Ezekiel 44:1-3

The Gate for the Prince

1 Then he brought me 1back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, 2which faces east. And it was shut.
2 And the LORD said to me, "This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for 3the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut.
3 Only 4the prince may sit in it 5to eat bread before the LORD. He 6shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way."

Ezekiel 44:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 44

This chapter treats of the eastern gate of the temple being appropriated to the use of the prince, Eze 44:1-3, of the sin of the Lord's people, in admitting strangers and unholy persons into the sanctuary, either to officiate or communicate there, Eze 44:4-9 of the degrading of the Levites, that went astray, assigning them inferior posts and service in the house of God, Eze 44:10-14 and of the establishment of the sons of Zadok in their ministry, who were faithful, Eze 44:15,16, then follow various laws relating to their garments; shaving of their heads; drinking wine; their marriage; performance of their ministerial work; their regard to the dead, and their food and maintenance, Eze 44:17-31.

Cross References 6

  • 1. [Ezekiel 43:5]
  • 2. See Ezekiel 43:1
  • 3. [Ezekiel 43:4]
  • 4. Ezekiel 34:24; Ezekiel 37:25; Ezekiel 45:7; Ezekiel 46:2
  • 5. [Genesis 31:54]
  • 6. Ezekiel 46:2, 12
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.