Ezekiel 44:5

And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto me, Son {H1121} of man {H120}, mark {H7760} well {H3820}, and behold {H7200} with thine eyes {H5869}, and hear {H8085} with thine ears {H241} all that I say {H1696} unto thee concerning all the ordinances {H2708} of the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and all the laws {H8451} thereof; and mark {H7760} well {H3820} the entering in {H3996} of the house {H1004}, with every going forth {H4161} of the sanctuary {H4720}.

ADONAI said to me, "Human being, pay attention; see with your eyes and hear with your ears everything I tell you about all the regulations of ADONAI's house and about all its Torah; pay attention to who can enter the house and who must be excluded from the sanctuary.

The LORD said to me: “Son of man, pay attention; look carefully with your eyes and listen closely with your ears to everything I tell you concerning all the statutes and laws of the house of the LORD. Take careful note of the entrance to the temple, along with all the exits of the sanctuary.

And Jehovah said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of Jehovah, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every egress of the sanctuary.

Ezekiel 44:5 KJV Commentary

Ezekiel 44:5 is a pivotal verse within Ezekiel's grand vision of the new temple, emphasizing the divine instruction given to the prophet concerning its sacred nature and operations. It serves as a solemn charge from the LORD to Ezekiel, underscoring the absolute necessity of careful attention to every detail of God's blueprint for worship and holy living.

Context

The book of Ezekiel chronicles the prophet's experiences during the Babylonian exile. Chapters 40-48 detail a magnificent vision of a new temple, a symbol of God's restored presence among His people after the desolation of Jerusalem and its first temple. This section moves from the physical layout of the temple (Ch. 40-43) to the specific regulations for its priests, offerings, and sacred space (Ch. 44-46). Ezekiel 44:5 marks a transition into these detailed ordinances, highlighting the divine emphasis on precision and reverence in all matters pertaining to God's house. The previous chapter, Ezekiel 43:4, describes the return of the glory of the LORD to the temple, setting the stage for the holy regulations that follow.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Instruction: The verse opens with "And the LORD said unto me," clearly establishing God as the ultimate source of these detailed commands. This underscores the divine origin and unchallengeable authority of the instructions concerning the temple and its laws.
  • Diligent Attention and Obedience: The repeated command to "mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears" stresses the paramount importance of meticulous observation and understanding. Ezekiel is not merely to glance but to deeply internalize every word, serving as a model for all who receive God's truth. This echoes the biblical call to be doers of the word, not hearers only.
  • Holiness and Order of God's House: The core subject is "all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary." This highlights the sanctity of God's dwelling place and the strict rules governing access and conduct within it. Every aspect of the temple's operation, from who could enter to how rituals were performed, was to reflect God's holiness and maintain purity.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Son of man" (Hebrew: ben adam): This is a common address to Ezekiel throughout the book, emphasizing his humanity and mortality in contrast to the divine majesty of the LORD who speaks to him. It highlights that even a prophet must carefully receive God's word.
  • "Mark well" (Hebrew: sim leb): This phrase literally means "set your heart" or "put your mind." It implies more than just casual observation; it demands deep consideration, earnest reflection, and a complete focus of one's intellect and will upon the divine instructions.
  • "Ordinances" (Hebrew: chuqqim) and "laws" (Hebrew: torot): These terms refer to divine statutes, decrees, and instructions. Chuqqim often denotes established customs or fixed regulations, while torot refers to general instructions or teachings, particularly those from God. Together, they encompass the comprehensive body of divine requirements for temple service and holy living.

Practical Application

While the physical temple of Ezekiel's vision has not been literally rebuilt, the spiritual principles conveyed in this verse remain profoundly relevant for believers today. God still demands our diligent attention and obedience to His Word. We are called to:

  • Pay Close Attention to God's Word: Just as Ezekiel was commanded to "mark well," we must diligently read, study, and meditate on Scripture, seeking to understand its teachings with our "eyes" and "ears" – our full intellectual and spiritual faculties.
  • Revere God's Holiness: The detailed regulations for the temple underscore God's absolute holiness. For Christians, our bodies are called the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the church is God's spiritual house. This calls us to live lives that reflect God's purity and respect His presence in our personal lives and corporate worship.
  • Maintain Order in Worship and Life: The emphasis on "entering in" and "going forth" with precision speaks to the importance of order, reverence, and intentionality in our spiritual practices and daily conduct. Our approach to God should be thoughtful and respectful, not casual or careless.

Ezekiel 44:5 serves as a timeless reminder that God cares deeply about how we approach Him and that true worship requires careful attention to His divine instructions and a heart committed to holiness.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 40:4

    And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew [them] unto thee [art] thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

  • Ezekiel 43:10

    Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.

  • Ezekiel 43:11

    And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write [it] in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

  • Deuteronomy 12:32

    What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

  • Deuteronomy 32:46

    And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

  • Daniel 10:12

    Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

  • Psalms 96:8

    Give unto the LORD the glory [due unto] his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.

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