Ezekiel 46:12

When the prince makes a freewill offering to the LORD, whether a burnt offering or a peace offering, the gate facing east must be opened for him. He is to offer his burnt offering or peace offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and the gate must be closed after he goes out.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel to establish temple worship protocols during a period of restored religious order. The instructions outline specific gate procedures for the prince during voluntary sacrifices.

The words — נְדָבָה (ne.da.Vah) translates literally as a freewill offering, designating a voluntary sacrifice distinct from mandated duties. The text applies this term to both the prince’s burnt offering and peace offering.

The thread — This regulation connects to Ezekiel 45:17, which assigns the prince responsibility for feast offerings, and Ezekiel 46:1, which mandates the east gate remain shut on ordinary days. It also aligns with Leviticus 23:38, which treats voluntary gifts as additions to required Sabbath observances.

Why it lands — The text requires strict adherence to physical protocols, mandating that the east gate open only for the prince’s voluntary sacrifices and close immediately afterward. Readers must implement these precise operational boundaries without adding or subtracting from the prescribed sequence.

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

וְכִֽי־ve./khi-and/ if יַעֲשֶׂה֩ya.'a.Sehhe will provide הַנָּשִׂ֨יאha./na.Si'the/ prince נְדָבָ֜הne.da.Vaha freewill offering עוֹלָ֣הo.Laha burnt offering אֽוֹ־'ov-or שְׁלָמִים֮she.la.Mimpeace offerings נְדָבָ֣הne.da.Vaha freewill offering לַֽיהוָה֒la./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh וּפָ֣תַֽחu./Fa.tachand/ someone will openל֗וֹl/ofor/ himאֶת'et<obj.>הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ha./Sha.'arthe/ gate הַפֹּנֶ֣הha./po.Nehwhich/ faces קָדִ֔יםka.Dimeast וְעָשָׂ֤הve./'a.Sahand/ he will offer אֶת־'et-<obj.>עֹֽלָתוֹ֙o.la.T/oburnt offering/ his וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>שְׁלָמָ֔יוshe.la.Ma/vpeace offerings/ his כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka./'a.Sherjust/ as יַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.Sehhe will offer בְּי֣וֹםbe./Yomon/ [the] day of הַשַּׁבָּ֑תha./sha.Batthe/ sabbath וְיָצָ֛אve./ya.Tza'and/ he will go out וְסָגַ֥רve./sa.Garand/ someone will shut אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַשַּׁ֖עַרha./Sha.'arthe/ gate אַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.Reiafter צֵאתֽוֹ׃tze.T/ohas gone out/ he

King James Version

Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the Lord, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 45:17 And it shall be the prince’s part to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—for all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 46:1 “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.
Leviticus 23:38 These offerings are in addition to the offerings for the LORD’s Sabbaths, and in addition to your gifts, to all your vow offerings, and to all the freewill offerings you give to the LORD.
2 Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.
Ezekiel 44:3 Only the prince himself may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He must enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.”
Ezekiel 46:8 When the prince enters, he shall go in through the portico of the gateway, and he shall go out the same way.
Leviticus 1:3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD.
Leviticus 7:16 If, however, the sacrifice he offers is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day he presents his sacrifice, but the remainder may be eaten on the next day.
Numbers 29:39 You are to present these offerings to the LORD at your appointed times, in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings.”
1 Kings 3:4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there.