Ezekiel 44:6 kjv
And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
Ezekiel 44:6 nkjv
"Now say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "O house of Israel, let Us have no more of all your abominations.
Ezekiel 44:6 niv
Say to rebellious Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Enough of your detestable practices, people of Israel!
Ezekiel 44:6 esv
And say to the rebellious house, to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: O house of Israel, enough of all your abominations,
Ezekiel 44:6 nlt
And give these rebels, the people of Israel, this message from the Sovereign LORD: O people of Israel, enough of your detestable sins!
Ezekiel 44 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 44:7 | They have profaned My holy place, bringing foreigners uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh into My sanctuary to serve in My house. | Direct prohibition on foreigners, emphasizing inner spiritual state. |
| Ezek 44:9 | No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh shall enter My sanctuary. | Reinforces the disqualification based on inward spiritual condition. |
| Lev 10:1-3 | Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire and died. | Consequence of approaching God improperly. |
| Heb 12:14 | Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. | Emphasis on holiness for access to God. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit...? | Our bodies as sanctuaries to be kept pure. |
| Jer 4:4 | Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, remove the foreskin of your hearts, men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. | Spiritual circumcision as removal of stubbornness and rebellion. |
| Deut 10:16 | Circumcise your hearts, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. | Command for internal change and obedience. |
| Rom 2:28-29 | A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and in the flesh. Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit. | Contrasts outward and inward spiritual realities, New Testament fulfillment. |
| Col 2:11 | In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by hand, in the putting away of the sinful nature. | Spiritual circumcision in Christ, inward and by the Spirit. |
| Rev 21:27 | Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. | Holiness and divine acceptance for entering the heavenly city. |
| Acts 15:1-2 | Debate regarding circumcision for Gentile believers. | Historical example of emphasis on the condition for inclusion. |
| Isa 56:6-7 | Foreigners who join themselves to the LORD... I will bring them to my holy mountain. | Promise of inclusion for those who truly commit to God. |
| Exod 12:48 | A foreigner living among you who wants to celebrate the Passover to the LORD must have all his males circumcised. | Requirement of circumcision for participation in covenant rituals. |
| 2 Chron 23:19 | And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean. | Guards ensuring holiness of the sanctuary. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only the person who has clean hands and a pure heart. | Purity of heart and hands required for divine presence. |
| Matt 5:8 | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. | Purity of heart as essential for spiritual vision. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” | Command for holiness mirroring God’s holiness. |
| Heb 7:26 | For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. | Christ's perfect holiness as qualification for priestly ministry. |
| John 3:5 | Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." | Spiritual birth required for entry into God's kingdom. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | Peter began to speak: “Now I really do understand that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” | God's acceptance based on inward reverence and righteous deeds. |
Ezekiel 44 verses
Ezekiel 44 6 Meaning
This verse establishes a prohibition against the sons of Israel and their leaders from entering the inner court of the sanctuary, or partaking in any priestly duties or sacred meals associated with the restored Temple. The core prohibition is specifically directed at those who "circumcise uncircumcised in flesh." This refers to individuals who, in a spiritual sense, have not undergone the cleansing and dedication required by God.
Ezekiel 44 6 Context
Ezekiel 44 is situated within a broader vision of a restored Temple and its functioning. Following significant prophetic pronouncements regarding judgment and exile, God unveils a detailed plan for a future, purified sanctuary. This chapter specifically addresses who is permitted to minister within the Temple and what services are ordained. Verse 6, therefore, directly follows the mention of the "east gate" being shut, symbolizing divine exclusivity and the purity required for God's presence. The historical context for Ezekiel is the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national and spiritual crisis, during which the promises of restoration and a future covenant relationship with God are paramount. The prohibition here underscores the absolute requirement for spiritual purity and adherence to divine ordinance, differentiating between the uninitiated and those who are set apart.
Ezekiel 44 6 Word Analysis
You (אתם - attem): Refers to the people of Israel and their leaders, the primary recipients of Ezekiel's prophecy.
shall not come (לא יבאו - lo yabo'u): A strong prohibition, emphasizing a strict barring.
into (אל - el): Indicates movement towards or into a place, in this case, the sanctuary.
my sanctuary (מקדשי - miqdashiy): My holy place, the place set apart for God's special presence.
nor (ולא - wə-lo): A conjunctive particle introducing another prohibition.
they (הם - hem): Refers to the sons of Israel and their leaders mentioned previously.
bring (להביא - lə-havi’): To cause to come or enter.
foreigners (זרים - zarim): Strangers or those not belonging to the covenant community.
uncircumcised in flesh (ערלי בשר - ʿərəl bāśār): Literally "uncircumcised in flesh," referring to the physical removal of the foreskin, a sign of the covenant with Abraham. However, in the broader context, it signifies an outsider or someone not fully integrated into the covenant.
in the heart (בלב - bəlēḇ): Pertaining to the inner being, the seat of understanding, will, and emotions.
and (וב־ - ū-ḇə): Connecting "heart" and "flesh."
uncircumcised in flesh (ערלי בשר - ʿərəl bāśār): Repetition reinforces the requirement that both external covenant marking and internal disposition are necessary. The primary disqualification is “uncircumcised in heart” in the following verse (Ezekiel 44:9), highlighting that outward observance without inner reality is insufficient and disqualifying.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "sons of Israel" and "house of my sanctuary": Connects the covenant people to the dwelling place of God, highlighting their intended role and also their potential for disqualification.
- "nor they shall bring in...uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh": This is a critical pairing. "Uncircumcised in heart" (as in Deut. 10:16 and Jer. 4:4) denotes an unwilling, rebellious, or unreceptive inner disposition towards God. The subsequent phrase "and uncircumcised in flesh" specifies an outward token of covenant participation. The structure implies that the absence of inner commitment ("uncircumcised in heart") is the primary reason for being excluded, with the "uncircumcised in flesh" serving as a consistent outward marker for those excluded. The prohibition is thus against both the unspiritual outsider and any within Israel who have an uncircumcised heart, failing to meet God’s inward standard.
Ezekiel 44 6 Bonus Section
The emphasis on "uncircumcised in heart" finds significant resonance in the New Testament's understanding of spiritual circumcision. Paul, in Romans 2:29 and Colossians 2:11, speaks of the "circumcision of the heart" by the Spirit. This signifies a profound internal cleansing and dedication that is a core aspect of faith in Christ. The concept is also seen in Jesus' teaching that true worship involves the spirit and truth (John 4:24). While Ezekiel’s vision pertains to a literal, future Temple and priesthood, it prophetically points to the deeper, spiritual requirements for all who would enter God's true sanctuary, which is the church, and ultimately, for entry into God's heavenly kingdom. The verse underlines that national origin or physical belonging does not guarantee access; only genuine inner transformation and consecration do.
Ezekiel 44 6 Commentary
This verse sets a boundary, distinguishing those who are truly consecrated to God from those who are not. It draws a parallel between physical circumcision, the mark of the Mosaic covenant, and a spiritual state – an "uncircumcised heart." True access to God’s presence is not merely based on outward ritual or national identity but on an inner condition of receptiveness and devotion to God. The inclusion of both "uncircumcised in heart" and "uncircumcised in flesh" highlights that for proper service in God's restored presence, both inward spiritual reality and outward covenant marking (understood within the context of God’s full people) are implicitly required. The restriction signifies the profound holiness of God and the absolute necessity of internal transformation for any meaningful communion with Him, echoing the principles found throughout Scripture regarding purity for divine access.