Ezekiel 43:22

And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse [it] with the bullock.

And on the second {H8145} day {H3117} thou shalt offer {H7126} a kid {H8163} of the goats {H5795} without blemish {H8549} for a sin offering {H2403}; and they shall cleanse {H2398} the altar {H4196}, as they did cleanse {H2398} it with the bullock {H6499}.

On the second day you are to offer a male goat without defect as a sin offering, and they are to purify the altar as they purified it with the bull.

On the second day you are to present an unblemished male goat as a sin offering, and the altar is to be cleansed as it was with the bull.

And on the second day thou shalt offer a he-goat without blemish for a sin-offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.

Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 43:22

Ezekiel 43:22 is part of a detailed prophetic vision given to the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile (circa 593-571 BC). Chapters 40-48 describe a new temple, its dimensions, and the elaborate rituals and ordinances associated with it. This particular verse falls within the instructions for the consecration of the altar, following the dramatic return of God's glory to the temple described in Ezekiel 43:4.

The passage outlines an eight-day purification and consecration ceremony for the altar, a crucial structure in the temple for offering sacrifices. This verse details the specific offering required on the second day of this profound ritual, emphasizing the meticulous nature of divine instruction for worship.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Holiness and Purity: The repeated sacrifices and cleansing rituals underscore God's absolute demand for holiness, not only in the worshipers but also in the very instruments and spaces dedicated to Him. The altar, though sacred, required purification to be fit for God's holy presence.
  • Atonement and Cleansing: The offering of a "kid of the goats for a sin offering" highlights the persistent need for atonement for sin. Even in a divinely ordained temple, human sin necessitates regular cleansing to maintain fellowship with God. This ritual cleansing symbolically prepared the altar to serve its purpose of mediating between God and His people.
  • Divine Order and Meticulous Detail: The specificity of the instructions—what to offer, when, and how to cleanse—reveals God's precise nature and His desire for worship to be conducted according to His revealed will, not human invention.
  • Preparation for God's Presence: These consecration rituals were essential steps to prepare the temple and its components to be a dwelling place for the divine glory. The purification ensured that the sacred space was worthy of the Lord's indwelling.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Kid of the goats" (Hebrew: śā‘îr ‘izzîm): This term refers to a male goat, often specified for sin offerings in the Old Testament, as seen in various passages in Leviticus.
  • "Sin offering" (Hebrew: ḥaṭṭā’t): This Hebrew word literally means "sin," but in sacrificial contexts, it refers to the offering made to atone for sin and purify from defilement. It emphasizes that the sacrifice directly addresses the problem of sin.
  • "Without blemish" (Hebrew: tāmîm): This crucial requirement for all sacrificial animals signifies wholeness, perfection, and purity. It symbolizes the ideal nature of the offering, pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice.

Cross-References & Connections

The concept of sin offerings and unblemished sacrifices is foundational to Old Testament worship and finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament:

  • Similar instructions for sin offerings and altar consecration can be found in the Mosaic Law, such as in Leviticus 4:3, which details the offering for a priest's sin, or the general requirement for sacrifices to be "without blemish" in Leviticus 1:3.
  • The process of cleansing the altar echoes the consecration rituals for the tabernacle altar described in Exodus 29:36-37.
  • Ultimately, these Old Testament sacrifices, including the kid of the goats for a sin offering, foreshadow the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice was "without blemish" (1 Peter 1:19) and fully atoned for sin, cleansing us from all unrighteousness (Hebrews 9:14).

Practical Application

While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, Ezekiel 43:22 still offers valuable lessons for believers today:

  • The Need for Purity: God's demand for purity in worship remains. We are called to approach God with clean hands and pure hearts (Psalm 24:4), confessing our sins and relying on Christ's cleansing.
  • The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice: The meticulous Old Testament sacrifices highlight the gravity of sin and the cost of atonement. They point us to the complete and perfect work of Christ, whose one sacrifice was sufficient for all time (Hebrews 10:10). We no longer need daily or yearly sin offerings because of Him.
  • Worship in Spirit and Truth: Our worship, though not involving animal sacrifices, should still be offered with reverence, purity, and according to God's revealed will. We are called to present our bodies as "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1), holy and acceptable to God.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 43:25

    Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat [for] a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.

  • Ezekiel 43:26

    Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.

  • Ezekiel 43:20

    And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put [it] on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.

  • Isaiah 53:10

    ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

  • Leviticus 8:18

    And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.

  • Leviticus 8:21

    And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it [was] a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, [and] an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
← Back