Ezekiel 46:23 kjv
And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about.
Ezekiel 46:23 nkjv
There was a row of building stones all around in them, all around the four of them; and cooking hearths were made under the rows of stones all around.
Ezekiel 46:23 niv
Around the inside of each of the four courts was a ledge of stone, with places for fire built all around under the ledge.
Ezekiel 46:23 esv
On the inside, around each of the four courts was a row of masonry, with hearths made at the bottom of the rows all around.
Ezekiel 46:23 nlt
Along the inside of these walls was a ledge of stone with fireplaces under the ledge all the way around.
Ezekiel 46 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 44:3 | "...but the prince may sit in it to eat bread in the presence of the LORD." | Prince's access to sanctuary |
| Lev 6:16 | "And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the sin offering..." | Priestly portions of offerings |
| Lev 7:31 | "The breast that is waved and the thigh that is raised, the priest shall eat, in a clean place..." | Specific offerings for priests |
| Num 18:10 | "This is yours: the most holy offering from the grain offerings..." | Levite portions of offerings |
| Deut 18:3 | "And this shall be the payment to the priests from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice..." | Levitical dues from Israel |
| 1 Chron 9:33 | "And the chiefs of the fathers of the Levites for the musicians dwelt in the chambers of the Temple..." | Levites' role in Temple service |
| 2 Chron 23:18 | "Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites..." | Order of service in Judah |
| 1 Kings 8:63 | "And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep..." | Royal participation in worship |
| Ps 84:10 | "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold..." | Desire for proximity to God's house |
| Is 49:23 | "Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers." | Royal recognition of God's people |
| Is 60:10 | "Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you..." | Gentile kings serving Israel |
| Mal 1:8 | "When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not evil?" | Proper offerings expected |
| Luke 1:9 | "...according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense." | Priestly duties |
| John 4:21-23 | "Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father...'" | True worship transcends location |
| Acts 4:27 | "Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel..." | Princes/rulers involved in Messiah's ministry |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood..." | Believers as a royal priesthood |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | Universal priesthood of believers |
| Rev 1:6 | "and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father..." | Christ's followers as priests |
| Rev 7:15 | "Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple." | Eternal service to God |
| Rev 19:16 | "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." | Christ's ultimate authority |
| Rev 20:4 | "...they had been given authority to judge. They saw the souls of those beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God..." | Saints reigning with Christ |
| Rev 21:24 | "And the nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it." | Nations and kings entering New Jerusalem |
Ezekiel 46 verses
Ezekiel 46 23 Meaning
The Lord declares that the princes shall have their portion of the Lord's offerings on the "great day," signifying a place of honor and privilege for them in worship. This offering is presented at the threshold of the north gate of the outer court, indicating a designated and ordered approach to divine service.
Ezekiel 46 23 Context
Ezekiel 46 is part of Ezekiel's visionary account of a future Temple. The preceding verses detail offerings and specific instructions for the prince and the people regarding their worship. This particular verse, 46:23, concludes a section that elaborates on how portions of the sacrificial meals were to be prepared and where they were to be eaten by the princes. This is within the context of a restored Israel, where proper order and a dedicated space for worship are re-established after the devastation of the earlier chapters. The vision emphasizes continuity with Mosaic Law while projecting into a future, renewed covenant reality. The princes are given a place in this divinely ordained system, reflecting their role in the leadership and ongoing religious life of the community.
Ezekiel 46 23 Word Analysis
- וְכִּי (vechi): "And if" or "And it shall be". Connects this verse to the preceding stipulations.
- יִהְיֶה (yihiyeh): "will be". Future tense, indicating a condition and its outcome.
- עֹלַת (olah): "burnt offering". Specifically referring to the grain offering part associated with the offerings.
- צִוָּה (tzivvah): "commanded". Emphasizes the divine origin of these regulations.
- מִן (min): "from". Indicates the source or a portion taken from.
- בְּקָרְבַּנות (bekarbanot): "in the offerings" or "from the offerings". Plural, suggesting various offerings.
- תָּמִיד (tamid): "continually" or "regularly". Highlights the ongoing nature of these duties.
- וְאֹכְל (ve'okhel): "and food" or "and eat". Refers to the portion allocated for consumption.
- בַּחֲצֵר (bachatzer): "in the court" or "in the courtyard". Specifies the location where the eating would take place.
- הַחִיצֹנָה (hachitzonah): "the outer". Denotes the specific courtyard in the Temple complex.
- תַּמִיד (tamid): "continually" or "always". Reinforces the recurring aspect.
- חָצֵר (chotzer): "court". Used again, emphasizing the location.
- סָבִיב (saviv): "around" or "round about". Suggests the layout or a comprehensive area.
- נָשִׂיא (nasi): "prince". Refers to the leader.
- נַחֲלָתוֹ (nachalato): "his portion" or "his inheritance". Signifies a designated entitlement.
- קָדְשֵׁי (kadshei): "holy offerings" or "consecrated things". Highlights the sacred nature of the food.
- קֳדָשִׁים (kodashim): "holy things". Further emphasizes the sacredness.
Words-Group Analysis
- "of the burnt offering of the continual offering": This phrase refers to a specific type of offering that was prescribed to be offered regularly. The inclusion of "continual" highlights the importance of consistent and daily worship.
- "the princes shall have their portion of food": This establishes a specific entitlement for the leaders within the worship system. Their role involves participation and reception of consecrated provisions.
- "in the outer court": This denotes the location for consuming these portions. It is a designated area within the Temple complex, underscoring the structured nature of worship.
- "his portion, the holy things of holy things": This emphasizes the supreme sacredness of what is allocated to the princes. It signifies not just food, but a consecrated element, "holy of holies," underscoring their special, though regulated, access and responsibility.
Ezekiel 46 23 Bonus Section
The concept of "princes" and their portion in the sacrifices can be seen as a prefigurement of the reign of Christ and the spiritual privileges of believers who reign with Him. In the New Testament, the "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9) has access to the "holy things" of God through Christ, not as a physical portion of food, but as spiritual nourishment and fellowship with God. The outward form of the Temple worship described in Ezekiel ultimately finds its antitype in the spiritual realities of the Church and Christ's ongoing heavenly ministry. The placement in the "outer court" could symbolize the accessibility of God's blessings in a physical, earthly sphere, whereas a higher level of communion, not explicitly detailed here, might be associated with the inner sanctuary. The unwavering consistency implied by "continually" ("tamid") resonates with the unchanging faithfulness of God and the believer's perpetual access to His grace through Christ's finished work.
Ezekiel 46 23 Commentary
This verse illustrates a future restored worship order where specific provisions are made for the governing leadership. The "prince," likely a ruler who honors God's laws, has a divinely ordained portion in the offerings. This entitlement is to be consumed within the designated "outer court," ensuring that sacred meals remain within consecrated precincts. The description "holy things of holy things" emphasizes the utmost sacredness and honor afforded to these portions, reflecting the spiritual responsibility and privilege of leadership in God's kingdom. This highlights a principle of provision and place for leaders in worship, integrated within God's ordered plan, even as it points towards the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is both the perfect sacrifice and the access to God for all believers.