Ezekiel 44:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy [place]: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

Complete Jewish Bible:

They will not approach me to serve me in the office of cohen or approach any of the holy things or the especially holy things; but they will bear their shame for the disgusting practices they committed.

Berean Standard Bible:

They must not approach Me to serve Me as priests or come near any of My holy things or the most holy things. They will bear the shame of the abominations they have committed.

American Standard Version:

And they shall not come near unto me, to execute the office of priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, unto the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And they shall not come near^{H5066} unto me, to do the office of a priest^{H3547} unto me, nor to come near^{H5066} to any of my holy things^{H6944}, in the most holy^{H6944} place: but they shall bear^{H5375} their shame^{H3639}, and their abominations^{H8441} which they have committed^{H6213}.

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Commentary for Ezekiel 44:13

Ezekiel 44:13 is a part of the larger section of the book of Ezekiel that deals with the restoration of the temple and its services after the Babylonian exile. The verse specifically addresses the Levites who strayed from their priestly duties and responsibilities by following idols, which led to Judah's downfall and the subsequent exile.

In this context, the verse emphasizes a few key themes:

1. **Priestly Restrictions:** The verse reiterates the prohibition against those Levites who had been unfaithful from serving as priests or approaching the holy things in the innermost sanctuary of the temple. This restriction was a consequence of their past idolatry and unfaithfulness to God.

2. **Holiness and Purity:** The sanctity of God's presence and His holy things is a central theme. Only those who are ritually pure and faithful to the covenant can serve in the temple. This reflects the broader biblical emphasis on the need for holiness in the presence of a holy God.

3. **Accountability and Consequences:** The Levites are to bear their shame and the consequences of their abominations. This highlights the principle of accountability for one's actions, especially for those in positions of religious leadership.

4. **Separation from Sin:** The verse also underscores the need for separation from sin as a prerequisite for divine service. The Levites' past actions have rendered them unfit for priestly duties until they have reconciled with God.

5. **Restoration and Reformation:** While the verse pronounces judgment, it is set within the larger context of Ezekiel's vision of restoration. It implies that there is hope for a renewed priesthood and a reformed temple service once the appropriate conditions of faithfulness and purity are met.

Historically, this verse reflects the concerns of the exilic and post-exilic community as they sought to reestablish their religious identity and practices. It also prefigures the later developments in the Second Temple period, where issues of priestly purity and temple service became central to Jewish religious life.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5066
   There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָגַשׁ
   Transliteration: nâgash
   Pronunciation: naw-gash'
   Description: a primitive root; to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causatively, to present; figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand back; (make to) approach (nigh), bring (forth, hither, near), (cause to) come (hither, near, nigh), give place, go hard (up), (be, draw, go) near (nigh), offer, overtake, present, put, stand.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3547
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּהַן
   Transliteration: kâhan
   Pronunciation: kaw-han'
   Description: a primitive root, apparently meaning to mediate in religious services; but used only as denominative from כֹּהֵן; to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia; deck, be (do the office of a, execute the, minister in the) priest('s office).
   
3. Strong's Number: H6944
   There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
   Transliteration: qôdesh
   Pronunciation: ko'-desh
   Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5375
   There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשָׂא
   Transliteration: nâsâʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-saw'
   Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3639
   There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כְּלִמָּה
   Transliteration: kᵉlimmâh
   Pronunciation: kel-im-maw'
   Description: from כָּלַם; disgrace; confusion, dishonour, reproach, shame.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8441
   There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תּוֹעֵבַה
   Transliteration: tôwʻêbah
   Pronunciation: to-ay-baw'
   Description: or תֹּעֵבַה; feminine active participle of תַּעָב; properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol; abominable (custom, thing), abomination.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.