Ezekiel 45:21

In the first [month], in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.

In the first {H7223} month, in the fourteenth {H702}{H6240} day {H3117} of the month {H2320}, ye shall have the passover {H6453}, a feast {H2282} of seven {H7620} days {H3117}; unleavened bread {H4682} shall be eaten {H398}.

"'On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to have the Pesach, a feast seven days long; matzah will be eaten.

On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to observe the Passover, a feast of seven days, during which unleavened bread shall be eaten.

In the firstmonth, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.

Ezekiel 45:21, found within Ezekiel's elaborate vision of a future temple and its worship, outlines the divine instruction for observing the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This verse highlights the enduring importance of these ancient Israelite feasts even in a renewed, idealized worship system, emphasizing continuity and purity.

Context

This verse is part of a detailed section in Ezekiel (chapters 40-48) describing a visionary temple, its dimensions, services, and the regulations for its priests and prince. Given during the Babylonian exile, this prophecy provided a beacon of hope for Israel, envisioning a restored relationship with God through meticulous worship. Chapter 45 specifically focuses on the sacred land divisions and the duties of the prince, including the provision for the holy feasts. The inclusion of Passover here underscores its foundational role in Israel's identity and worship, linking the future with the nation's redemptive history, particularly the deliverance from Egypt.

Key Themes

  • Continuity of Divine Ordinances: Despite the new temple vision, the fundamental feasts established under the Mosaic Law are maintained. This signifies God's unchanging nature and the perpetual significance of His covenants with His people.
  • Holiness and Purity in Worship: The emphasis on "unleavened bread" is a strong symbolic call for purity. Leaven often represents sin or corruption in biblical imagery. Observing this feast without leaven signified a commitment to removing sin and living a sanctified life before God.
  • Remembrance of Deliverance: The Passover feast itself is a powerful annual reminder of God's miraculous act of salvation, when He "passed over" the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague in Egypt. This act of remembrance fosters gratitude and trust in God's redemptive power.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Passover" translates the Hebrew word Pesach (פֶּסַח), which literally means "to pass over" or "to spare." It directly refers to the night when the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites marked with the blood of the lamb. "Unleavened bread" is matzah (מַצָּה) in Hebrew, signifying bread made without leaven, emphasizing haste (as the Israelites left Egypt quickly) and purity (as leaven can symbolize corruption).

Significance and Application

Ezekiel 45:21 reminds us that God desires orderly and pure worship from His people. For ancient Israel, observing Passover was an act of remembering God's mighty deliverance and renewing their commitment to Him. For believers today, this verse foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of Passover in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. As 1 Corinthians 5:7 declares, "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." Therefore, the command to eat unleavened bread can be spiritually applied as a call to live a life free from the "leaven" of malice and wickedness, embracing sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8). This verse encourages us to remember God's deliverance in our own lives, to seek purity in our walk, and to worship Him with intentionality and reverence.

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.

  • Leviticus 23:5

    In the fourteenth [day] of the first month at even [is] the LORD'S passover.

  • Leviticus 23:8

    But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day [is] an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work [therein].

  • Numbers 9:2

    Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.

  • Numbers 9:14

    And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.

  • Deuteronomy 16:1

    ¶ Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

  • Deuteronomy 16:8

    Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day [shall be] a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work [therein].

  • Exodus 12:1

    ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
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