They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
They shall eat {H398} the meat offering {H4503}, and the sin offering {H2403}, and the trespass offering {H817}; and every dedicated thing {H2764} in Israel {H3478} shall be theirs.
They are to eat the grain offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings; and everything in Isra'el devoted [to God] will be theirs.
They shall eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them.
They shall eat the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs.
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Numbers 18:14
Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine. -
Leviticus 27:21
But the field, when it goeth out in the jubile, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's. -
Leviticus 27:28
Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, [both] of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing [is] most holy unto the LORD. -
Leviticus 6:14
¶ And this [is] the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. -
Leviticus 6:18
All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. [It shall be] a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy. -
Leviticus 7:6
Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it [is] most holy. -
Leviticus 6:26
The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Ezekiel 44:29 outlines specific provisions for the priests serving in the visionary temple, detailing their entitlement to consume portions of various offerings brought by the people. This verse is crucial for understanding the economic and social role of the priesthood within ancient Israel's worship system, as re-envisioned by God through Ezekiel.
Context
This verse is found within Ezekiel's extended vision of a new temple, its rituals, and the regulations for its priesthood (Ezekiel chapters 40-48). Following God's judgment on Israel, this vision offers hope for future restoration and a renewed, purified worship. Specifically, chapters 43-46 focus on the ordinances of the temple, the glory of God returning, and the duties of the Zadokite priests, who were deemed faithful. Their entitlement to offerings was a direct consequence of their dedicated service and separation from secular livelihoods, as also seen in earlier Mosaic law.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The "meat offering" (KJV) is more accurately translated as the "grain offering" or "meal offering" (Hebrew: minchah), which was typically a bloodless offering of flour, oil, and frankincense. The "sin offering" (Hebrew: chatta'th) and "trespass offering" (Hebrew: asham) were crucial sacrifices for atonement and expiation of specific sins or guilt. The phrase "every dedicated thing" points to something consecrated or holy (Hebrew: qodesh or cherem in some contexts, but here referring to holy gifts), reinforcing the idea that the priests' sustenance came from what was specifically set apart for God.
Practical Application
While the specific temple rituals are no longer practiced in the same way under the new covenant, the underlying principles remain relevant. This verse reminds us of: