Ezekiel 44:17

When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen garments; they must not wear anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — God addresses Ezekiel regarding the future temple service, specifying the dress code for those appointed to minister at the inner court gates.

The words — פִשְׁתִּים (fish.Tim) = linens and בִּגְדֵ֥י (big.Dei) = garments. The text mandates these specific materials for ministering attire.

The thread — The linen requirement reappears in Exodus 28:43 and Exodus 39:27 for priestly ministry, and Revelation 19:8 applies the material symbolically to the saints.

Why it lands — The text commands separation from wool to prevent perspiration during sacred service, requiring strict adherence to prescribed materials for those approaching the sanctuary.

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

וְהָיָ֗הve./ha.Yahand/ it will be בְּבוֹאָם֙be./vo.'A/mwhen/ come/ they אֶֽל־'el-into שַׁעֲרֵי֙sha.'a.Rei[the] gates of הֶחָצֵ֣רhe./cha.Tzerthe/ courtyard הַפְּנִימִ֔יתha./pe.ni.Mit<the>/ inner בִּגְדֵ֥יbig.Deiclothes of פִשְׁתִּ֖יםfish.Timlinen<s>יִלְבָּ֑שׁוּyil.Ba.shuthey will be clothed וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not יַעֲלֶ֤הya.'a.Lehit will go up עֲלֵיהֶם֙'a.lei./Hemon/ them צֶ֔מֶרTze.merwool בְּשָֽׁרְתָ֗םbe./sha.re.Ta/mwhen/ serve/ they בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛יbe./sha.'a.Reiat/ [the] gates of הֶחָצֵ֥רhe./cha.Tzerthe/ courtyard הַפְּנִימִ֖יתha./pe.ni.Mit<the>/ inner וָבָֽיְתָה׃va./Va.ye.ta/hand/ [the] inside/ towards

King James Version

And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

Cross-references

Revelation 19:8 She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
Exodus 28:43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants.
Exodus 39:27 For Aaron and his sons they made tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver,
Exodus 28:39 You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash.
Leviticus 16:4 He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them.
Revelation 4:4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.