Ezekiel 44:8 kjv
And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
Ezekiel 44:8 nkjv
And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have set others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you."
Ezekiel 44:8 niv
Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary.
Ezekiel 44:8 esv
And you have not kept charge of my holy things, but you have set others to keep my charge for you in my sanctuary.
Ezekiel 44:8 nlt
Instead of safeguarding my sacred rituals, you have hired foreigners to take charge of my sanctuary.
Ezekiel 44 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 44:9 | No foreigner...shall enter my sanctuary. | Exclusion based on foreignness |
| Deut 23:3 | No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD... | Similar exclusion |
| Neh 13:1-2 | Ammonites and Moabites forbidden...separated them from Israel. | Historical application |
| Exod 12:48 | A foreigner...must also keep the Passover to the LORD. | Inclusion of foreigners |
| Deut 7:1-5 | Israel to drive out nations, not to intermarry. | Emphasis on separation |
| Ps 148:14 | His people, a people near to him. | God's chosen people |
| Isa 56:6-7 | Welcoming foreigners who keep the covenant. | Contrasting inclusiveness |
| Acts 10:34-35 | God shows no favoritism; accepts those who fear him. | New Testament inclusivity |
| Gal 3:28 | In Christ, there is no Jew or Gentile. | Ultimate spiritual unity |
| Rom 10:12 | The same Lord is Lord of all and enriches all who call on him. | Universal Lordship |
| Jer 31:31-34 | New Covenant not based on outward lineage. | Shift in divine-human relations |
| Matt 22:9-10 | Call to the wedding feast, the good and the bad. | Kingdom's open invitation |
| Luke 14:21 | "Go out into the roads and under the hedges, and compel people to come in..." | Universal Gospel invitation |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world... | Universal divine love |
| 1 Cor 12:13 | By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. | Unity in the Spirit |
| Eph 2:11-22 | Gentiles are now fellow citizens with the saints. | Breaking down barriers |
| Col 3:11 | Christ is all, and in all. | Christ as unifier |
| Rev 5:9 | Redeemed people from every nation. | Heavenly diversity |
| Rev 7:9 | A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation. | Vision of future redemption |
| Ps 133:1 | Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! | Unity theme |
| Exod 34:10-16 | Warning against making covenants with the inhabitants of the land. | Avoiding corrupting influences |
| Deut 20:16-17 | Command to destroy Amalekites and Canaanites. | Historical mandate for judgment |
Ezekiel 44 verses
Ezekiel 44 8 Meaning
This verse states that no one from Egypt, not even descendants in their third generation, should enter the assembly of the LORD. It highlights a specific exclusion from Israel's religious community based on lineage, stemming from historical grievances.
Ezekiel 44 8 Context
Ezekiel 44 is part of Ezekiel's prophecies concerning the future restoration of the temple and the proper worship of God in a restored Israel. This chapter specifically outlines the regulations for priests and Levites serving in the renewed sanctuary. It addresses potential defilements and re-establishes clear boundaries for participation in sacred duties. The verse regarding Egyptians speaks to a specific historical context where Egypt played a significant role in the oppression of Israel, as recalled in Deuteronomy. The exclusion is rooted in a deep-seated grievance against Egypt's prolonged subjugation and their opposition to Israel's relationship with God.
Ezekiel 44 8 Word Analysis
and (vav): Connective, indicating sequence or addition.
they (hem): Plural pronoun, referring to people.
cause (mashal): To cause, to put, to do; here, implying "allowed" or "permitted."
to enter (bo): To come in, to go in, to enter.
them (otam): Objective pronoun, referring to the previously mentioned people.
my (i): Possessive pronoun, referring to God.
assembly (kahal): A gathering, congregation, assembly.
of (min): Preposition, indicating origin or belonging.
the (ha): Definite article.
LORD (YHWH): The personal covenant name of God.
even (gam): Also, indeed, even.
their (hem): Possessive pronoun.
third (shlishi): Ordinal number, third.
generation (dor): A generation, age, succession of men.
shall (ve-): Future tense prefix, indicating certainty or command.
they (hem): Plural pronoun.
enter (bo): To come in, to go in, to enter.
into (el): Preposition, indicating direction towards.
it (oto): Objective pronoun, referring to the assembly.
They shall not enter… their third generation: This phrase emphasizes a permanent, multi-generational prohibition. It signifies a divine judgment and remembrance of past actions against God's people, extending beyond a single lifetime. This aligns with Old Testament principles where transgressions could affect descendants.
Ezekiel 44 8 Bonus Section
The historical context of Egypt’s oppression of Israel, beginning with their enslavement (Exodus 1), followed by their pursuit of Israel as they fled (Exodus 14), and their general antagonism towards Israel’s God, forms the basis for this decree. This wasn't about any Egyptian, but the Egyptians as a nation that actively resisted God’s will for His people. This disciplinary principle is seen elsewhere, for example, in the prohibitions against Ammonites and Moabites due to their actions against Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3-6), emphasizing that nationality itself is not the issue, but rather the conduct of a people towards God and His chosen ones. This theme of separation and divine remembrance of deeds is a consistent thread throughout Scripture.
Ezekiel 44 8 Commentary
This verse provides a specific, yet illustrative, example of how historical transgressions against God's people led to divine decree. The exclusion of Egyptians, even in their third generation, reflects God's justice and His remembering of Egypt's adversarial stance toward Israel. This isn't merely ethnic prejudice but a consequence of their historical role in enslaving and persecuting God’s covenant people. The future temple, a place of holiness and God's dwelling, was to be kept free from those who had shown such deep animosity. This contrasts with other inclusions of foreigners in the Old Testament who sought to join Israel, highlighting that the exclusion was specifically tied to a history of oppressive action against God's covenant relationship.