Ezekiel 44:9 kjv
Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
Ezekiel 44:9 nkjv
Thus says the Lord GOD: "No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter My sanctuary, including any foreigner who is among the children of Israel.
Ezekiel 44:9 niv
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.
Ezekiel 44:9 esv
"Thus says the Lord GOD: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, shall enter my sanctuary.
Ezekiel 44:9 nlt
"So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: No foreigners, including those who live among the people of Israel, will enter my sanctuary if they have not been circumcised and have not surrendered themselves to the LORD.
Ezekiel 44 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 44:9 | "Thus says the Lord GOD: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter my sanctuary, not even any foreigner who is among the people of Israel." | Prohibition of foreigners in sanctuary |
| Leviticus 19:33 | "When a sojourner resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress him." | Equal treatment for sojourners |
| Leviticus 24:16 | "And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation of Israel shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the name, shall be put to death." | Death penalty for blasphemy applies to both |
| Numbers 15:15-16 | "For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the sojourner who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD." | One law for native and sojourner |
| Exodus 12:48-49 | "When a sojourner lives with you and celebrates the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may draw near to celebrate it. And he shall be as the native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. One law shall be for the native and for the sojourner who sojourns with him." | Passover requires circumcision |
| Genesis 17:10-14 | "This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you." | Circumcision as covenant sign |
| Jeremiah 4:4 | "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your doings." | Metaphorical circumcision of the heart |
| Romans 2:28-29 | "For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter." | True circumcision is inward |
| Colossians 2:11 | "In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made by hands, by the putting off of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ." | Spiritual circumcision in Christ |
| Acts 10:34-35 | "So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him."" | God is impartial, welcomes all who fear Him |
| Ephesians 2:11-13 | "Therefore remember that formerly you were Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcised by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands. Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." | Gentiles as the "uncircumcised" |
| Isaiah 52:1 | "Awake, awake, O Zion; put on your strength! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, city of holiness. For thenceforth there shall no uncircumcised or unclean person come into you." | Prophecy of a clean Jerusalem |
| Ezekiel 43:7 | "and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall never again profane my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the corpses of their kings at their high places," | God's throne and dwelling |
| Deuteronomy 23:3 | "“No Ammonite or Moabite shall come into the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation none of them shall come into the assembly of the LORD," | Specific exclusions from the assembly |
| Numbers 25:1-9 | The incident with the Moabite women and Baal Peor, leading to a plague. | Israelites' sin with foreign women |
| Psalm 24:3-4 | "Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and who does not swear deceitfully." | Purity required for worship |
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." | Various forms of impurity excluded |
| Revelation 21:27 | "But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." | Final purity of the New Jerusalem |
| John 3:3 | "Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."" | New birth is necessary to see God's kingdom |
| Isaiah 56:6-7 | "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, every one who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast by my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer that all peoples may pray.”" | Inclusion of foreigners who fear God |
Ezekiel 44 verses
Ezekiel 44 9 Meaning
This verse describes a disqualification for entry into the sanctuary, specifically targeting the uncircumcised and those with uncircumcised flesh. This signifies an exclusion based on ritual impurity according to Israelite law. The exclusion applies to both native Israelites and foreigners residing among them.
Ezekiel 44 9 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's vision of a restored temple in chapters 40-48. Following the destruction of the first and second Temples due to Israel's sin, God grants Ezekiel a detailed blueprint of a future temple. This vision serves as a powerful message of hope and restoration for the exilic community, emphasizing the holiness of God and the purity required for worship.
Historically, the practice of circumcision was a fundamental requirement of the Mosaic covenant, marking a physical sign of belonging to God's people (Gen 17:10-14). For foreigners, voluntary circumcision was often a prerequisite for participating in key aspects of Israelite religious life, such as the Passover (Exodus 12:48-49). Ezekiel's vision reiterates and intensifies this requirement, underscoring that even in a future, purified sanctuary, physical and spiritual cleanliness will be paramount for all who enter. The chapter's context highlights God's desire to dwell with His people again, but on His terms, which demand holiness.
Ezekiel 44 9 Word Analysis
- Thus says the Lord GOD: (K Omer Adonai Yahweh) – A formal prophetic declaration, signifying divine authority and pronouncement.
- No: (Lo) – A strong negation, emphasizing absolute prohibition.
- foreigner: (Nekharî) – Refers to an outsider, a stranger, someone not of Israelite lineage.
- uncircumcised: (Arel) – Literally "uncovered foreskin." In this context, it signifies being excluded from the covenant people and its physical sign.
- in heart: (Levav) – The seat of intellect, emotion, and will. "Uncircumcised in heart" refers to a spiritual state of impurity, disobedience, and alienation from God, often associated with stubbornness. This is a metaphorical extension of the physical circumcision.
- or uncircumcised: (Uvelo') – A repetition reinforcing the inclusion of both physical and spiritual states.
- in flesh: (Basar) – The physical body. Refers to the literal lack of circumcision.
- shall enter: (Yavo') – Future tense, indicating prohibition of entry.
- my sanctuary: (Miqdashî) – Refers to the holy place, the innermost parts of the temple complex.
- not even: (Ve’ôd) – Intensifies the exclusion, meaning "not even" or "additionally not."
- any foreigner: (Kol Nekharî) – Broadens the prohibition to encompass all non-Israelites.
- who is among: (Hayasher) – One residing with or within the community.
- the people of Israel: (Bnei Yisrael) – The chosen nation.
Words Group Analysis
- "uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh": This dual expression highlights that both outward ritual status (physical circumcision) and inward spiritual disposition (circumcision of the heart, meaning openness to God and obedience) are required for full access to God's presence in this restored sanctuary. This mirrors prophetic calls for genuine repentance and adherence to God's commands, not merely outward observance.
- "No foreigner...shall enter...not even any foreigner who is among the people of Israel": This phrasing emphasizes the strictness of the boundary. Even foreigners who have integrated into Israelite society or live among them are barred if they do not meet these purity requirements, underscoring the paramount importance of holiness in approaching God.
Ezekiel 44 9 Bonus Section
This verse is particularly significant because it addresses the concept of boundary maintenance for God's sanctuary. While the Mosaic Law had specific provisions for foreigners participating in Israelite life, this prophetic vision intensifies the standard for the restored order. It speaks to the unchanging holiness of God and the deep separation between the sacred and the profane. Furthermore, it sets a precedent for a future inclusivity, as seen in Isaiah 56:6-7, where foreigners who commit themselves to the LORD and keep His covenant are welcomed. The ultimate fulfillment of this divine desire for an accessible, yet holy, presence is realized in Jesus Christ, through whom all believers, regardless of their former status, can enter the true sanctuary of God's presence.
Ezekiel 44 9 Commentary
Ezekiel 44:9 emphasizes a critical principle in approaching God: purity. The vision of the restored temple reinforces that God’s presence demands holiness, and no impurity, whether physical or spiritual, can enter His holy dwelling. The requirement for both physical and "heart" circumcision points to the need for a comprehensive submission to God. This isn't merely a legalistic requirement for a future age; it reflects a timeless truth echoed in both the Old and New Testaments.
While physical circumcision was a sign for Israel, the New Testament reveals that true inclusion and access to God’s presence come through spiritual transformation in Christ. Believers, both Jew and Gentile, are "circumcised with a circumcision made by hands" in a spiritual sense when they receive Christ, signifying a putting away of the flesh and its desires (Col 2:11). The prophetic yearning for a pure sanctuary is ultimately fulfilled in the church, the body of Christ, where all believers are made holy through Him, and in the ultimate "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor 5:1). Even for Gentiles who joined Israel, a path was open through obedience and covenant adherence, pointing towards the inclusive nature of God's plan through faith.