Ezekiel 44:29 kjv
They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering: and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
Ezekiel 44:29 nkjv
They shall eat the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering; every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
Ezekiel 44:29 niv
They will eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them.
Ezekiel 44:29 esv
They shall eat the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering, and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs.
Ezekiel 44:29 nlt
Their food will come from the gifts and sacrifices brought to the Temple by the people ? the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Whatever anyone sets apart for the LORD will belong to the priests.
Ezekiel 44 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 44:28 | And it shall be with the Levites, as with the priests; the portion of the Levites shall be... | Continues the inheritance theme. |
| Numbers 18:20 | You shall not have an inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them. | Levites' inheritance was God. |
| Numbers 18:21 | "Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service... | Tithes for Levite provision. |
| Deuteronomy 18:1-2 | The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord's offerings by fire and His portion. | Specificity of priestly portion. |
| Joshua 13:14 | Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance; the offerings of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said to them. | Direct link to divine instruction. |
| Nehemiah 13:10 | I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work was fled to his own field. | Problem of denied portions. |
| Malachi 3:8 | Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. | Consequences of withholding. |
| 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 | Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake with the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel! | New Testament parallel of support. |
| Hebrews 7:18 | For on the one hand, there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitability. | Contrast with Levitical system. |
| Hebrews 7:23-24 | Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. | Eternal Priesthood. |
| Revelation 21:3 | And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God." | God as the ultimate inheritance. |
| Revelation 22:3 | And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. | Service in the new covenant. |
| Psalm 119:57 | You are my portion, O Lord! I have said that I would keep Your words. | God as personal portion. |
| Psalm 16:5 | The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You uphold my lot. | God's sustaining provision. |
| Jeremiah 3:16 | "Then it shall come to pass, when you multiply and are fruitful in the land in those days," says the Lord, "that they will say no more, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It shall not be mentioned; it shall not be remembered; it shall not be visited; it shall not be made again." | Shift in covenant focus. |
| Acts 20:32 | "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." | Inheritance through grace. |
| Romans 11:13-14 | For I speak to you Gentiles inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. | Ministry and Jewish people. |
| 2 Timothy 2:3-6 | You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer is the one to whom the promises of the first yield of crops should go. | Parallels in soldier/farmer. |
Ezekiel 44 verses
Ezekiel 44 29 Meaning
This verse proclaims that the priests and Levites who minister at the restored Jerusalem temple will have a special inheritance. They will receive portions of the grain and other offerings brought by the people as their provision, meaning they will be sustained by the sanctuary service. This portion signifies their set-apart status and divine appointment for ministry, just as the Lord declared Himself to be their inheritance.
Ezekiel 44 29 Context
Chapter 44 of Ezekiel details the future glory and order of the millennial temple and its worship. This specific verse follows the prohibition against foreigners and the uncircumcised serving in the sanctuary, and the rules concerning the Levitical musicians and gatekeepers. The focus is on establishing a righteous and holy priesthood and service for the restored nation of Israel within this divinely appointed structure. This vision, revealed to Ezekiel by the River Chebar, addresses Israel's past failures and provides a blueprint for future covenant fulfillment, emphasizing the separation of God's people and His distinct presence. The prophecy occurs during the Babylonian exile, offering hope and instruction for a future restoration, painting a picture of God’s enduring covenantal faithfulness.
Ezekiel 44 29 Word analysis
- And (וְ – ve): A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding one, linking the provisions for Levites to the priestly portion.
- it (הוא – hu): Refers to the Levitical portion.
- shall be (יהיה – yihyeh): Future tense, indicating a promise of what will come to pass.
- with (עִם – im): Indicates accompaniment or inclusion.
- the Levites (הַלְוִיִּם – ha-Leviyim): The tribe of Levi, designated for service in the tabernacle and temple.
- as (כְּמוֹ – kemo): A preposition of likeness, comparing the Levitical portion to the priests'.
- with (עִם – im): Again, indicating inclusion.
- the priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים – ha-Kohanim): The descendants of Aaron, set apart for priestly duties.
- the portion (חֵלֶק – cheleq): A share, lot, or inheritance; specifically here, their divinely appointed sustenance.
- of the Levites (הַלְוִיִּם – ha-Leviyim): Reinforces that this share is for the Levites.
- shall be (יִהְיֶה – yihyeh): Future tense, same as above.
- the Lord’s (יְהוָה – YHWH): Referring to God’s own, what belongs to Him or is consecrated to Him.
- by (מִפִּי – mipiy): From the mouth of; signifies authority or declaration, referring to God's word or decree.
- fire (אֵשׁ – esh): Often symbolic of divine presence, judgment, or purification. Here it implies offerings consumed by divine fire.
- and His portion (וּנְחָלָתוֹ – unch-halato): And His inheritance; signifying that the offerings set apart for the priests and Levites were considered God's portion, which He gave them as their inheritance.
Word Groups:
- "the portion of the Levites shall be the Lord's by fire": This group of words signifies that their inheritance and provision came directly from what was consecrated to God, specifically the offerings consumed by the divine fire in the temple service. It highlights their reliance on and dedication to God's designated means of sustenance.
- "His portion": This phrase is crucial. It shows that what the Levites received was considered God's inheritance, which He then delegated to them. It elevates their role from merely recipients to stewards of what God had set apart.
Ezekiel 44 29 Bonus Section
The concept of God being the "portion" and "inheritance" of the Levites is central to their identity and calling. It distinguished them from the other tribes who received land inheritance. This spiritual inheritance meant their primary "possession" and purpose was service to the Lord. The offerings they received, ultimately referred to as "the Lord's by fire and His portion," were tangible expressions of this divine commitment and the people's participation in maintaining God's presence and worship. The vision here in Ezekiel anticipates a future restoration where these principles of support for ministry are re-established in perfect, albeit transformed, accordance with God’s eternal plan.
Ezekiel 44 29 Commentary
This verse reiterates a foundational principle of Israelite economy and worship: those who serve in God's sanctuary are to be supported by God's people through their offerings. Just as the Lord declared Himself to be the portion and inheritance of the priests and Levites (Num 18:20, Deut 18:1-2), this passage affirms that their sustenance would come from the dedicated offerings of Israel. This divine arrangement ensured that the Levites could devote themselves fully to their ministry without being distracted by worldly labor or possessions. The inclusion of "His portion" underscores that these offerings were sacred, belonging to God, and that He generously provided them for the support of His appointed servants. This spiritual principle finds a parallel in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to support those who minister the gospel (1 Cor 9:13-14).