Ezekiel 46:9

9 "'But when the people of the land come to worship God at the commanded feasts, those who enter through the north gate will exit from the south gate, and those who enter though the south gate will exit from the north gate. You don't exit the gate through which you enter, but through the opposite gate.

Ezekiel 46:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 46:9

But when the people of the land shall come before the Lord
in the solemn feasts
To worship the Lord, to pray and praise; to honour the Lord, and keep the solemn feast of love, the Lord's supper: 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 in by the way
of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate;
that so such as were coming in, and going out, might not meet, and stop and hinder one another in going out and coming in: no mention is made of entering in by the east gate, which was only for the prince, ( Ezekiel 44:1 Ezekiel 44:2 ) , and there was no entering in, or going out, on the west: he shall not return by the way of the gate he came in, but shall go
forth over against it;
signifying, that those that come to the house of God to worship, and join in communion with the saints, should not return to their former ways and practices; to their former rites, customs, and ceremonies in religion, used by them; and to their former principles and errors in doctrines; and to their former sinful courses of life; but go straight on and thorough stitch with it in their profession of Christ and his Gospel, and in the practice of spiritual and evangelic worship; see ( Luke 9:62 ) ( Hebrews 10:38 Hebrews 10:39 ) .

Ezekiel 46:9 In-Context

7 He will also supply five and a half gallons of grain offering and a gallon of oil for both ram and bull, and a handful of grain offering for each lamb.
8 "'When the prince enters, he will go through the entrance vestibule of the gate complex and leave the same way.
9 "'But when the people of the land come to worship God at the commanded feasts, those who enter through the north gate will exit from the south gate, and those who enter though the south gate will exit from the north gate. You don't exit the gate through which you enter, but through the opposite gate.
10 The prince is to be there, mingling with them, going in and out with them.
11 "'At the festivals and the commanded feasts, the appropriate grain offering is five and a half gallons, with a gallon of oil for the bull and ram and a handful of grain for each lamb.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.