Ezekiel 46:9

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.

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 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.

8 "When the prince enters the temple area, he must go in through the porch of the gateway. He must leave the same way.

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.

10 The prince must be among them. He must go in when they go in. And he must leave when they leave.

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.