Ezekiel 44:3 kjv
It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
Ezekiel 44:3 nkjv
As for the prince, because he is the prince, he may sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway, and go out the same way."
Ezekiel 44:3 niv
The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way."
Ezekiel 44:3 esv
Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the LORD. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way."
Ezekiel 44:3 nlt
Only the prince himself may sit inside this gateway to feast in the LORD's presence. But he may come and go only through the entry room of the gateway."
Ezekiel 44 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 44:2 | ...this gate shall be shut and shall not be opened, and no person shall enter by it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it. | Connection: Introduces the eastern gate being shut because of God's entry. |
| Eze 44:4 | Then he brought me by the way of the north gate into the presence of the house. And I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. And I fell on my face. | Cross-reference: God's glory filling the Temple through the eastern gate. |
| Eze 44:11 | ...they shall stand by my side to minister to me... | Significance: Contrasts the common Levites with those serving within the inner court. |
| Eze 44:16 | They shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my ordinances. | Significance: Defines the unique role and access of the gate's reserved occupant. |
| Eze 44:22 | They shall not marry a widow, nor a divorced woman, but only virgins from the offspring of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest. | Limitation: Specifies the marriage qualifications for those serving in the inner court, indicating a priestly lineage. |
| Zec 6:12-13 | "...Behold, a man whose name is the Branch. From his place he will branch out, and he will build the temple of the LORD. It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne, and he shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." | Fulfillment: Prophesies the coming Branch (Messiah) who builds the Temple and acts as priest-king. |
| Jn 10:7 | So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. | Symbolic Fulfillment: Jesus identifies Himself as the door, providing access. |
| Jn 10:9 | I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. | Symbolic Fulfillment: Jesus is the exclusive means of salvation and access to God's provision. |
| Heb 10:19-20 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he has opened for us through the veil, that is, through his flesh, | Fulfillment: Christ's sacrifice opens direct access to God's presence. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | like living stones, you are also being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood. | Fulfillment: Believers form a spiritual temple, a holy priesthood. |
| Rev 21:22 | And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. | Ultimate Fulfillment: In the New Jerusalem, the presence of God and the Lamb is the temple itself, obviating a physical structure in the same way. |
| Eze 43:4 | Then the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the way of the gate facing east. | Echo: Reinforces the eastern gate's connection to the manifestation of God's glory. |
| Eze 10:4 | Then the glory of the LORD ascended from the cherubim to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the radiance of the glory of the LORD. | Parallel: Illustrates God's glory's presence in and departure from the earlier Temple. |
| Mal 1:1 | The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. | Context: Malachi precedes Ezekiel in the Old Testament order but addresses post-exilic times; thematic links of Temple service and covenant faithfulness. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? | Fulfillment: Believers are indwelt by the Spirit, a spiritual temple. |
| Heb 9:24 | For Christ has entered not into a holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. | Fulfillment: Christ entered the true heavenly sanctuary, not a physical replica. |
| Ps 24:7-10 | Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! | Typology: This psalm is often interpreted as anticipating Christ's entry. |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." | Uniqueness of Access: Underscores that salvation, and therefore access, is solely through Christ. |
| Eph 2:18 | For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. | Nature of Access: Describes the relational access believers have to the Father. |
| Heb 12:23 | ...and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the cry of Abel. | Contrast: The New Covenant's access through Christ's blood. |
Ezekiel 44 verses
Ezekiel 44 3 Meaning
This verse states that "the gate shall be shut." In the context of Ezekiel's vision of the restored Temple, this gate is specifically identified as the eastern gate. Its being shut signifies its unavailability for the people to enter. This is because it is reserved for a unique individual.
Ezekiel 44 3 Context
This verse is situated within Ezekiel chapter 44, a significant section of the prophet's vision detailing a restored Temple and its ordinances for a future era. Immediately preceding this verse (Eze 44:1-3), Ezekiel observes the eastern gate of the outer court, which is sealed. The reason provided is that the " LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it." This signifies a divine occupancy and holiness associated with this specific entrance. The context emphasizes a return to pristine worship and a separation for a specific purpose. The vision itself follows God's departure from the corrupt Temple described in earlier chapters, hence this restored state signifies a renewed presence.
Ezekiel 44 3 Word Analysis
- And (וְ /
wə): A conjunctive particle, typically translated as "and," used here to connect the statement about the gate being shut to the reason for it. - it (וְסָג֔וּר /
wəsālûg): Refers back to the "gate." The root meaning implies being closed or shut fast. - shall be shut (וְסָג֔וּר /
wəsālûg): The niphal participle of the verb סָגַר (sagar), meaning "to shut," "to close." The passive form indicates that it is shut, emphasizing its perpetual state of closure by divine decree. - and (וְ /
wə): Another conjunction linking clauses. - it (ה֣וּא /
hû’): A masculine singular pronoun, referring back to the gate. - shall not be opened (לֹ֥א יִפָּתַ֖ח /
lō’ yippâṯaḥ): The negation (lō’) with the future tense verb יִפָּתַח (yippâṯaḥ), from the root פָּתַח (pâṯaḥ), meaning "to open." This stresses that no human agent or circumstance will cause it to be opened. - and (וְ /
wə): Connecting phrase. - no (כִּֽי־ /
kî-): Here functions adversatively or as a reason marker, meaning "for" or "because." - person (אָדָ֣ם /
’ādām): Generic term for "man" or "mankind," highlighting that no one of any kind may enter. - shall enter (יָבֹ֥וא /
yābō’): The future tense verb from בּוֹא (bō’), meaning "to come in" or "to enter." - by (בּ֖וֹ /
bô): Preposition 'ב' (b), meaning "in," "with," or "by," attached to the pronoun 'ו' (wô), meaning "him" or "it." - it (בּ֖וֹ /
bô): Refers to the gate. - because (כִּֽי־ /
kî-): Another usage of this common conjunction, providing the ultimate reason for the gate’s status. - the LORD (יְהוָ֣ה /
YHWH): The personal covenant name of God, often translated "LORD" (in capitals). - the God (אֱלֹהֵ֣י /
’ĕlōhê): "Elohi," the plural of El (’ēl), meaning God. Used here in construct with "Israel." - of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל /
yiśrā’êl): The name of the covenant people. - has entered (בּ֤וֹ /
bô): The same verb בּוֹא (bô) but here in the perfect tense (implied by the context and usage). It denotes a past action that has present relevance or a completed action establishing the current state. - by (בּ֤וֹ /
bô): Again, the preposition 'ב' (b) with the pronoun 'ו' (wô). - it (בּ֤וֹ /
bô): Referring to the gate.
Group Analysis:The phrase "shall be shut and shall not be opened" (סָג֔וּר לֹ֥א יִפָּתַ֖ח) emphasizes the permanence and divinely ordained nature of the closure, distinguishing it from ordinary temporary closings. The reason provided, "because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it," links this exclusivity directly to God's unique presence and holiness associated with this entrance. The singular use of "it" for both "shut" and "entered" reinforces that the gate's state is a direct consequence of divine passage.
Ezekiel 44 3 Bonus Section
The Eastern Gate in Ezekiel's vision is understood by many Christian commentators and scholars as a typological prophecy pointing towards Jesus Christ. His entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday through the eastern gate is often cited as a fulfillment. Furthermore, Christ is often referred to as the "door" in the New Testament, and His sacrificial work provides the only true and access to the Father. The exclusivity of this Eastern Gate in Ezekiel's vision mirrors the exclusive claim of Christ as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The immutability of the gate's status, shut to all except God's past entry, speaks to the finality of Christ’s redemptive work as the once-for-all sacrifice.
Ezekiel 44 3 Commentary
Ezekiel 44:3 highlights a singular, inviolable gateway—the eastern gate of the Temple complex in the prophet's vision. This gate is eternally sealed against ordinary access because the divine presence of the LORD has already entered through it. This implies a profound holiness and exclusivity, signifying that direct access to God’s ultimate presence is not achieved through the same means as mundane entry. It points to a mediated access, established by God Himself, through a specific individual or event that consecrates the path. This sealing is not for exclusion in the sense of abandonment, but for reservation of a specific, sacred way through which God has moved. This reserved pathway underscores the absolute sovereignty of God in establishing access to Himself.