Bible Strands
Ezekiel 44:15
But the Levitical priests, who are descended from Zadok and who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, are to approach Me to minister before Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel to the exiled community regarding the restored temple's worship order. He addresses the Levitical priests to define their specific ministerial role after the nation's apostasy.
The words — The text highlights שָׁמְר֜וּ (sha.me.Ru, "they kept") and מִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת (mish.Me.ret, "charge of"), describing the priests' faithful maintenance of sanctuary duties. It also specifies בְּנֵ֣י צָד֗וֹק (be.Nei tza.Dok, "sons of Zadok") to identify the qualified lineage.
The thread — This distinction between faithful Zadokite priests and the broader Levitical work force appears in Ezekiel 40:46 and 48:11. Deuteronomy 10:8 similarly establishes the Levites' historical role to stand before the LORD.
Why it lands — The text explicitly commands these priests to approach the sanctuary and offer fat and blood before God. The reader must recognize that faithful service requires both hereditary qualification and prior loyalty during times of national rebellion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God:
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.
- Ezekiel 48:11 It will be for the consecrated priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept My charge and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.
- Ezekiel 40:46 and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the only Levites who may approach the LORD to minister before Him.”
- Ezekiel 43:19 You are to give a young bull from the herd as a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are of the family of Zadok, who approach Me to minister before Me, declares the Lord GOD.
- Ezekiel 44:7 In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food—the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant.
- Leviticus 3:16 Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.
- 1 Samuel 2:35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. And I will build for him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed one for all time.
- Zechariah 3:1 Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
- Leviticus 17:5 For this reason the Israelites will bring to the LORD the sacrifices they have been offering in the open fields. They are to bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and offer them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD.