43:6 43:6

Ezekiel 43:7

43:8 43:8

Bible Versions

¶ And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, [neither] they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
And he said {H559} unto me, Son {H1121} of man {H120}, the place {H4725} of my throne {H3678}, and the place {H4725} of the soles {H3709} of my feet {H7272}, where I will dwell {H7931} in the midst {H8432} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} for ever {H5769}, and my holy {H6944} name {H8034}, shall the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478} no more defile {H2930}, neither they, nor their kings {H4428}, by their whoredom {H2184}, nor by the carcases {H6297} of their kings {H4428} in their high places {H1116}.
He said, "Human being, this is the place for my throne, the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Isra'el forever. The house of Isra'el, both they and their kings, will never again defile my holy name by their prostitution, by [burying] the corpses of their kings [on] their high places,
and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile My holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and by the funeral offerings for their kings at their deaths.
And he said unto me, Son of man, this is the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places;

Commentary on Ezekiel 43:7 (KJV)

Ezekiel 43:7 marks a pivotal moment in the prophet Ezekiel's vision of a new temple and a restored Israel, emphasizing God's promise of a permanent, undefiled presence among His people. This verse captures the Lord's declaration of His chosen dwelling place and His expectation of Israel's complete holiness, free from the idolatry and spiritual defilement that led to their previous exile.

Context

This verse is situated within Ezekiel's elaborate vision of the new temple (Ezekiel chapters 40-48), which follows the devastating destruction of the first temple and the exile of Judah. After witnessing the departure of God's glory from the old temple (Ezekiel 10), Ezekiel now sees the glorious return of the Lord to the new temple in Ezekiel 43:4. The Lord then speaks directly to Ezekiel, the "Son of man," from within the temple, declaring His intention to dwell there forever and demanding an end to the defilement that characterized Israel's past.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Permanent Dwelling: The declaration "the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever" signifies an unbreakable covenant and an enduring presence. Unlike the temporary tabernacle or the first temple, this new dwelling is marked by God's eternal commitment, promising a restoration of fellowship that will not be broken by human sin again. This points to a future reality where God truly dwells with humanity.
  • Holiness and Purity Demanded: The command "my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile" highlights God's absolute demand for holiness from His people. Their past actions had profaned His name and presence, leading to judgment. The new era requires a radical change in behavior, a recognition of God's sanctity.
  • Idolatry and Spiritual Adultery Condemned: The specific sins mentioned, "their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places," refer to the deep-seated idolatry and pagan practices that plagued Israel throughout its history.
    • "Whoredom" (Hebrew: זְנוּת, zenut) is a common prophetic metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness, where Israel turned away from God to worship other gods or engage in pagan rituals. See Jeremiah 3:9 for another example of spiritual whoredom.
    • "Carcases of their kings in their high places" likely refers to the worship of deceased kings or idols associated with royal cults, often practiced on illicit altars (high places) dedicated to pagan deities. These practices were an abomination, involving the defilement of the land and God's holy name through contact with death and false worship. King Manasseh, for instance, built altars to the host of heaven in the temple courts, and many kings tolerated or promoted worship at "high places."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet" powerfully conveys God's absolute sovereignty and complete ownership over this dwelling. It's a declaration of His ultimate authority and presence, asserting that this is where His divine rule is fully established and His glory rests.

Practical Application

While the vision of Ezekiel's temple has various interpretations (literal future temple, symbolic of the church, or pointing to the New Jerusalem), the principles remain timeless:

  1. God Desires Undefiled Worship: Just as God demanded purity from ancient Israel, He desires genuine, unadulterated worship from believers today. Our lives and hearts are to be temples where His name is honored, not defiled by spiritual idolatry or compromise (1 Corinthians 6:19).
  2. Beware of Modern Idols: The "whoredom" and "carcases of kings" can be understood today as anything that takes the place of God in our hearts or lives—be it wealth, power, fame, comfort, or even self-righteousness. Any allegiance that detracts from our devotion to God is a form of defilement.
  3. God's Enduring Presence: The promise "I will dwell... for ever" offers immense comfort and assurance. For believers, God's Spirit indwells them, and He promises to be with His people always, culminating in the eternal dwelling of God with humanity in the new creation (Revelation 21:3). This verse reminds us of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, even when His people fail.
Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 43:9

    Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.

  • Psalms 47:8

    God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

  • Leviticus 26:30

    And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.

  • Psalms 99:1

    ¶ The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth [between] the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

  • Revelation 22:3

    And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

  • 1 Chronicles 28:2

    Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

  • Ezekiel 1:26

    ¶ And above the firmament that [was] over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne [was] the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
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