Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, [one] shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth [one] shall shut the gate.
Now when the prince {H5387} shall prepare {H6213} a voluntary {H5071} burnt offering {H5930} or peace offerings {H8002} voluntarily {H5071} unto the LORD {H3068}, one shall then open {H6605} him the gate {H8179} that looketh {H6437} toward the east {H6921}, and he shall prepare {H6213} his burnt offering {H5930} and his peace offerings {H8002}, as he did {H6213} on the sabbath {H7676} day {H3117}: then he shall go forth {H3318}; and after {H310} his going forth {H3318} one shall shut {H5462} the gate {H8179}.
"'When the prince provides a voluntary offering, whether it is a burnt offering or peace offerings that he offers voluntarily to ADONAI, someone is to open the east gate for him; and he is to provide his burnt offering and peace offerings as he does on Shabbat. Then he will leave; and after he leaves, the gate is to be shut.
When the prince makes a freewill offering to the LORD, whether a burnt offering or a peace offering, the gate facing east must be opened for him. He is to offer his burnt offering or peace offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and the gate must be closed after he goes out.
And when the prince shall prepare a freewill-offering, a burnt-offering or peace-offerings as a freewill-offering unto Jehovah, one shall open for him the gate that looketh toward the east; and he shall prepare his burnt-offering and his peace-offerings, as he doth on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.
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Ezekiel 45:17
And it shall be the prince's part [to give] burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel. -
Ezekiel 46:1
¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. -
Ezekiel 46:2
And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of [that] gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. -
2 Chronicles 29:31
Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. -
Ezekiel 46:8
And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of [that] gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof. -
Leviticus 23:38
Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. -
Ezekiel 44:3
[It is] for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of [that] gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
Ezekiel 46:12 describes a specific ritual involving the "prince" within Ezekiel's visionary temple, focusing on the careful procedures for offering voluntary sacrifices and the significance of the East Gate.
Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's extensive vision of a new temple and its associated regulations, detailed from Ezekiel chapter 40 through 48. This vision was given to the prophet during the Babylonian exile, offering a hopeful blueprint for future worship and restoration. Chapters 45 and 46 specifically outline the roles of the prince, the priests, and the sacrificial system in this new, idealized temple. The "prince" here is a prominent figure distinct from the high priest, holding an administrative and leadership role in the worship life of the community. The mention of the East Gate is particularly significant, as it was previously stated in Ezekiel 44:1-2 that this gate was to remain shut because the glory of the LORD had entered through it.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
While the detailed regulations of Ezekiel's temple vision are not literally followed today, the principles embedded in this verse remain highly relevant for Christian life and worship: