or defiled the temple. This section then specifies the qualifications and required attire for those permitted to minister within the inner court, emphasizing their sanctified state. Historically, the Levitical priesthood served as mediators between God and Israel, and their purity was paramount. The vision in Ezekiel re-establishes and elaborates on these principles for a renewed covenant people, pointing towards a greater reality of spiritual priesthood.
Ezekiel 44 17 Word Analysis
- And when they (וְכִֽי־הֵמָּה) - Connects to previous discussions about qualified ministers. "Hemmah" refers to the priests.
- go (יָבֹ֨אוּ) - Indicates entry or coming into a specific place.
- in (בַּ) - Preposition showing location within.
- the gate (שַׁעֲרֵי) - Refers to the specific entrances.
- of the inner court (הַחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִית) - Specifies the most sacred area of the temple complex, the inner court.
- they shall put on (יִלְבְּשׁ֛וּ) - A future indicative verb indicating what they are required to wear.
- linen (בֻּצִ֥ים) - Refers to fine linen, a costly fabric. Its whiteness and smoothness signify purity. The Hebrew word "butz" often denotes fine linen.
- garments (בְגָדִ֖ים) - Basic term for clothing.
- and no wool (וּבְשֵׂ֖ר בָּבֶ֣ל) - Explicit prohibition of wool. Wool might symbolize coarser material or perhaps connection to the world or Egypt from which Israel was delivered, hence avoiding anything that could represent foreignness or uncleanness.
- shall come upon (לֹֽא־יַעֲל֛וּ) - Literally "shall not ascend," emphasizing a strict separation.
- them (עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם) - Referring to the priests.
- when they (בְּשָׁמְשָׁ֥ם) - Indicates the time of their service or ministering. The root "sh-m-sh" implies service.
- minister (בַּחֲצֵ֛ר) - Again specifies service within the court.
- in the inner court (הַפְּנִימִֽית) - Reinforces the location of the service.
Words-group-by-words-group analysis:
- "go in the gate of the inner court, they shall put on linen garments": This phrase establishes the requirement for specific apparel when entering the most holy area for service. The use of linen links directly to concepts of purity and ritual cleanliness mandated throughout the Old Testament Law.
- "and no wool shall come upon them": This is a crucial prohibition highlighting a dual aspect: the material itself and its symbolic representation. It underscores a distinct separation from the ordinary or impure.
- "when they minister in the inner court": This contextualizes the rule: it applies specifically during their sacred duties within the most consecrated space of the temple, demanding complete sanctification for God's presence.
Ezekiel 44 17 Bonus Section
The concept of specific garments for religious service is ancient and widespread across various cultures, but the specific nature of linen versus wool has theological weight within Israel's covenant. Wool could symbolize life within the covenant community itself, whereas linen, especially when mandated for inner-court or high-priestly duties, signified an even higher degree of spiritual separation and proximity to God's unblemished holiness. The prophet Isaiah also uses imagery of fine linen to describe the attire of the righteous and God's people (Isaiah 61:10, Revelation 19:8). This verse reinforces the theme that serving God demands more than external actions; it requires internal sanctification and the adoption of a holy standard, even in the smallest details of one's life.
Ezekiel 44 17 Commentary
Ezekiel 44:17 emphasizes the absolute necessity of purity for those who serve God in His sacred space. The restriction to linen and the prohibition of wool is not merely about material preference, but about symbolic representation. Linen, often made from flax, is pure and clean. Wool, derived from sheep, could become impure through natural shedding or if the animal was associated with ordinary life. For the priests in the inner court, every aspect of their being and attire had to reflect holiness. This prefigures the perfect holiness required of believers, who, through Christ, are made priests unto God and are called to live lives of purity, separated from worldly contamination. The linen attire signifies the righteousness imputed and imparted by Christ, which allows us access to God’s presence.