Ezekiel 46 6

Ezekiel 46:6 kjv

And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.

Ezekiel 46:6 nkjv

On the day of the New Moon it shall be a young bull without blemish, six lambs, and a ram; they shall be without blemish.

Ezekiel 46:6 niv

On the day of the New Moon he is to offer a young bull, six lambs and a ram, all without defect.

Ezekiel 46:6 esv

On the day of the new moon he shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish, and six lambs and a ram, which shall be without blemish.

Ezekiel 46:6 nlt

At the new moon celebrations, he will bring one young bull, six lambs, and one ram, all with no defects.

Ezekiel 46 verses

Ezekiel 46 6 meaning

Ezekiel 46:6 describes specific sacrificial animals prescribed for the observance of the Day of the New Moon in the visionary temple, offered by the prince. It specifies "a young bull without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram; they shall be without blemish." This verse outlines part of the cultic regulations for the restored worship of God, emphasizing the required purity and integrity of the sacrifices to maintain holiness in the Lord's presence.

Ezekiel 46 6 Context

Ezekiel 46:6 is situated within Ezekiel's elaborate vision of the future temple and its sacrificial system (chapters 40-48). This section details the functions and offerings associated with the various temple areas and festivals. Specifically, chapter 46 outlines the rituals for the Sabbath, New Moons, and daily sacrifices performed by or through the prince (the leader of the restored community, distinct from the Davidic kings and the Levitical priesthood). This particular verse provides the precise animals for the "Day of the New Moon" offering. Historically, this vision comes after the destruction of the first temple and during the Babylonian exile, offering a divine blueprint for future worship and restoration, emphasizing purity, order, and renewed covenant faithfulness following a period of judgment and disobedience. It establishes the proper way for a restored Israel to worship God in a state of holiness.

Ezekiel 46 6 Word analysis

• And on the day of the New Moon (וּבְיוֹם הַחֹדֶשׁ - uveyom hakhodesh):
  • וּבְיוֹם (uveyom) - "And on the day of". Marks a specific calendrical observance, a time for distinct sacred activities. The prefixed "וּ" (u) means "and," connecting this to prior instructions. "Day" signifies the whole period, not just an instant.
  • הַחֹדֶשׁ (hakhodesh) - "the New Moon," "the month." Refers to Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of each lunar month, a significant holy day in ancient Israelite religious life. It served as a spiritual marker, signaling a fresh start and a renewed cycle of worship, often associated with feasting and rest in addition to specific sacrifices. Its observance is found throughout the Law (Num 10:10; 28:11-15) and prophetic literature.
• it shall be: Indicates a divine imperative and a prescribed ordinance. This is a non-negotiable instruction for the future temple practice, emphasizing the fixed nature of God's commands for worship.
• a young bull (פַּר בֶּן בָּקָר - par ben baqar):
  • פַּר (par) - "bull" or "heifer," typically referring to a young male bovide. A substantial, valuable offering.
  • בֶּן בָּקָר (ben baqar) - literally "son of cattle," intensifying "young." This specific term clarifies it's a calf or young bull. Bull sacrifices often represented strength and were used for serious offerings like sin offerings for the entire community or for a priest (Lev 4:3-4).
• without blemish (תָּמִים - tamim):
  • תָּמִים (tamim) - means "whole," "complete," "sound," "perfect," "blameless." This is a crucial requirement for all sacrifices. It signifies physical perfection, moral integrity (in people), and ritual purity, indicating that only the best, untainted offering is acceptable to a holy God. This purity requirement foreshadows Christ's perfect, unblemished sacrifice (1 Pet 1:19).
• and six lambs:
  • וְשִׁשָּׁה כְבָשִׂים (veshishah khevasim) - "and six lambs." Lambs (kevasim) were common sacrificial animals, typically representing purity and innocence, often used for burnt offerings, peace offerings, and sin offerings for individuals. The number "six" here is notable, differing from the "seven lambs" typically prescribed in the Mosaic law for New Moons (Num 28:11). This numerical variation in Ezekiel's temple vision suggests a deliberate, perhaps eschatological, distinction or modification to the cultic ordinances for the new age.
• and a ram:
  • וְאַיִל (ve'ayil) - "and a ram." A ram (ayil) is a male sheep. Rams were also significant in Israelite sacrifices, used for burnt offerings, peace offerings, and sometimes for consecration (Lev 8:18). Its inclusion alongside the bull and lambs provides a broader spectrum of offerings, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of the New Moon sacrifice.
• they shall be without blemish:
  • תְּמִימִם יִהְיוּ (temimim yihyu) - "they shall be whole/perfect/blameless." This reiterates the strict requirement of tamim not just for the bull, but for all the animals offered: the lambs and the ram. This collective emphasis underscores the absolute necessity of sacrificial purity as central to God-honoring worship.

Ezekiel 46 6 Bonus section

The designation of these specific offerings as being presented by "the prince" (mentioned earlier in Ezek 45:17 and in the immediate context of chapter 46) is highly significant. This "prince" is not merely a secular ruler, but a figure integral to the liturgical life of the restored community, ensuring the maintenance of proper worship. He provides the animals, while the priests offer them, illustrating a divinely ordered leadership structure. The distinction in the number of lambs (six instead of seven as in Num 28:11) implies a unique blueprint for this eschatological temple, rather than a mere replica of the Mosaic Law. This subtle difference often prompts scholarly debate on whether Ezekiel's temple is a literal future structure, a symbolic representation of spiritual truths, or an idealized program for the post-exilic community that was never fully realized. The consistent demand for "without blemish" across all animal types in the verse unifies the sacrificial requirement under one overarching principle of purity.

Ezekiel 46 6 Commentary

Ezekiel 46:6, a verse rich in ritual detail, serves as a divine decree for the sacrifices associated with the Day of the New Moon in the future temple vision. The specifics—a young bull, six lambs, and a ram, all "without blemish"—highlight the precise and ordered nature of worship required in God's restored kingdom. The careful selection and blemish-free status of the animals emphasize purity, holiness, and the offering of one's absolute best to God. This vision, given during Israel's exile, points to a future restoration of proper worship where the sanctity of the temple and its services is paramount, rectifying the past compromises that led to God's judgment. While differing slightly in quantity from the Mosaic New Moon sacrifices (e.g., six lambs vs. seven), these variations suggest either an adaptation for the new covenantal era or a symbolic significance related to a renewed theological understanding. Ultimately, these prescribed offerings anticipate the ultimate perfect and spotless sacrifice of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:19), who fulfills and transcends all Old Testament rituals, making a permanent way for man to be made pure before God.