Ezekiel 44:18

18 They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.

Ezekiel 44:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 44:18

And they shall have linen bonnets upon their heads
Denoting gravity and modesty, subjection to God, and authority among men under him; and also purity of doctrine, and clearness of light and knowledge: and shall have linen breeches upon their loins;
expressive of chastity; see ( Exodus 28:40 Exodus 28:42 ) : they shall not gird themselves with anything that causeth sweat;
so not with wool, which is apt to cause sweat; and is thought to be the reason why it is forbidden in the preceding verse; and so this girdle must be different from the priest's girdle under the law, for that had wool in it: sweat is of an ill smell, and very offensive; and may denote unsound doctrine and immorality in life and conversation, which give offence, and cause the ministry to be blamed, to which is opposed the girdle of truth and holiness, ( Ephesians 6:14 ) . The Talmudic doctors interpret this of the place of girding, which is liable to sweat; and they say F15,

``they used not to gird neither below the loins, nor above the arm holes; but over against, or about the armholes;''
which is observed by Jarchi and Kimchi on the text; and the Targum is,
``they shall not gird upon or about the loins, but about the heart;''
that is, about the breast or paps; hence Christ our great High Priest is described as girt about the paps with a golden girdle, ( Revelation 1:13 ) so these are girt that are made priests by him; denoting their hearty zeal and affection for the truths of his Gospel, and the honour of his name, and their readiness to serve and glorify him: or, they shall not gird themselves loosely
F16; in a negligent manner, which is both indecent, and hinders business.
FOOTNOTES:

F15 T. Bab. Zevachim, fol. 18. 2. & 19. 1.
F16 (ewyb wrgxy al) "non cingent seipsos modo instabili, nempe neglectim circumponendo cingulum nimis laxum", Gussetius, p. 315. The Tigurine version is, "quae non adstringent arctius".

Ezekiel 44:18 In-Context

16 They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.
17 And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house.
18 They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.
19 When they go out to the outer court, to the outer court to the people, they shall take off their garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and put on other garments; and in their holy garments they shall not sanctify the people.
20 They shall neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow long; but they shall keep their hair well trimmed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.