New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Ezekiel 46
1
The Lord and King says, "On the six working days of each week you must keep the east gate of the inner courtyard of the temple shut. But open it on Sabbath days and during New Moon Feasts.
Reference
2
The prince must enter the temple area through the porch of the gateway. He must stand by the gatepost. The priests must sacrifice his burnt offering and friendship offerings. He must worship at the entrance of the gateway. Then he must leave. But the gate will not be shut until evening.
Reference
3
"On Sabbath days and during New Moon Feasts the people of the land must gather together at the entrance of the temple gateway. That is where they must worship me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 1:10
4
"The prince must bring a burnt offering to me on the Sabbath. It will be six male lambs and a ram. They must not have any flaws.
Reference
Sacrifice
Ezekiel 45:17
5
He must offer a little over half a bushel of grain along with the ram. The grain he offers along with the lambs can be as much as he wants to give. He must also offer four quarts of olive oil for every half bushel of grain.
Reference
6
"On the day of the New Moon Feast the prince must also offer a young bull, six lambs and a ram. They must not have any flaws.
7
He must offer a little over half a bushel of grain along with the bull or ram. The grain he offers along with the lambs can be as much as he wants to give. He must also offer four quarts of olive oil for every half bushel of grain.
Reference
Sacrifice
Ezekiel 46:5
8
"When the prince enters the temple area, he must go in through the porch of the gateway. He must leave the same way.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 46:2
9
"The people of the land must worship me at the appointed feasts. Those who enter through the north gate must leave through the south gate. Those who enter through the south gate must leave through the north gate. They must not leave through the same gate they entered. Each one must go out the opposite gate.
Reference
10
The prince must be among them. He must go in when they go in. And he must leave when they leave.
Reference
11
"At the yearly feasts and other appointed feasts there must be grain offerings. The prince must offer a little over half a bushel of grain along with a bull or ram. The grain he offers along with the lambs can be as much as he wants to give. He must also offer four quarts of olive oil for every half bushel of grain.
Reference
12
He can also bring another offering to me because he chooses to. It might be a burnt offering or friendship offering. When he brings it, the east gate must be opened for him. He will bring his offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he will leave. After he has gone out, the gate must be shut.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 46:8
References Lord
Ezekiel 44:3
Sacrifice
Ezekiel 45:17
Leviticus 23:38
2 Chronicles 29:31
13
"Every day you must provide a lamb that is a year old. It must not have any flaws. It is a burnt offering to me. You must provide it every morning.
Reference
References Lord
Isaiah 50:4
14
You must also offer grain along with it every morning. Bring 13 and a third cups of grain. Also bring one and a third quarts of olive oil to make the flour a little wet. So you will give the grain offering to me. That will be a law that will last for all time to come.
Reference
Sacrifice
Numbers 28:5
15
Provide the lamb, grain offering and oil every morning. They will be used for a regular burnt offering."
16
The Lord and King says, "Suppose the prince makes a gift from his share of land. And he gives it to one of his sons. Then the property will also belong to his sons after him. It will be handed down to them.
Reference
17
"But suppose he makes a gift from his share of land to one of his servants. Then the servant can keep it until the Year of Jubilee. After that, it will be returned to the prince. His property can be handed down only to his sons. It belongs to them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 25:10
18
"The prince must not take any share of land that belongs to the people. He must not drive them off their property. He must give his sons their share out of his own property. Then my people will not be separated from their property."
Reference
19
The man brought me through the entrance at the side of the north building. That's where the priests' sacred rooms were located. He showed me a place west of the building.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 42:9
20
He said to me, "This is where the priests will cook the guilt offerings and sin offerings. They will also bake the grain offerings here. Then they will not have to bring the offerings into the outer courtyard. That will keep the people from touching the offerings and becoming holy."
Reference
21
Then the man brought me to the outer courtyard. He led me around to its four corners. In each corner I saw another smaller courtyard.
22
So in the four corners of the outer courtyard were walled courtyards. Each one was 70 feet long and 52 and a half feet wide. All of them were the same size.
23
Around the inside of each of the four courtyards was a stone ledge. Places for fire were built all around under each ledge.
24
The man said to me, "These are the kitchens. Those who serve at the temple will cook the people's sacrifices here."
Reference
Sacrifice
Ezekiel 46:20
Summary of Ezekiel 46
Ezekiel 46 establishes a detailed schedule and structure for worship in the restored temple, regulating the opening of the eastern gate, the sacrifices offered by the prince on Sabbaths and New Moons, the movement of worshippers during festivals, the daily morning offering, the prince's inheritance, and the temple kitchens where sacrificial food is prepared, creating a picture of worship that is orderly, continuous, communal, and protected from political abuse.
The chapter begins by establishing a special rhythm for the eastern gate.
The gate remains closed during the six ordinary working days but is opened on the Sabbath and the New Moon.
This continues the importance of the eastern entrance established in earlier chapters, where God's glory entered the temple.
The gate therefore functions not simply as an architectural opening but as a controlled point of access associated with particular acts of worship.
The prince has a special role in the Sabbath and New Moon ceremonies.
He enters through the porch of the eastern gate and stands near the entrance while the priests prepare the sacrifices.
The prince does not replace the priests, because the priests remain responsible for the actual sacrificial service.
Instead, the prince functions as the nation's representative leader who participates in worship while respecting the boundaries of priestly responsibility.
On the Sabbath, the prince provides six lambs and a ram, while on the New Moon he provides a young bull, six lambs, and a ram.
Grain and oil offerings accompany the animals, creating a complete sacrificial system in which different kinds of offerings work together.
The chapter then provides instructions for festival crowds.
When the people enter the temple for appointed celebrations, they are instructed to leave through the opposite gate from the one through which they entered.
This creates an organized flow of people and prevents congestion within the sanctuary.
The prince is also instructed to enter and leave with the people during these occasions, showing that although he possesses special authority, he remains part of the worshiping community.
The chapter also makes room for voluntary offerings.
When the prince freely brings an offering, the eastern gate may be opened for him, and the sacrifice is prepared in the same general manner as the regular Sabbath offering.
This demonstrates that worship includes both scheduled national observances and offerings brought voluntarily in devotion.
A particularly important part of the chapter is the instruction concerning the daily offering.
Every morning, a lamb without defect is to be offered together with grain and oil.
This creates a continuous rhythm of worship, reminding the community that devotion to God is not limited to major festivals.
The restored temple is envisioned as a place where worship continues day after day.
Ezekiel 46 then returns to the question of political power and land ownership.
The prince may give land to his sons as an inheritance, but if he gives land to a servant, the arrangement is temporary and the property eventually returns to the prince.
Most importantly, the prince is explicitly forbidden from taking land away from ordinary Israelites.
This is a direct protection against one of the most dangerous forms of political abuse: using governmental authority to seize the property of ordinary people.
The prince must provide inheritance for his sons from his own property, rather than taking the people's land.
The final section of the chapter moves into the practical facilities needed for temple worship.
Ezekiel is shown special rooms where priests prepare guilt offerings, sin offerings, and grain offerings, followed by four enclosed courtyards containing cooking facilities.
These kitchens are used by the temple servants to prepare the sacrifices brought by the people.
This practical detail is important because the vision is not limited to grand architectural features.
It also accounts for the ordinary work necessary to sustain a large system of worship.
The chapter therefore combines spiritual worship, public administration, political responsibility, land rights, priestly service, and practical temple operations.
Everything is organized according to clear rules so that worship can continue without confusion and authority cannot be used to exploit the people.
The central message is that Ezekiel 46 presents a restored system of worship in which sacred time, sacred space, political leadership, priestly service, and community participation are carefully ordered, with the eastern gate opened on Sabbaths and New Moons, the prince providing substantial sacrifices while remaining subject to priestly authority and participating alongside the people during festivals, daily morning offerings maintaining a continual rhythm of worship, and carefully defined rules preventing the prince from abusing his power by taking land from ordinary Israelites, while dedicated priestly rooms and temple kitchens provide the practical facilities needed to prepare the sacrifices, creating an overall picture of a restored community in which worship is continuous and organized, leadership is accountable, property rights are protected, and every aspect of public and religious life is structured around respect for God's holiness and the proper responsibilities of those who serve Him.
The chapter begins by establishing a special rhythm for the eastern gate.
The gate remains closed during the six ordinary working days but is opened on the Sabbath and the New Moon.
This continues the importance of the eastern entrance established in earlier chapters, where God's glory entered the temple.
The gate therefore functions not simply as an architectural opening but as a controlled point of access associated with particular acts of worship.
The prince has a special role in the Sabbath and New Moon ceremonies.
He enters through the porch of the eastern gate and stands near the entrance while the priests prepare the sacrifices.
The prince does not replace the priests, because the priests remain responsible for the actual sacrificial service.
Instead, the prince functions as the nation's representative leader who participates in worship while respecting the boundaries of priestly responsibility.
On the Sabbath, the prince provides six lambs and a ram, while on the New Moon he provides a young bull, six lambs, and a ram.
Grain and oil offerings accompany the animals, creating a complete sacrificial system in which different kinds of offerings work together.
The chapter then provides instructions for festival crowds.
When the people enter the temple for appointed celebrations, they are instructed to leave through the opposite gate from the one through which they entered.
This creates an organized flow of people and prevents congestion within the sanctuary.
The prince is also instructed to enter and leave with the people during these occasions, showing that although he possesses special authority, he remains part of the worshiping community.
The chapter also makes room for voluntary offerings.
When the prince freely brings an offering, the eastern gate may be opened for him, and the sacrifice is prepared in the same general manner as the regular Sabbath offering.
This demonstrates that worship includes both scheduled national observances and offerings brought voluntarily in devotion.
A particularly important part of the chapter is the instruction concerning the daily offering.
Every morning, a lamb without defect is to be offered together with grain and oil.
This creates a continuous rhythm of worship, reminding the community that devotion to God is not limited to major festivals.
The restored temple is envisioned as a place where worship continues day after day.
Ezekiel 46 then returns to the question of political power and land ownership.
The prince may give land to his sons as an inheritance, but if he gives land to a servant, the arrangement is temporary and the property eventually returns to the prince.
Most importantly, the prince is explicitly forbidden from taking land away from ordinary Israelites.
This is a direct protection against one of the most dangerous forms of political abuse: using governmental authority to seize the property of ordinary people.
The prince must provide inheritance for his sons from his own property, rather than taking the people's land.
The final section of the chapter moves into the practical facilities needed for temple worship.
Ezekiel is shown special rooms where priests prepare guilt offerings, sin offerings, and grain offerings, followed by four enclosed courtyards containing cooking facilities.
These kitchens are used by the temple servants to prepare the sacrifices brought by the people.
This practical detail is important because the vision is not limited to grand architectural features.
It also accounts for the ordinary work necessary to sustain a large system of worship.
The chapter therefore combines spiritual worship, public administration, political responsibility, land rights, priestly service, and practical temple operations.
Everything is organized according to clear rules so that worship can continue without confusion and authority cannot be used to exploit the people.
The central message is that Ezekiel 46 presents a restored system of worship in which sacred time, sacred space, political leadership, priestly service, and community participation are carefully ordered, with the eastern gate opened on Sabbaths and New Moons, the prince providing substantial sacrifices while remaining subject to priestly authority and participating alongside the people during festivals, daily morning offerings maintaining a continual rhythm of worship, and carefully defined rules preventing the prince from abusing his power by taking land from ordinary Israelites, while dedicated priestly rooms and temple kitchens provide the practical facilities needed to prepare the sacrifices, creating an overall picture of a restored community in which worship is continuous and organized, leadership is accountable, property rights are protected, and every aspect of public and religious life is structured around respect for God's holiness and the proper responsibilities of those who serve Him.