Ezekiel 45 21

Ezekiel 45:21 kjv

In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.

Ezekiel 45:21 nkjv

"In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.

Ezekiel 45:21 niv

"?'In the first month on the fourteenth day you are to observe the Passover, a festival lasting seven days, during which you shall eat bread made without yeast.

Ezekiel 45:21 esv

"In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall celebrate the Feast of the Passover, and for seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten.

Ezekiel 45:21 nlt

"On the fourteenth day of the first month, you must celebrate the Passover. This festival will last for seven days. The bread you eat during that time must be made without yeast.

Ezekiel 45 verses

Ezekiel 45 21 meaning

This verse, embedded within Ezekiel's detailed vision of a future temple and restored Israel, outlines the specific commandment for the observance of the Passover feast. It mandates the celebration of this pivotal seven-day festival, beginning on the fourteenth day of the first month, and emphasizes the eating of unleavened bread, aligning with its original divine institution. Its inclusion signifies the continuation of key covenant rituals within the eschatological age, centering future worship on God's historical deliverance and His ongoing provision and atonement.

Ezekiel 45 21 Context

Ezekiel 45 is part of a grand visionary section (chapters 40-48) detailing a meticulously ordered new temple, its priesthood, rituals, and the future allocation of land in a restored, idealized Israel. This vision follows the prophet's account of Israel's prior idolatry, temple desecration, and subsequent exile, serving as God's promise of complete restoration and purification. Chapter 45 specifically outlines sacred land divisions, the prince's portion, and precise regulations for temple offerings, weights, measures, and major feasts. The re-institution of the Passover within these new, detailed laws signifies its foundational and enduring importance as a central act of worship and remembrance in this divinely ordered future. It emphasizes a return to unwavering faithfulness in observing God's covenants, portraying a perfectly restored relationship between God and His people in an eschatological age.

Ezekiel 45 21 Word analysis

• On the fourteenth day: (בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם - bə'arba'ah 'asar yōm) This exact timing explicitly links the future observance to the ancient command (Exod 12:6), establishing direct continuity with the Passover's original institution, commemorating the eve of the Exodus.
• of the first month: (בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן - baḥōdeš hārīšôn) Refers to Nisan (or Abib), divinely designated as the "beginning of months" (Exod 12:2) for Israel's religious calendar, aligning it with agricultural and spiritual significance.
• you shall have: (תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם - tihye lâḵem) An imperative verbal form, conveying a clear divine directive for the "prince" (as indicated by the surrounding context of the chapter) and the people under his authority to establish and observe this feast. It's a command for this feast to exist and be celebrated.
• the Passover: (פֶּסַח - pesaḥ) This term, rooted in "to pass over" or "to exempt," refers to God's act of sparing Israel's firstborn while striking Egypt. It embodies divine judgment, protection, and salvation, historically prefiguring Christ as the ultimate Passover Lamb whose sacrifice provides deliverance from spiritual death (1 Cor 5:7).
• a feast of seven days: (חַג שִׁבְעַת יָמִים - ḥag šiv'at yāmîm) Encompasses the period from the 14th to the 21st of Nisan, integrating the Passover observance with the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exod 12:15). "Feast" (ḥag) often denotes a pilgrimage festival, implying joyous, communal assembly. The seven-day duration signifies completeness and an extended period of consecration.
• unleavened bread: (מַצּוֹת - maṣṣôt, plural of maṣṣâ) Bread made without yeast, originally symbolizing the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt. More profoundly, it represents purity, sincerity, and the removal of "leaven," which Biblically often symbolizes sin or corruption (1 Cor 5:6-8). Its consumption during the feast underscores ongoing sanctification and remembrance of divine liberation.
• shall be eaten: (יֵאָכֵל - yē’āḵēl) A passive verb, emphasizing the commanded necessity of consuming unleavened bread as a mandatory, central component of the feast's observance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "On the fourteenth day of the first month, you shall have the Passover": This phrase directly affirms the perpetual relevance of Israel's foundational redemptive act. It explicitly links future worship practices to the precise timing of God's ancient commands, indicating an enduring covenant commitment in the new temple era.
• "the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten": This succinct grouping connects the primary, singular Passover event (commencing on the 14th) with the extended week-long "Feast of Unleavened Bread" that immediately follows. It underscores both the celebratory nature ("feast") and the indispensable dietary regulation ("unleavened bread"), highlighting continuous remembrance of divine liberation and an ongoing dedication to purity throughout this sacred period.

Ezekiel 45 21 Bonus section

• The Prince's Responsibility: The verses preceding and immediately following Ezekiel 45:21 (v.17 and v.22) place a specific responsibility on the "prince" (נָשִׂיא - nāśî). He is designated to provide the animals for the sin offering, burnt offering, and peace offerings, particularly for the Passover. This highlights a purified and divinely appointed leadership in the future kingdom, distinct from the kings who often failed Israel in the past. The prince's role ensures communal, centralized, and proper worship, supporting the people's observance of God's feasts.
• Symbolic vs. Literal Sacrifices: Within the larger context of Ezekiel 40-48, the mention of animal sacrifices in the future temple, including those for Passover, leads to various theological interpretations. Many scholars view these sacrifices as either literal, but purely commemorative offerings in the millennial kingdom (looking back to Christ's complete atoning work), or highly symbolic representations of the perfect worship and dedication brought to God in a restored covenant relationship. They serve to illustrate a return to the full form of Mosaic ritual as a teaching example of holiness and reconciliation with God.
• Emblem of Sanctification: The repeated emphasis on "unleavened bread" is more than just a historical reminder. In this prophetic vision, it stands as an enduring emblem of the complete removal of sin and corruption (the "leaven") from the purified community of Israel. It serves as a constant, tangible reminder to live a life of sincerity, truth, and dedication to God, fitting for His presence in the new, holy temple.

Ezekiel 45 21 Commentary

Ezekiel 45:21 reiterates the ancient Passover commandment, not merely as a historical recall, but as a central ordinance for the restored Israel in the future Messianic age. Its re-institution within these specific, ideal temple laws signifies God's immutable covenant with His people and His plan for perfect, undefiled worship, contrasting sharply with the past failures that led to their exile. The meticulous repetition of the "fourteenth day of the first month" and the emphasis on "unleavened bread" directly mirrors the Mosaic Law (Exod 12), underscoring a divine intent for exact adherence and faithful observance. This future Passover, then, functions both as a communal commemoration of God's saving acts in the Exodus and prophetically, within the greater redemptive narrative, as a memorial pointing to the ultimate deliverance accomplished by Christ, our Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). Its inclusion in Ezekiel's vision promises an era of purified spiritual vitality, consecrated living, and a full apprehension of God's divine salvation.