16
Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of the Lord's house. About 25 men were there. They were at the entrance to the Lord's temple between the porch and the altar. Their backs were turned toward the temple. Their faces were turned toward the east. And they were bowing down to the sun.
Reference
Greek: τοίνυν (toínyn)
truly now, i.e. accordingly
Hebrew: ʼăzay
at that time
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ἐμαυτοῦ (emautoû)
of myself so likewise the dative case , and accusative case
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ἐσώτερος (esṓteros)
interior
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ῥαββονί (rhabboní)
God
Hebrew: ʼâdôwn
sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Hebrew: bayith
{a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)}
Greek: πρός (prós)
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
Hebrew: ʼêl
near, with or among; often in general, to
Greek: ἐκεῖ (ekeî)
there; by extension, thither
Hebrew: ʼêtsel
a side; (as a preposition) near
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: yᵉʼithôwn
an entry
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ῥαββονί (rhabboní)
God
Hebrew: ʼâdôwn
sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Greek: ἱερόν (hierón)
a sacred place, i.e. the entire precincts (whereas G3485 (ναός) denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the Temple (at Jerusalem or elsewhere)
Hebrew: raqqâh
properly, thinness, i.e. the side of the head
Greek: μεταξύ (metaxý)
betwixt (of place or person); (of time) as adjective, intervening, or (by implication) adjoining
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: προαύλιον (proaúlion)
a forecourt, i.e. vestibule (alley-way)
Hebrew: ʼûwlâm
a vestibule (as bound to the building)
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: θυσιαστήριον (thysiastḗrion)
a place of sacrifice, i.e. an altar (special or genitive case, literal or figurative)
Hebrew: ʼăriʼêyl
the altar of the temple
Hebrew: neged
opposite
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ἱερόν (hierón)
a sacred place, i.e. the entire precincts (whereas G3485 (ναός) denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the Temple (at Jerusalem or elsewhere)
Hebrew: raqqâh
properly, thinness, i.e. the side of the head
Hebrew: neged
opposite
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: charçûwth
a potsherd, i.e. (by implication) a pottery; the name of a gate at Jerusalem
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: shemesh
the sun
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 32:33
Jeremiah 2:27
Ezekiel 10:3
References Lord
Ezekiel 11:1
Ezekiel 43:5
Sacrifice
Joel 2:17
Jeremiah 44:17
Ezekiel 45:19
Worship
Deuteronomy 4:19
Deuteronomy 17:3
Verse Explanation
Ezekiel is brought into the inner court of the Temple, where he sees about twenty-five men standing between the Temple porch and the altar, turning their backs toward the Temple and facing east to worship the sun.
History
Before 586 BC: Sun worship was known in the ancient Near East and had influenced religious practices in Judah.