Ezekiel 46:1 kjv
Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Ezekiel 46:1 nkjv
'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.
Ezekiel 46:1 niv
"?'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be opened.
Ezekiel 46:1 esv
"Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Ezekiel 46:1 nlt
"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The east gateway of the inner courtyard will be closed during the six workdays each week, but it will be open on Sabbath days and the days of new moon celebrations.
Ezekiel 46 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 46:1 | "...the gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be opened..." | Holy place of worship |
| Exodus 29:38 | "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar continually..." | Continuous sacrifices |
| Leviticus 1 | Instructions for burnt offerings | Priestly duties |
| Leviticus 2 | Instructions for grain offerings | Worship and provision |
| Numbers 28:2 | Commands for daily offerings | God's prescribed worship |
| 2 Chronicles 8:14 | Solomon appointed duties according to the command of David his father | Order in worship |
| 2 Chronicles 13:10 | God's sanctuary is a place of service | Role of Levitical priests |
| Psalm 96:8 | "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering..." | Proper worship of God |
| Isaiah 1:11 | "What are your multiplying sacrifices to Me?" saith the LORD..." | Sincere worship over empty rituals |
| Jeremiah 7:21 | "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?" | Hypocrisy in worship |
| Malachi 1:11 | "For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my name shall be great..." | Universality of worship |
| Matthew 12:6 | "But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here." | Jesus as greater than the temple |
| John 4:23 | "But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth..." | Spiritual worship |
| Acts 17:25 | "He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything..." | God's self-sufficiency |
| Hebrews 9:11 | "But Christ came as a high priest of the good things to come..." | Christ's high priesthood |
| Hebrews 10:10 | "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." | Christ's atoning sacrifice |
| 1 Peter 2:5 | "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house..." | Believers as spiritual priests |
| Revelation 4:8 | "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!" | Heavenly worship |
| Revelation 7:15 | "Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple..." | Eternal service in God's presence |
| Revelation 21:22 | "And I saw no temple in it, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." | The ultimate dwelling place of God |
| Ezekiel 43:27 | "At the end of these days the bullocks shall be offered on the altar by the eighth day and onward..." | Restoration of sacrifices |
Ezekiel 46 verses
Ezekiel 46 1 Meaning
The verse describes a specific regulation concerning offerings brought by the prince. It details that when the prince offers a burnt offering or a grain offering to the Lord, the gate of the inner court facing east shall be opened for him, and he shall offer his burnt offering and his grain offering as is customary. The emphasis is on maintaining the established order of worship and acknowledging the prince's role in presenting these sacrifices.
Ezekiel 46 1 Context
Ezekiel 46 is part of Ezekiel's visionary account of the restored Temple and its worship. The prophet has been shown the detailed specifications of a future Temple, emphasizing God's presence returning to His people. This chapter specifically addresses the regulations for the prince's worship, the Sabbath and New Moon festivals, and the communal offerings. Verse 1 sets the stage for these regulations by focusing on the prince's personal sacrifices, highlighting his unique access during the prescribed times of worship, particularly through the east gate, which is symbolic of God's presence. The historical context is crucial as Ezekiel is prophesying during the Babylonian exile, offering hope for future restoration.
Ezekiel 46 1 Word Analysis
And it shall be (wə·hā·yâ): Connects this regulation to previous or subsequent ones, indicating continuity in God's design for worship.
when (kî-): Introduces a condition or occasion for the action that follows.
the prince (ha·nā·śî’): Refers to a ruler or leader, in this context, likely a restored Davidic monarch or a designated representative leader in the renewed worship order.
shall offer (yā·‘ō·lē·ḇ): A future tense verb, indicating an action to be performed in the context of the described future system.
a burnt offering (‘ō·lā·h): A sacrifice wholly consumed by fire, signifying complete dedication to God.
or (’ō): Presents an alternative offering.
a grain offering (min·ḥâ): An offering of food, usually unleavened cakes or flour, symbolizing gratitude, praise, and reliance on God.
to the LORD (lə·YHWH): Directly identifies the recipient of the offering as God (Yahweh).
the gate (hā·šā·‘ar): A passageway, here specifically a gate to the inner court.
of the inner court (qĕ·rû·ḇîm): The most sacred area of the sanctuary, accessible to priests and the prince.
that looks toward the east (ha·pə·nê·’ā·h ’ĕ·lê·hâ ’a·dō·nā·wā ‘ā·ḥîr): Specifies the orientation of the gate, the direction from which God's glory manifested.
shall be opened (yī·p̄a·ṯē·ḥ): In the future tense, indicating it will be opened for this purpose.
and he (wə·hû’): Refers back to the prince.
shall offer (yā·‘ō·lē·ḇ): Repeat of the verb for offering.
his burnt offering (‘ō·lā·tō): The prince’s personal burnt offering.
his grain offering (wə·mîn·ḥa·tō): The prince’s personal grain offering.
as (ka’ătîšer): In the manner, or according to the custom.
he does (ya‘ă·śêh): Refers to the practice or custom of offering.
on the Sabbath (bay·yō·w·mîh): On the Sabbath day, a day of rest and special worship.
he shall do (ya‘ă·śî·ṯê·nû): The prince shall perform this action.
Grouped Analysis:
- "when the prince shall offer... or a grain offering": This phrase establishes the specific condition under which the east gate is opened for the prince. It highlights the prince's official role in bringing prescribed sacrifices.
- "the gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be opened": This specifies the access point for the prince during his offerings, linking it to the eastern orientation, which is deeply significant in Ezekiel's vision, often associated with the glory of God.
- "and he shall offer his burnt offering and his grain offering as he does on the Sabbath": This reinforces the regularity and proper procedure of worship for the prince, likening his action to what is done on the Sabbath, indicating a structured and devout observance.
Ezekiel 46 1 Bonus Section
The eastern gate's significance echoes earlier references in Ezekiel where God's glory departed from the east gate (Ezekiel 10:18-19) and is prophesied to return through it (Ezekiel 43:2-4). The prince's ability to enter and offer sacrifices through this same gate symbolizes his direct involvement in and stewardship of God's returned presence. This specific provision also subtly contrasts with the restrictions on the common people, emphasizing the hierarchical structure of worship in the envisioned Temple, though ultimately all worship is directed to the LORD. The inclusion of "as he does on the Sabbath" points to the principle that even special occasions or royal privileges should be governed by the established sacred calendar and practices.
Ezekiel 46 1 Commentary
This verse details a crucial aspect of the prince's worship in the restored Temple system described by Ezekiel. The opening of the east gate for him signifies a special privilege, acknowledging his leadership role in mediating communal worship and maintaining its purity. The east gate is consistently linked in Ezekiel’s visions to the divine presence and the coming glory of God. Therefore, the prince's access through this gate for his regular burnt and grain offerings underscores that his worship is intended to align with and prepare for God's own manifest presence. The comparison to Sabbath observances highlights the consistent and devout nature of the prince's offerings, demonstrating his commitment to God's ordained order of worship. This provision for the prince anticipates a restored theocracy where righteous leadership actively participates in and facilitates public devotion.