Ezekiel 43:20

20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and shalt put on four horns thereof, and on four corners of [the] height, and on the crown in compass; and thou shalt cleanse it, and [fully] make clean. (And thou shalt take some of its blood, and shalt put it on the four horns on the top of the altar, and on the four corners of the middle section, and on the the crown all around it; and so thou shalt cleanse it, and make it fully clean.)

Ezekiel 43:20 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 43:20

And thou shalt take of the blood thereof
Ezekiel being a priest. This must be understood in a visionary way; for, as Kimchi observes, Ezekiel did not live to come up out of the captivity, but died, and was buried in the land of Babylon, and so did not actually do this: though it is a mere dream of the same writer, that this is to be understood of the resurrection of the dead, when he supposes Ezekiel will be high priest, though Aaron be present; or however be the second, or deputy to him. And put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the
settle, and upon the border round about;
that is, on the four horns of the altar, and on the four corners of the settle which went round it, for the priests to walk on, and do their business; either the uppermost, or as others the lowermost, and as some both; and also on the border or ledge that enclosed the settle. The prophet's doing this, putting the blood on these several things, represents the nature of the Gospel ministry, and the business of it; which is to hold forth the blood of Christ, and the blessings of grace through it, as redemption, peace, pardon, righteousness, and life. Thus shall thou cleanse and purge it;
the altar; thus Christ, though without sin, and needed no cleansing and purging for himself, yet was sanctified by his own blood; that he might sanctify his people, and perfect by his sacrifice them that were sanctified, ( John 17:19 ) ( Hebrews 10:14 Hebrews 10:29 ) ( 13:12 ) .

Ezekiel 43:20 In-Context

18 And he said to me, Thou, son of man, the Lord God saith these things, These be the customs of the altar, in whatever day it is made, that men offer on it burnt sacrifice, and blood be shed out. (And he said to me, Thou, son of man, the Lord God saith these things, These be the customs for the altar, or the way to consecrate it, once it is made, so that people can offer burnt sacrifice on it, and blood can be thrown against it.)

19 And thou shalt give to priests and deacons that be of the seed of Zadok, that nigh to me, saith the Lord God, that they offer to me a calf of the drove for sin. (Thou shalt give to the levitical priests, who be the descendants of Zadok, and who alone may come near me, saith the Lord God, a calf from the herd, that they offer to me for a sin offering.)

20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and shalt put on four horns thereof, and on four corners of [the] height, and on the crown in compass; and thou shalt cleanse it, and [fully] make clean. (And thou shalt take some of its blood, and shalt put it on the four horns on the top of the altar, and on the four corners of the middle section, and on the the crown all around it; and so thou shalt cleanse it, and make it fully clean.)

21 And thou shalt take the calf which is offered for sin, and thou shalt burn it in a separated place of the house (of the Lord), without the saintuary. (And then thou shalt take the calf which is offered for sin, and thou shalt burn it in an appointed place of the Temple area, outside the sanctuary.)

22 And in the second day thou shalt offer a buck of goats, which is without wem, for sin; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed (it) in the calf. (And on the second day thou shalt offer a goat-buck, which is without blemish, or without fault, for sin; and then they shall cleanse, or shall purify, the altar, like they cleansed it with the calf.)