Ezekiel 44

All 31 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary — the one facing east. It was shut.
2. 2The LORD said to me, "This gate will stay shut. It must never be opened, and no one may enter through it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. So it will remain shut."
3. 3"Only the prince may sit inside its gateway to eat a meal in the LORD's presence. He must enter through the gate's portico and leave the same way."
4. 4Then he brought me around to the north gate, to the front of the temple. I looked, and the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. I fell facedown on the ground.
5. 5The LORD said to me, 'Son of man, pay close attention. Look carefully and listen to everything I tell you about the regulations and laws of the LORD's house. Take careful note of the entrance to the house and every exit of the sanctuary.'
6. 6"Tell the rebellious people of Israel: 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Enough of your disgusting practices, house of Israel!
7. 7You brought foreigners into my sanctuary—people uncircumcised in both heart and body—and defiled my house. You offered my food, the fat and the blood, and they broke my covenant because of all your abominations.
8. 8And you have not kept the charge of my holy things, but you have appointed others to oversee my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
9. 9This is what the Lord GOD says: "No foreigner who is uncircumcised in heart and body may enter my sanctuary — not any foreigner living among the people of Israel."
10. 10"As for the Levites who abandoned me when Israel wandered away — who strayed from me to chase after their idols — they will suffer the consequences of their sin.
11. 11They will still serve in my sanctuary, standing guard at the temple gates and performing duties in the house. They will slaughter the burnt offerings and sacrifices for the people and stand ready to serve them.
12. 12But because they served the people in front of their idols and led the house of Israel into sin, I have raised my hand against them," declares the Lord GOD. "They will bear the weight of their guilt.
13. 13They will not be allowed to approach me to serve as priests or come near any of my holy things in the most holy place. They must bear the shame of the detestable acts they committed.
14. 14But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all its service, and for all that will be done in it.
15. 15"But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok — the ones who faithfully carried out their duties in my sanctuary when the rest of Israel turned away from me — they are the ones who may approach me to serve. They will stand before me to offer the fat and the blood," declares the Lord GOD.
16. 16"They will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will carry out my instructions.
17. 17"Whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, they must wear linen clothing. They must not wear wool while serving inside the inner court or within the temple.
18. 18They must wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them sweat.
19. 19When they go out into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they must take off the garments in which they served, and leave them in the holy rooms, and put on other garments. They must not make the people holy with their garments.
20. 20"They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow wild. They must keep it neatly trimmed.
21. 21No priest may drink wine before entering the inner court.
22. 22They must not marry a widow or a divorced woman. They may only marry an Israelite virgin, or the widow of another priest.
23. 23They must teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is profane, and help them distinguish between what is clean and what is unclean.
24. 24"In legal disputes, the priests will serve as judges, deciding cases according to my laws. They must observe my instructions and regulations at all my appointed festivals, and they must keep my Sabbaths holy.
25. 25They shall not go near a dead person to defile themselves, except for their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or an unmarried sister.
26. 26After he has been cleansed, they shall count seven days for him.
27. 27On the day he returns to the sanctuary — entering the inner court to resume his duties — he must offer a sin offering," declares the Lord GOD.
28. 28"As for their inheritance: I am their inheritance. You must not give them any property in Israel, because I am their possession.
29. 29They will eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the trespass offerings. Every dedicated thing in Israel will belong to them.
30. 30The best of every firstfruit harvest and every special contribution of any kind will go to the priests. You must also give the priests the first portion of your ground meal, so that a blessing will rest on your household.
31. 31The priests must never eat any bird or animal that died naturally or was torn apart by wild animals."