Ezekiel Chapter 46

Commentary

The Prince's Offerings

1Thus 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. 2And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons. 4And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish. 5And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. 6And 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. 7And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah. 8And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof. 9But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it. 10And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth.

11And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. 12Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.

13Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning. 14And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD. 15Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering.

16Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance. 17But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them. 18Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.

Courts for Boiling and Baking

19After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward. 20Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.

21Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court. 22In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure. 23And 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. 24Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Prince’s Offerings

1 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut 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. 2 The prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate outside, and shall stand by the post of the gate; and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3 The people of the land shall worship at the door of that gate before Yahweh on the Sabbaths and on the new moons. 4 The burnt offering that the prince shall offer to Yahweh shall be on the Sabbath day six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish; 5 and the meal offering shall be an ephah for the ram, and the meal offering for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 6 On the day of the new moon it shall be a young bull without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram; they shall be without blemish: 7 and he shall prepare a meal offering, an ephah for the bull, and an ephah for the ram, and for the lambs according as he is able, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 8 When the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of the gate, and he shall go forth by its way. 9 But when the people of the land shall come before Yahweh in the appointed feasts, he who enters by the way of the north gate to worship shall go forth by the way of the south gate; and he who enters by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate by which he came in, but shall go forth straight before him. 10 The prince, when they go in, shall go in with of them; and when they go out, he shall go out.

11 In the feasts and in the solemnities the meal offering shall be an ephah for a bull, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 12 When the prince shall prepare a freewill offering, a burnt offering or peace offerings as a freewill offering to Yahweh, one shall open for him the gate that looks toward the east; and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he does on the Sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.

13 You shall prepare a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering to Yahweh daily: morning by morning you shall prepare it. 14 You shall prepare a meal offering with it morning by morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of a hin of oil, to moisten the fine flour; a meal offering to Yahweh continually by a perpetual ordinance. 15 Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meal offering, and the oil, morning by morning, for a continual burnt offering.

16 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: If the prince give a gift to any of his sons, it is his inheritance, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance. 17 But if he give of his inheritance a gift to one of his servants, it shall be his to the year of liberty; then it shall return to the prince; but as for his inheritance, it shall be for his sons. 18 Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance, to thrust them out of their possession; he shall give inheritance to his sons out of his own possession, that my people not be scattered every man from his possession.

The Courts for Boiling and Baking

19 Then he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy rooms for the priests, which looked toward the north: and behold, there was a place on the hinder part westward. 20 He said to me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the meal offering; that they not bring them forth into the outer court, to sanctify the people.

21 Then he brought me forth into the outer court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and behold, in every corner of the court there was a court. 22 In the four corners of the court there were courts enclosed, forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four in the corners were of one measure. 23 There was a wall around in them, around the four, and boiling places were made under the walls all around. 24 Then he said to me, These are the boiling houses, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.

The Prince’s Offerings

1 “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened. 2 The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost, while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and peace offerings. He is to bow in worship at the threshold of the gate and then depart, but the gate must not be shut until evening. 3 On the Sabbaths and New Moons the people of the land are also to bow in worship before the LORD at the entrance to that gateway.

4 The burnt offering that the prince presents to the LORD on the Sabbath day shall be six unblemished male lambs and an unblemished ram. 5 The grain offering with the ram shall be one ephah, a and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as he is able, along with a hin of oil per ephah. 6 On the day of the New Moon he shall offer a young, unblemished bull, six lambs, and a ram without blemish. 7 He is to provide a grain offering of an ephah with the bull, an ephah with the ram, and as much as he is able with the lambs, along with a hin of oil per ephah. 8 When the prince enters, he shall go in through the portico of the gateway, and he shall go out the same way.

9 When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship must go out by the south gate, and whoever enters by the south gate must go out by the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each must go out by the opposite gate.

10 When the people enter, the prince shall go in with them, and when they leave, he shall leave. 11 At the festivals and appointed feasts, the grain offering shall be an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram, and as much as one is able to give with the lambs, along with a hin of oil per ephah.

12 When the prince makes a freewill offering to the LORD, whether a burnt offering or a peace offering, the gate facing east must be opened for him. He is to offer his burnt offering or peace offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and the gate must be closed after he goes out.

13 And you shall provide an unblemished year-old lamb as a daily burnt offering to the LORD; you are to offer it every morning. 14 You are also to provide with it every morning a grain offering of a sixth of an ephah b with a third of a hin of oil c to moisten the fine flour—a grain offering to the LORD. This is a permanent statute. 15 Thus they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil every morning as a regular burnt offering.’

16 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘If the prince gives a gift to any of his sons as an inheritance, it will belong to his descendants. It will become their property by inheritance. 17 But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it shall be theirs.

18 The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’ ”

The Courts for Boiling and Baking

19 Then the man brought me through the entrance at the side of the gate into the holy chambers facing north, which belonged to the priests, and he showed me a place there at the far western end 20 and said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them into the outer court and transmit holiness to the people.”

21 Then he brought me into the outer court and led me around to its four corners, and I saw a separate court in each of its corners. 22 In the four corners of the outer court there were enclosed courts, each forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide. d Each of the four corner areas had the same dimensions. 23 Around the inside of each of the four courts was a row of masonry with ovens built at the base of the walls on all sides.

24 And he said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple will cook the sacrifices offered by the people.”

 

Footnotes:

5 a An ephah  is approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters (probably about 38.3 pounds or 17.4 kilograms of grain); also in verses 7 and 11.
14 b A sixth of an ephah  is approximately 3.3 dry quarts or 3.7 liters (probably about 4.2 pounds or 1.9 kilograms of flour).
14 c Or a third of a hin of olive oil ; that is, approximately 1.3 quarts or 1.2 liters
22 d The enclosed courts were approximately 70 feet long and 52.5 feet wide (21.3 meters long and 16 meters wide).

The Prince's Offerings

1'Thus said the Lord Jehovah: The gate of the inner court that is looking eastward is shut the six days of work, and on the day of rest it is opened, and in the day of the new moon it is opened; 2and come in hath the prince the way of the porch of the gate at the outside, and he hath stood by the post of the gate, and the priests have made his burnt-offering, and his peace-offerings, and he hath bowed himself by the opening of the gate, and hath gone forth, and the gate is not shut till the evening. 3And bowed themselves have the people of the land at the opening of that gate, on sabbaths, and on new moons, before Jehovah. 4And the burnt-offering that the prince bringeth near to Jehovah on the day of rest is six lambs, perfect ones, and a ram, a perfect one. 5And the present is an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs a present, the gift of his hand, and of oil a hin for an ephah. 6And on the day of the new moon a bullock, a son of the herd, a perfect one, and six lambs and a ram, they are perfect. 7And with an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, he prepareth a present, and for the lambs as his hand attaineth, and of oil a hin for an ephah. 8'And in the coming in of the prince, the way of the porch of the gate he cometh in, and by its way he goeth out. 9And in the coming in of the people of the land before Jehovah at appointed times, he who hath come in the way of the north gate to bow himself, goeth out the way of the south gate, and he who hath come in the way of the south gate, goeth out by the way of the north gate: he doth not turn back the way of the gate by which he came in, but over-against it he goeth out. 10And the prince in their midst in their coming in cometh in, and in their going out he goeth out.

11'And in feasts, and in appointed times, the present is an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for lambs the gift of his hand, and of oil a hin for an ephah. 12And when the prince maketh a free-will burnt-offering, or free-will peace-offerings, to Jehovah, then he hath opened for himself the gate that is looking eastward, and he hath made his burnt-offering and his peace-offerings as he doth in the day of rest, and he hath gone out, and he hath shut the gate after his going out.

13'And a lamb, son of a year, a perfect one, thou dost make a burnt-offering daily to Jehovah; morning by morning thou dost make it. 14And a present thou dost make for it morning by morning, a sixth part of the ephah, and of oil a third part of the hin, to temper with the fine flour, a present to Jehovah, by a statute age-during -- continually; 15and prepare ye the lamb, and the present, and the oil, morning by morning, a continual burnt-offering.

16Thus said the Lord Jehovah: When the prince giveth a gift to any of his sons, his inheritance it is, to his sons it is; their possession it is by inheritance. 17And when he giveth a gift out of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it hath been to him till the year of freedom, and it hath turned back to the prince, only the inheritance of his sons is theirs. 18And the prince doth not take of the inheritance of the people to oppress them, out of their possession, out of his own possession he doth cause his sons to inherit, so that My people are not scattered each from his possession.'

Courts for Boiling and Baking

19And he bringeth me in through the entrance that is by the side of the gate, unto the holy chambers, unto the priests, that are looking northward, and lo, there is a place in their two sides westward. 20And he saith unto me, 'This is the place where the priests do boil the guilt-offering and the sin-offering, where they bake the present, so as not to bring it out unto the outer court, to sanctify the people.'

21And he bringeth me out unto the outer court, and causeth me to pass over unto the four corners of the court, and lo, a court in a corner of the court, a court in a corner of the corner. 22In the four corners of the court are perfume courts, forty long, and thirty broad, one measure is to the four corners. 23And a row is round about in them, round about to them four, and made with boilers under the rows round about. 24And he saith unto me, 'These are the houses of those boiling where the ministrants of the house boil the sacrifice of the people.'

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Ezekiel 46?
2Introduction to Ezekiel 46
3Context of Ezekiel 46
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Ezekiel 46 Unique Insights
7Ezekiel 46 Connections to Yeshua
8Ezekiel 46 Scriptural Echoes
9Ezekiel 46 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Ezekiel 46?

Introduction to Ezekiel 46

Ezekiel 46 presents intricate details about worship regulations in the millennial temple, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of the prince, priests, and people. This chapter provides fascinating insights into how organized worship will function during the Messiah’s millennial reign. The detailed instructions demonstrate God’s desire for orderly, meaningful worship that honors His holiness while making provision for both leadership and common people to approach Him appropriately.

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Context of Ezekiel 46

This chapter continues the temple vision that began in chapter 40, specifically dealing with worship protocols and offerings. It follows the previous chapter’s description of sacred spaces and precedes the vision of life-giving water flowing from the temple in chapter 47. The placement is significant as it demonstrates the progression from physical structure to active worship to the resulting spiritual life that flows from God’s presence.

Within the broader biblical narrative, Ezekiel 46 serves as a bridge between the historical temple worship of ancient Israel and the future millennial kingdom. It echoes elements of Levitical law while introducing new elements that point to the Messiah’s perfect administration. The modifications to the sacrificial system detailed here suggest both continuity with past worship and transformation through the Messiah’s completed work.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • נָשִׂיא (nasi) – “prince”: Unlike the term מֶלֶךְ (melech/king), this specific title emphasizes a ruler who serves as a representative leader rather than an absolute monarch. This prince acts as a worship leader and guardian of sacred space, pointing to the Messiah’s role as both king and high priest.
  • שַׁעַר (sha’ar) – “gate”: More than just an entrance, this term in Temple context represents a transition point between the common and sacred, symbolizing authorized access to God’s presence. The regulated opening and closing of gates emphasizes both God’s accessibility and His holiness.
  • מִנְחָה (minchah) – “grain offering”: This voluntary offering represents dedication of daily work and sustenance to God. Its regular presentation by the prince shows leadership’s role in modeling consistent devotion.
  • שַׁבָּת (shabbat) – “Sabbath”: Beyond mere rest, this term encompasses the concept of entering into God’s perfect order and completion. The special provisions for Sabbath worship highlight its continued significance in the millennial kingdom.
  • חֹדֶשׁ (chodesh) – “new moon”: Literally “renewal,” this monthly observance represents God’s faithfulness in renewal and His sovereignty over time itself. Its continued observance shows the cyclical nature of worship even in the millennium.
  • נְדָבָה (nedavah) – “freewill offering”: This term emphasizes voluntary worship beyond required observances, showing that even in the highly structured millennial worship, there remains room for spontaneous devotion.
  • עוֹלָה (olah) – “burnt offering”: Unlike other sacrifices, this offering was completely consumed, representing total dedication to God. Its continuation in the millennium points to the eternal principle of complete surrender in worship.
  • נַחֲלָה (nachalah) – “inheritance”: This term carries deep covenant significance, representing both possession and responsibility. The prince’s limited ability to distribute inheritance shows careful balance between authority and accountability.

Compare & Contrast

  • Ezekiel 46:1-3: The east gate’s closure except for Sabbaths and new moons contrasts with constant accessibility in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:25). This emphasizes the transitional nature of millennial worship, still containing elements of separation while moving toward ultimate communion.
  • Ezekiel 46:4-5: The specified Sabbath offerings differ from those in Numbers 28:9-10, showing adaptation of Mosaic law for millennial worship while maintaining the principle of generous offering.
  • Ezekiel 46:9: The requirement to exit through the opposite gate from entry creates a forward movement in worship, contrasting with modern casual approach to sacred space.
  • Ezekiel 46:16-18: The inheritance restrictions on the prince prevent abuse of power, contrasting with historical examples of royal overreach while preserving proper authority.
  • Ezekiel 46:19-20: The separate cooking areas for priests and people maintain distinction in roles while providing for both groups’ needs, balancing holiness and accessibility.

Ezekiel 46 Unique Insights

The chapter presents a fascinating blend of continuity and transformation in worship practices. The retention of sacrificial elements in the millennium has puzzled many scholars, but understanding these as memorial observances rather than atoning sacrifices resolves apparent contradictions with the Messiah’s completed work. Just as the Lord’s Supper looks back to His sacrifice while celebrating His presence, millennial sacrifices will serve as powerful object lessons of His perfect offering.

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The prince’s role provides unique insight into leadership under the Messiah’s reign. Unlike the Davidic kings who combined political and priestly functions (often problematically), this leader has carefully prescribed limits. He worships with the people rather than entering the inner court, suggesting a model of servant leadership that points to rather than replaces the Messiah’s authority.

The architectural features described, particularly the cooking facilities, reveal God’s attention to practical details in worship. The separate areas for priests and people demonstrate that even in the millennium, there will be order and distinction in roles while maintaining dignity for all worshippers. This challenges both hierarchical and egalitarian extremes in contemporary worship practices.

Rabbi Saadia Gaon’s commentary notes that the precise measurements and regulations serve to prevent both presumption and neglect in approaching God. This balance between accessibility and reverence remains crucial for authentic worship in any age.

Ezekiel 46 Connections to Yeshua

The prince’s dual role as worshipper and worship leader beautifully foreshadows how Yeshua, while being God incarnate, also modeled perfect human worship. Just as the prince provides offerings for himself and the people (Ezekiel 46:10), Yeshua identified with humanity while maintaining His unique mediatorial role.

The regulated opening and closing of gates reflects Yeshua’s declaration that He is the door (John 10:9). The east gate’s special status particularly points to His role as the Rising Sun (Malachi 4:2), bringing light and healing to His people. The millennial worship system will serve as a constant reminder of how He fulfilled and transformed the way to God’s presence.

Ezekiel 46 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical themes and passages. The prince’s role echoes Psalm 110, where the Messiah combines royal and priestly functions. The careful regulation of sacred space recalls the Mosaic tabernacle while pointing forward to the perfect worship described in Revelation 4-5.

The inheritance laws connect to broader biblical themes of divine possession and stewardship, from Eden through the promised land to our eternal inheritance in Messiah (1 Peter 1:4). The separation of cooking areas echoes Leviticus 6:14-18‘s distinction between holy and common while anticipating the perfect communion of the New Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 46 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to consider how we approach worship today. The careful attention to detail reminds us that while we have bold access through Messiah’s blood, this access should inspire reverence rather than casualness. Just as the prince had to follow proper protocols, we too should approach God with thoughtful preparation and respect.

The balance between prescribed and freewill offerings teaches us about combining structured and spontaneous elements in our worship. We need both the stability of established patterns and the freshness of Spirit-led response. The prince’s role in providing for corporate worship reminds leaders of their responsibility to facilitate rather than dominate the congregation’s approach to God.

Did You Know

  • The east gate’s closure except for specified times may relate to ancient Near Eastern practices where sealed gates signified royal authority. However, God transforms this symbol to represent His unique sovereignty and the special nature of His relationship with His people.
  • The technical term for the prince’s portion (אחזה/achuzzah) differs from the normal word for inheritance (nachalah), emphasizing temporary stewardship rather than permanent possession.
  • The specification of morning-only offerings differs from both historical temple practice and Mosaic law, suggesting this system’s unique character as a memorial rather than atoning service.
  • The requirement to exit through the opposite gate created a cross-shaped traffic pattern in the temple courts, possibly prefiguring the centrality of the cross in God’s redemptive plan.
  • The Hebrew measurements used in describing the cooking areas are unusually precise, using terms that appear nowhere else in Scripture, highlighting the text’s authenticity as a detailed vision.
  • The distinction between inner and outer court cooking areas reflects ancient Near Eastern palace architecture while transforming it to serve sacred purposes.
  • Archaeological evidence from other ancient temples shows similar concerns about cooking space and ritual purity, but Ezekiel’s vision uniquely democratizes access while maintaining proper distinction.
  • The inheritance laws for the prince show remarkable concern for preventing economic oppression, contrasting sharply with common ancient Near Eastern royal practices.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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