Ezekiel 45 12

Ezekiel 45:12 kjv

And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.

Ezekiel 45:12 nkjv

The shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels shall be your mina.

Ezekiel 45:12 niv

The shekel is to consist of twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels equal one mina.

Ezekiel 45:12 esv

The shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels shall be your mina.

Ezekiel 45:12 nlt

The standard unit for weight will be the silver shekel. One shekel will consist of twenty gerahs, and sixty shekels will be equal to one mina.

Ezekiel 45 verses

Ezekiel 45 12 meaning

Ezekiel 45:12 establishes divinely ordained, precise standards for weights and measures in the visionary temple community. It defines the foundational units: a shekel is twenty gerahs. More notably, it specifies the maneh (mina) as sixty shekels, calculated by the sum of twenty, twenty-five, and fifteen shekels. This system undergirds fair economic transactions and righteous administration of offerings, preventing injustice and ensuring integrity within the covenant community.

Ezekiel 45 12 Context

Ezekiel chapter 45 is part of the extensive vision of a new temple and the reorganized land and worship in future Israel, stretching from chapters 40-48. This section (Eze 45:9-12) lays down regulations for the "prince" and the people, particularly focusing on just administration, righteousness, and honest dealings in commercial and sacred transactions. It specifically commands the establishment of "just balances, a just ephah, and a just bath" (Eze 45:10), leading directly to the precise definitions of weight units in verse 12. Historically, in ancient Near Eastern societies, dishonest weights and measures were a pervasive form of economic exploitation and injustice. Ezekiel's meticulous detail regarding these standards represents a direct polemic against the rampant corruption and fraud that characterized pre-exilic Israel, a sin frequently condemned by the prophets as a sign of their spiritual decay and a cause for divine judgment. These rules enforce integrity, order, and social justice as foundational elements of the rebuilt, righteous community.

Ezekiel 45 12 Word analysis

• And the shekel (וְהַשֶּׁקֶל – vəhaš·šeqel):
  • Shekel (שֶׁקֶל – sheqel): A fundamental unit of weight and currency throughout the ancient Near East, signifying "to weigh." It was essential for all commerce, payments, and offerings. Its standard definition here sets a precise economic foundation.
• shall be twenty gerahs; (עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה – ʿesrîm gērāh):
  • Twenty (עֶשְׂרִים – ʿesrîm): A definite numerical standard, eliminating ambiguity.
  • Gerah (גֵּרָה – gerah): The smallest unit of weight mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, equivalent to 1/20th of a shekel (Exod 30:13; Lev 27:25; Num 3:47). Ezekiel confirms this standard unit, reinforcing its common biblical value for consistency.
• twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, (חֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁקֶל חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת חֲמִשִּׁים – this KJV interpretation is challenging based on the Masoretic Text (MT) which more commonly rendered as 20 + 25 + 15):
  • Most reliable Hebrew texts read ʿesrîm šeqel, ʿesrîm-wə-ḥǎmiššâ šeqel, ʿasārâ-wə-ḥǎmiššâ šeqel directly translated as "twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, fifteen shekels." This is not a description of multiple kinds of shekels but three specific numerical values meant to be summed. The precision here is paramount, dictating exact calculation for the larger unit.
• shall be your maneh. (תִּהְיֶה מָנֶה – tih·yeh mâneh):
  • Maneh (מָנֶה – maneh): Also known as a "mina." A larger unit of weight and value. While often accepted as 50 shekels in some ancient systems (Babylonian/Mesopotamian, see Luke 19:13 in Greek mna), Ezekiel explicitly redefines it here as 60 shekels (20 + 25 + 15 = 60). This specific, divinely mandated value sets it apart. The word maneh means "portion" or "to count/allot."
  • Your (לָכֶם – lāḵem): "Your" or "for you." This personal possessive suffix implies that this precise standard is established for the people and prince in the restored community, emphasizing divine ownership and accountability. It's their required standard.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs": This phrase firmly establishes the most fundamental conversion rate. It's not a suggestion but a prescriptive law. This precise definition eliminates any possibility of manipulating the smallest units for gain or loss, foundational for honest dealings.
• "twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh": This highly specific and unusual calculation of the maneh as 60 shekels (20+25+15) is central to the verse. Instead of merely stating "your maneh shall be sixty shekels," the breaking down of the sum into three parts emphasizes exactitude and divine origin. It underscores a meticulously designed system. The sum of 60 might carry symbolic weight related to completeness or divine ordering, being distinct from common secular weights, emphasizing that the new temple's economy is distinct and God-ordained.

Ezekiel 45 12 Bonus section

The specific value of a maneh as sixty shekels in Ezekiel is distinct from the more common Babylonian maneh, which was typically fifty shekels. This deliberate variation signifies God's absolute sovereignty and independence in establishing standards for His covenant community, rather than merely adopting prevailing secular norms. The number 60, a product of 10 and 6, or 12 and 5, often carries connotations of completeness, a structured divine order, or even perfection in some ancient systems, potentially reflecting the comprehensive and divine nature of the new temple economy. Some scholars suggest that the breakdown into 20+25+15 shekels might symbolically hint at different forms of temple tribute or specific sacred purposes within the vision, further elevating these weights beyond mere commercial utility to a sacred system. It also shows a proactive prevention of exploitation in contrast to past injustices where altering weights benefited the powerful at the expense of the weak.

Ezekiel 45 12 Commentary

Ezekiel 45:12, embedded in the regulations for the future temple, moves beyond merely prescribing ritual into the ethical bedrock of God's desired community. The detailed definition of weights and measures, down to the gerah and a specially calculated maneh of 60 shekels, is not a dry technicality but a profound statement about divine order, justice, and integrity. God detests economic dishonesty because it victimizes the vulnerable and corrupts society's foundations. By instituting precise, unchangeable standards, Ezekiel's vision eradicates the kind of fraudulent practices that previously earned Israel divine judgment (Amos 8:5). This reflects God's character: accurate, just, and establishing order over chaos. It ensures fair transactions, particularly concerning offerings to God and payments between individuals, reflecting the righteousness expected of the covenant people. It mandates ethical practice in every economic interaction as an outflow of true worship and allegiance to the Almighty.