Ezekiel 44:22

22 No priest may marry a divorced woman; he is to marry only an Israelite virgin or the widow of another priest. 1

Ezekiel 44:22 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 44:22

Neither shall they take for their wives a widow
Who has been not only another man's, but at her own will, and done her own pleasure, and been her own mistress, and so not easily brought into subjection, and to behave as becoming her station: or her that is put away;
or, "thrust forth" F17; out of doors; whose husband has given her a bill of divorce; since she may be suspected of having done some ill thing: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel;
virgins, and not of the families of unconverted persons, who have been brought up in an irreligious way, but of godly families, and who have had a religious education: or a widow that had a priest before:
and so used to religious exercises, and to the manner of living of such persons. All good men should be careful whom they marry, and especially ministers of the Gospel; who are here supposed and allowed to marry, contrary to the church of Rome, which forbids her priests to marry. It is observed by some, and with great propriety, that in the latter days antichristian churches will be disowned; and that godly faithful ministers will become pastors, and take the care of such churches, who are like a chaste virgin espoused to Christ, and such who have had faithful pastors over them before. This seems to refer to the law concerning the marriage of the high priest, ( Leviticus 21:13 Leviticus 21:14 ) , and what is there enjoined him is here enjoined all the priests of the Lord; and therefore, as Kimchi rightly observes, this is a new rule respecting future times.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (hvwdg) "expulsam", Montanus, Heb; "ejectam", Piscator.

Ezekiel 44:22 In-Context

20 "Priests must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow long. They are to keep it a proper length.
21 Priests must not drink any wine before going into the inner courtyard.
22 No priest may marry a divorced woman; he is to marry only an Israelite virgin or the widow of another priest.
23 "The priests are to teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is not, and between what is ritually clean and what is not.
24 When a legal dispute arises, the priests are to decide the case according to my laws. They are to keep the religious festivals according to my rules and regulations, and they are to keep the Sabbaths holy.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 44.22Leviticus 21.7, 13, 14.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.