Ezekiel 44:25

25 And unto any dead man they come not for uncleanness, but for father, and for mother, and for son, and for daughter, for brother, for sister who hath not been to a man, they defile themselves.

Ezekiel 44:25 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 44:25

And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves,
&c.] Shall not come into places where they are, nor touch them, nor attend their funerals, ( Leviticus 21:1 Leviticus 21:11 ) , that their work might not be interrupted, or they through grief and sorrow be made unfit for it, ( Matthew 8:22 ) , this, in a spiritual sense, may signify, that they should have no conversation or fellowship with men dead in trespasses and sins; and should abstain from all dead works, as all sinful ones are: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for
brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile
themselves;
by coming near them, touching them, at least attending their funerals, because of their near relation to them, and that natural sympathy and affection that must be in them: all sorrow and mourning for dead relations is not forbidden saints, nor ministers of the word; provided it is in moderation, and not to excess, and is not for gracious persons, as those without hope; and should as little as possible break in upon the duties of their office, ( 1 Thessalonians 4:13 ) ( John 11:33 John 11:35 ) .

Ezekiel 44:25 In-Context

23 `And My people they direct between holy and common, and between unclean and clean they cause them to discern.

24 And concerning controversy, they stand up for judgment; with My judgments they judge it; and My law and My statutes in all My appointed places they keep; and My sabbaths they sanctify.

25 And unto any dead man they come not for uncleanness, but for father, and for mother, and for son, and for daughter, for brother, for sister who hath not been to a man, they defile themselves.

26 `And after his cleansing, seven days they number to him.

27 And in the day of his coming in unto the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he bringeth near his sin-offering -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.