Definition: And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 45:15. It’s a pretty interesting and symbolic passage! Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is about offering a sacrifice to God to make amends for something that happened – specifically, a problem with the Israelite people (represented by “Israel” here). Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Ezekiel 45…” : This refers to a specific event in Ezekiel's vision. It’s like a snapshot of a dream or a prophetic moment. “…And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel…” : This describes a very unusual situation. An entire lamb – a young sheep – is being singled out from a large group of sheep (representing the Israelite people). It’s being chosen specifically for a ritual offering to God. “Fat pastures” means rich, good land – something that was previously available to the Israelites. “…for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings…” : This explains why this lamb is being offered. It’s not just about gratitude; it's about making reconciliation with God. These are three different types of sacrifices that were important in Jewish tradition – they were all meant to show that the people were right with God. “…saith the Lord GOD.” : This is a very formal way of saying, “The Lord God says this.” So, what’s the big takeaway? Ezekiel 45:15 is telling us that God wants to make things right with Israel. It's acknowledging a past wrong (perhaps something like being ungrateful or not following God's laws) and offering a way to restore peace and connection with him. It’s a significant act of repentance and seeking forgiveness. Think of it this way: It’s like a carefully orchestrated ritual that shows God we are sorry for our mistakes and that we are willing to work towards reconciliation. --- Do you want me to explain any specific part in more detail, or perhaps connect this verse to a larger story or theme in the Bible? For example, would you like to know: What was the context of Ezekiel 45? What does this verse have to do with other biblical stories (like the Exodus)?