Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this biblical passage together. It’s a pretty interesting and symbolic verse from the book of Ezekiel! Here's a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a special ritual that God is setting up for a specific group of people – the priests – to offer sacrifices and worship in a very important place. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Ezekiel 46:2” : This refers to a specific section of Ezekiel's prophetic book, which was written around 580 BC. It’s a prophecy – a vision or prediction about the future. “And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of [that] gate without…” : This is where it gets interesting. The "Prince" in Ezekiel refers to a figure who represents God's presence and authority. The verse says that God’s representatives – the priests – are allowed to enter this specific place (the “gate”) without being directly recognized or addressed by the people. It’s like a special, privileged entrance. “…and shall stand by the post of the gate…” : The priests are positioned near the gate itself. This is crucial – they're not just passing through; they’re actively involved in the ritual. “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…” : This means that the priests are going to perform a specific type of sacrifice – burning incense and offering gifts (burnt offering) – at this particular place . They’re essentially preparing for a dedicated time of worship. “but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.” : This is a crucial part! The ritual isn't finished until sunset. God says, "Wait until the evening," which signifies that the work – the offering and worship – should continue throughout the day. It’s about a time of complete dedication and focus. Overall Meaning & Symbolism: This verse is often interpreted as a symbolic representation of: God's Presence & Authority: The Prince entering the gate signifies God’s presence and his right to command and guide people. Sacrifice & Worship: The priests’ offerings are a way for them to express devotion, acknowledge God, and seek His guidance. A Time of Preparation: It speaks to a period of intense preparation before a significant event or moment of divine action. It's about setting the stage for something important. In short, it’s a carefully orchestrated ritual designed to honor God and allow Him to work through his people in a meaningful way. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme? Offer different interpretations of the meaning?

Definition: Then said he unto me, This [is] the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear [them] not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 46:20. It's a really interesting passage about how God is setting up a special place for worship and sacrifice. Here’s a simplified explanation: What it means in simple terms: “Then said he unto me, This [is] the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear [them] not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.” Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Then said he unto me…” : This means God is speaking directly to someone – likely a priest or leader. “…this [is] the place…” : This refers to a specific location, a temple or sanctuary. It's a designated space for these important rituals. "...where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering..." : This is the core of the verse. It means this place is dedicated to two types of sacrifices: Trespass Offering: This was a sacrifice offered to God when people were guilty of wrongdoing or had broken laws. It wasn’t meant for public display, but for atonement and cleansing. Sin Offering: This was a sacrifice made to show God's forgiveness and to draw closer to Him. "...where they shall bake the meat offering..." : The priests would prepare these sacrifices – think of them as special meals or offerings – in a specific oven. "that they bear [them] not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.” This is the most important part. It means: “bear [them] not out…” : The priests don't bring these sacrifices outside of this designated space. "...to sanctify the people." : This is the ultimate goal – to make God’s presence holy and worthy of worship. By performing these sacrifices, the priests were symbolically purifying the people and making them worthy of a closer relationship with God. In essence, the verse describes a carefully orchestrated ritual where the priests would prepare and offer two types of sacrifices – one for atonement and one for forgiveness – in a place that is meant to be a holy space for worship and purification. Why is this important? This passage highlights God's holiness and his desire to establish a place where He can interact with His people in a powerful way. It speaks to the idea of ritual purity and the importance of dedicated worship. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse further? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme?

Definition: Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court [there was] a court.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 46:21. It's a really interesting and symbolic passage! Here's what it means, explained simply: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a very large, elaborate, and complex space – essentially a massive temple – being built by God. It’s not just a regular building; it’s a special place designed for worship and dedicated to the presence of God. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Then he brought me forth into the utter court…” - This is a fancy way of saying “He created this space.” "Utter court" means a huge, open area – like a vast, central plaza or courtyard. It’s a place where things are brought together and judged. “…and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court…” - This is the key part! God is creating this space four times . Each time, He's setting up a separate area within this larger space. It’s like building different parts of a complex structure in stages. “And, behold, in every corner of the court [there was] a court.” - This is where it gets really symbolic. Each “court” represents a specific task or activity that God wants to focus on within this space. It's not just any court; it’s a dedicated place for these activities. So, what does it all mean? It suggests a deliberate design by God to: Center His Focus: He’s setting up different areas to give Him a central point of attention and to handle various aspects of his plan. Organize His Activity: It shows that He’s carefully organizing things, moving between different tasks within this large space. Create a Dedicated Space: The verse emphasizes that this isn't just a random area; it's a special place dedicated to God’s presence and worship. In short, this verse describes a meticulously planned and structured space created by God where He will oversee various activities and focus on His work. Important Note: This is a very symbolic passage. It's not meant to be taken literally in the way we understand buildings or spaces today. It’s a powerful image of God's deliberate design and organization. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Discuss its significance in a specific context (like the Old Testament)?

Definition: In the four corners of the court [there were] courts joined of forty [cubits] long and thirty broad: these four corners [were] of one measure.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 46:22. It’s a really interesting and somewhat mysterious passage! Here's the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, it describes a specific, meticulously crafted area for producing wine and oil. “In the four corners of the court” : This refers to a specific location – a fortified area or building. Think of it as a designated space. “There were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad” : “Cubits” are units of measurement in ancient times, like inches or feet. This means the area was incredibly large – about 40 cubits long (approximately 36 feet) and 30 cubits wide (approximately 24 feet). “These four corners were of one measure” : This is the really important part! The entire area designated as this “court” was designed to produce a single , perfectly measured amount of wine and oil. It's like a specialized, highly controlled production facility. What’s the point? Ezekiel was describing this area as a place where God would oversee the creation and quality control of wine and oil. It was a space dedicated to producing these precious substances for religious purposes – likely used in worship and rituals. Important Note: This is a very symbolic passage, and its meaning has been debated by scholars for centuries. It’s not meant to be taken literally about modern-day wine production. --- Do you want me to explain any of this further? For example, would you like me to: Discuss the historical context of Ezekiel 46? Explain what "cubits" were in ancient times? Talk about why this passage is considered symbolic?

Definition: And [there was] a row [of building] round about in them, round about them four, and [it was] made with boiling places under the rows round about.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Ezekiel 46. It's a really interesting and symbolic description of a special place – a “tanner’s” or “blacksmith’s” workshop. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it describes a large, circular area filled with clay that was specifically designed for making dyed fabrics. Here’s a more detailed explanation: “And [there was] a row [of building] round about in them…” : Imagine a long, winding path or row. This represents a continuous process of creating and working on these fabrics. “…round about them four…” : This tells us there were four distinct sections within the circular area. “…and [it was] made with boiling places under the rows round about.” : This is the really important part! The clay in this area was designed to be heated and molded. “Boiling places” mean it had a special system of water – hot water – that was used to shape the clay into different forms. This wasn't just any clay; it was specifically made for dyeing fabrics. So, putting it all together: Ezekiel 46:23 describes a large, circular area filled with clay, shaped like a row of buildings. These buildings were built to be used for making dyed fabrics. It was a meticulously crafted space dedicated solely to this purpose. Why is this important? This passage is thought to be symbolic. It’s not just about physical clay; it's about God’s plan for the Jewish people – to produce beautiful and useful textiles that would show off their devotion and identity. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific part of this verse in more detail? Connect this passage to other biblical stories or themes? Give you some context about the time and place where this passage was found?

Definition: Then said he unto me, These [are] the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 46:24. It’s a really interesting and symbolic description of a special place – a temple or oven – used for preparing sacrificial animals in ancient Israel. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Core Idea: This verse describes a place where the priests of Israel were specifically allowed to boil sacrifices. It’s about a ritualistic process that was very important to their religion. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: "These are the places of them that boil..." : This refers to a specific area – likely a large, heated oven or building – dedicated to this purpose. "...where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people." : This is the key part. “Ministers of the house” means priests and high-ranking officials who were responsible for preparing and offering sacrifices. "Boil the sacrifice" means to heat the animal (usually a lamb or goat) to a specific temperature, often by adding spices and herbs, which was believed to purify it and make it worthy of God. Historical Context - A Bit Mysterious: This verse is found in Ezekiel’s prophetic book – a vision from God to Ezekiel, who was a priest in Jerusalem. It’s considered one of the most mysterious passages in the Bible. It's not a straightforward description of a physical place; it's about a ritualistic practice. Why is it significant? Symbolism: The imagery of boiling meat is rich with symbolism. It represents purification, sacrifice, and the connection between God and his people. Focus on Ritual: It highlights the importance of rituals and specific procedures in ancient Israelite religious life. In short, this verse tells us about a place where priests were allowed to prepare sacrifices – a deeply symbolic and important part of their religious practice. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the symbolism behind this verse in more detail? Compare it to other related biblical passages?