Ezekiel 45 11

Ezekiel 45:11 kjv

The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.

Ezekiel 45:11 nkjv

The ephah and the bath shall be of the same measure, so that the bath contains one-tenth of a homer, and the ephah one-tenth of a homer; their measure shall be according to the homer.

Ezekiel 45:11 niv

The ephah and the bath are to be the same size, the bath containing a tenth of a homer and the ephah a tenth of a homer; the homer is to be the standard measure for both.

Ezekiel 45:11 esv

The ephah and the bath shall be of the same measure, the bath containing one tenth of a homer, and the ephah one tenth of a homer; the homer shall be the standard measure.

Ezekiel 45:11 nlt

The homer will be your standard unit for measuring volume. The ephah and the bath will each measure one-tenth of a homer.

Ezekiel 45 verses

Ezekiel 45 11 meaning

Ezekiel 45:11 commands that the "ephah," a dry measure, and the "bath," a liquid measure, must be of identical capacity. Specifically, each of these measures is to equal a tenth of a "homer," which serves as the established standard. This decree ensures precise and fair commercial practices for both goods and liquids within the renewed covenant community, reflecting God's demand for integrity and justice in all economic dealings. It underscores that God's standards for righteousness extend to everyday transactions, preventing exploitation and promoting equity.

Ezekiel 45 11 Context

Ezekiel 45:11 is found within a detailed section (Ezekiel 40-48) describing the prophet's vision of a restored temple, land, and governance after the Babylonian exile. This vision outlines an idealized future where Israel will live in righteousness and covenant fidelity. Chapter 45 specifically focuses on the sacred contributions for the temple, the designated territory for the prince, and the prince's responsibilities, including sacrificial offerings. The commands for honest weights and measures (verses 10-12) are embedded directly into these regulations concerning land division, sacrifices, and the administration of the new, holy society.

Historically and culturally, the ancient Near East, including Israel, frequently faced issues of commercial dishonesty. Merchants would often use false weights and varying measures to exploit customers, particularly the poor and vulnerable. Such practices were a persistent ethical problem that prophets routinely condemned as an affront to God's justice and an act of oppression. By establishing clear and divinely ordained standards for the ephah and bath, Ezekiel's vision sets a fundamental requirement for a just economic system, emphasizing that true worship and a righteous community must be built on integrity, extending from the most sacred temple rituals to the most common marketplace transactions.

Ezekiel 45 11 Word analysis

• The ephah (אֵיפָה, ʾēyp̄āh):
  • Word: Refers to a specific dry measure in ancient Israel, primarily for grain.
  • Significance: Represents fairness in transactions involving staple goods crucial for survival.
• and the bath (בַּת, bat):
  • Word: Refers to a specific liquid measure, typically for oil or wine.
  • Significance: Represents fairness in transactions involving liquids, equally vital commodities.
• are to be:
  • Significance: Expresses a divine command or mandate, indicating an unchangeable standard. Not a suggestion, but a requirement.
• the same size:
  • Significance: Stipulates an exact equality between two previously distinct units. This uniformity is key to preventing manipulation.
• so that:
  • Significance: Introduces the purpose or consequence of the preceding command. It explains why the measures must be the same size.
• the bath will contain:
  • Significance: Establishes the specific capacity of the liquid measure.
• a tenth of a homer (חֹמֶר, ḥōmer):
  • Word: The "homer" was a larger unit of measure, often equivalent to about 220 liters or a donkey's load. "A tenth of a homer" defines the precise standard.
  • Significance: Provides an absolute, universally understood benchmark for capacity, preventing arbitrary setting of measures.
• and the ephah a tenth of a homer:
  • Significance: Reiterates and explicitly confirms that the dry measure must conform to the identical standard, reinforcing the unity of measurement.

Words-group analysis

• "The ephah and the bath": This pairing directly addresses both primary categories of commerce—dry goods (like grain) and liquids (like oil or wine). By linking them, God shows His concern for justice across all basic economic activities essential for life.
• "are to be the same size": This phrase establishes the central principle: perfect equality. It means there is one fixed standard that applies impartially to all, eliminating the possibility of different, deceptive measures for buying and selling.
• "so that the bath will contain a tenth of a homer and the ephah a tenth of a homer": This entire clause precisely defines the shared standard. It eliminates any ambiguity by pegging both units to an exact fraction of a larger, well-known measure, thereby concretely implementing the command for "same size" with a specific, divinely established reference point.

Ezekiel 45 11 Bonus section

The specific setting of "a tenth of a homer" for both the ephah and bath also bears significance. The number "ten" in biblical numerology often symbolizes completeness or divine order, implying that this standard is perfect and divinely instituted. Furthermore, the regulation of measures, occurring before many detailed instructions regarding offerings and feasts for the prince, subtly indicates that economic integrity forms a foundational ethical prerequisite for acceptable worship and communal flourishing in the ideal kingdom. Dishonesty in the marketplace undermines the very basis for true worship and communal holiness, hence its early placement and clear emphasis.

Ezekiel 45 11 Commentary

Ezekiel 45:11, though appearing as a mundane regulation of weights and measures, reveals a profound theological truth about God's character and the nature of a righteous society. This verse, along with the preceding one, asserts divine authority over commerce, moving it beyond mere human convention into the realm of sacred covenant. By stipulating that the dry ephah and liquid bath must be identical in size, fixed at precisely one-tenth of a homer, God establishes a unified, unalterable standard of fairness. This isn't just about cubic inches or liters; it's about justice, integrity, and preventing economic exploitation. In a society where merchants frequently cheated by having one measure to buy and a smaller one to sell, or by manipulating scales, this command is a powerful polemic against such dishonesty.

God demands that the physical act of measurement reflect spiritual purity and moral rectitude. Justice is not reserved only for legal courts or temple rituals; it permeates the marketplace, ensuring that every transaction between neighbors reflects love and truth, rather than greed and deceit. The standardization ensures transparency and accountability for all—both buyers and sellers—protecting the vulnerable from the unscrupulous. For the restored community, adhering to these honest measures would be a tangible expression of their devotion to a just God and their commitment to build a society aligned with His divine principles. It exemplifies how everyday obedience in seemingly small matters is integral to collective holiness and blessing, echoing principles of trustworthiness and stewardship that resonate throughout both testaments.