Ezekiel 44:19
WEB
When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they minister and lay them in the holy rooms. They shall put on other garments, that they not sanctify the people with their garments.
BSB
When they go out to the outer court, to the people, they are to take off the garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes so that they do not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.
KJV
And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H3318
v — go, bring, out
Derivation: a primitive root;
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
KJV: × after, appear, × assuredly, bear out, × begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, × scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, × still, × surely, take forth (out), at any time, × to (and fro), utter.
vb — go out
יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out
Qal
1. go or come out or forth
a. from (מִן) a place
b. go forth from (the presence of) a person
c. in technical senses
d. of flight, involving escape
e. depart
f. of inanimate things
g. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
h. of children as going forth from loins (of father)
2.
a. go forth to a place
b. go forward, proceed to or toward something
c. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
3. of combinations
Hiph.
1. cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
2. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
3. bring out animals
4. inanimate obj.
5. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
Hoph. be brought forth
H413
prep — near, with, among, to
Derivation: (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.
near, with or among; often in general, to
KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, × hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
prep — motion to
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).
1. of motion to or unto a person or place
2. Where the limit is actually entered, into
3. Of direction towards anything
4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
6. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
7. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
8. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
H2691
n-m — yard, hamlet
Derivation: (masculine and feminine); from 2690 in its original sense;
a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
KJV: court, tower, village.
n.m — settled abode
[חָצֵר] 46 n.m. settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים
n.m — enclosure
חָצֵר 145 n.m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court
H2435
a — wall side, exterior, secular
Derivation: from 2434;
properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior; figuratively, secular (as opposed to sacred)
KJV: outer, outward, utter, without.
adj — outer
חִיצוֹן adj. outer, external
H5971
n-m — people, tribe, troops, attendants, flock
Derivation: from 6004;
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
KJV: folk, men, nation, people.
n.[m.] — kinsman
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
n.m — people
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
1. a people, nation
2. = smaller units
3. = common people
4. people in gen., persons
5. phrases
H6584
v — spread out, strip
Derivation: a primitive root;
to spread out (i.e. deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e. unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)
KJV: fall upon, flay, invade, make an invasion, pull off, put off, make a road, run upon, rush, set, spoil, spread selves (abroad), strip (off, self).
vb — strip off
פָּשַׁט vb. strip off, make a dash, raid
Qal
1. strip off, put off, one’s garment
2. put off (one’s shelter), i.e. make a dash (from a sheltered place)
Pi. to strip the slain
Hiph.
1. strip one of garment
2. strip off
3. flay
Hithp. he stripped himself of his garment
H853
prt — self, even, namely
Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].
mark of the accusative
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
H899
n-m — covering, clothing, treachery, pillage
Derivation: from 898;
a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage
KJV: apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, × very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe.
n.m — garment
בֶּ֫גֶד n.m. garment, covering
H834
r — who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that
Derivation: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
KJV: × after, × alike, as (soon as), because, × every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), × if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), × though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
part. of relation — who
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
adv — in which
בַאֲשֶׁר
a. in (that) which
b. adv. in (the place) where
c. conj. in that, inasmuch as
d. on account of whom?
conj — according as
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
1. according to that which, according as, as
2. with a causal force, in so far as, since
3. with a temporal force, when
adv — who
מֵאֲשֶׁר
a. from (or than) that which
b. adv. from (the place) where
c. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H1992
p — they
Derivation: or (prolonged) הֵמָּה; masculine plural from 1931;
they (only used when emphatic)
KJV: it, like, × (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, × so, × such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
pron — they
הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they
H8334
v — attend, contribute
Derivation: a primitive root;
to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
KJV: minister (unto), (do) serve(-ant, -ice, -itor), wait on.
vb — minister
[שָׁרַת] 97 vb. Pi. minister, serve
H3240
v — deposit, allow to stay
Derivation: a primitive root;
to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay
KJV: bestow, cast down, lay (down, up), leave (off), let alone (remain), pacify, place, put, set (down), suffer, withdraw, withhold. (The Hiphil forms with the dagesh are here referred to, in accordance with the older grammarians; but if any distinction of the kind is to be made, these should rather be referred to 5117, and the others here.)
vb — rest
נוּחַ vb. rest
Qal
1. rest, settle down and remain
2. repose, be quiet, have rest
Hiph.
A.
1. cause to rest = give rest to
2. cause to rest (i.e. light) upon
B.
1. lay or set down, deposit, let lie
2. let remain, leave (in present condition)
3. leave = depart from
4. abandon
5. let alone (refrain from interfering with)
6. permit
Hoph.
A. no rest is granted to us
B. as subst. = space left, open space
H3957
n-f — room
Derivation: from an unused root of uncertain meaning;
a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging)
KJV: chamber, parlour. Compare 5393.
n.f — room
לִשְׁכָּה n.f. room, chamber, hall, cell, lishka
H6944
n-m — sacred, sanctity
Derivation: from 6942;
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
KJV: consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
n.m — apartness
קֹ֫דֶשׁ 469 n.m. apartness, sacredness
H3847
v — wrap around, put on a garment, clothe
Derivation: or לָבֵשׁ; a primitive root;
properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively
KJV: (in) apparel, arm, array (self), clothe (self), come upon, put (on, upon), wear.
vb — put on
לָבֵשׁ, לָבַשׁ vb. put on (a garment), wear, clothe, be clothed
Qal
1.
a. lit. put on (one’s own) garment; = wear (more or less habitually)
b. very oft. fig., put on, be clothed with
c. lit. put on
d. once
e. clothed with
f. and the spirit of י׳ clothed itself with Gideon
Pu. arrayed
Hiph. clothe, array with
H312
a — hinder, next, other
Derivation: from 309;
properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.
KJV: (an-) other man, following, next, strange.
adj — another
אַחֵר adj. another
H3808
adv — not, no
Derivation: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
KJV: × before, or else, ere, except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (× as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, surely, as truly as, of a truth, verily, for want, whether, without.
adv — not
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
H6942
v — be, make, pronounce, observe, clean
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
KJV: appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), × wholly.
vb. denom — be set apart
קָדַשׁ vb. denom. be set apart, consecrated
Qal
1. be set apart, consecrated, hallowed
2. be hallowed, by contact with sacred things, and so tabooed from profane use, or forfeited to sancturay
3. consecrated, tabooed (supr.)
Niph.
1. shew oneself sacred, majestic
2. be honored or treated as sacred
3. be consecrated, dedicated
Pi.
1. set apart as sacred, consecrate, dedicate
2. observe as holy, keep sacred
3. honor as sacred, hallow
4. consecrate by purification
Pu. consecrated, dedicated
Hiph.
1. set apart, consecrate
2. regard or treat, as sacred, hallowed
3. consecrate by purification
Hithp.
1. keep oneself apart from unclean things
2. of God, cause himself to be hallowed
3. be observed as holy
4. consecrate oneself by purification, of priests and Levites
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Verses 17–31
Ezekiel 44:17–31
God's priests must be regulars, not seculars; and therefore here are rules laid down for them to govern themselves by and due encouragement given them to live up to those rules. Directions are here given,
I. Concerning their clothes; they must wear linen garments when they went in to minister or do any service in the inner court, or in the sanctuary, and nothing that was woollen, because it would cause sweat, Eze 44:17, Eze 44:18. They must dress themselves cool, that they might go the more readily about their work; and they had the more need to do so because they were to attend the altars, which had constant fires upon them. And they must dress themselves clean and sweet, and avoid every thing that was sweaty and filthy, to signify the purity of mind with which the service of God is to be attended to. Sweat came in with sin and was part of the curse. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Clothes came in with sin, coats of skins did; and therefore the priests must use as little and as light clothing as possible, and not such as caused sweat. When they had finished their service they must change their clothes again, and lay up their linen garments in the chambers appointed for that purpose, Eze 44:19, as before, Eze 42:14. They must not go among the people with their holy garments on, lest they should imagine themselves sanctified by the touch of them; or, They shall sanctify the people, that is (as it is explained, Eze 42:14), they shall approach to those things which are for the people, in their ordinary garments.
II. Concerning their hair; in that they must avoid extremes on both hands (Eze 44:20): They must not shave their heads, in imitation of the Gentile priests, and as the priests of the Romish church do; nor, on the other hand, must they suffer their locks to grow long, as the beaux, or that they might be thought Nazarites, when really they were not; but they must be grave and modest, must poll their heads and keep their hair short. If a man, especially a minister, wear long hair, it is not becoming (Co1 11:14); it is effeminate.
III. Concerning their diet; they must be sure to drink no wine when they went in to minister, lest they should rink to excess, should drink and forget the law, Eze 44:21. It is not for kings to drink wine, more than will do them good, much less for priests. See Lev 10:9; Pro 31:4, Pro 31:5.
IV. Concerning their marriages, Eze 44:22. Here they must consult the credit of their office, and not marry one that had been divorced, that was at least under the suspicion of immodesty, nor a widow, unless she were a priest's widow, that had been accustomed to the usages of the priests' families. Others may do that which ministers may not do, but must deny themselves in, in honour of their character. Their wives as well as themselves must be of good report.
V. Concerning their preaching and church-government. 1. It was part of their business to teach the people; and herein they must approve themselves both skilful and faithful (Eze 44:23): They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane, between good and evil, lawful and unlawful, that they may neither scruple what is lawful nor venture upon what is unlawful, that they may not pollute what is holy nor pollute themselves with what is profane. Ministers must take pains to cause people to discern between the clean and the unclean, that they may not confound the distinctions between right and wrong, nor mistake concerning them, so as to put darkness for light and light for darkness, but may have a good judgment of discretion concerning their own actions. 2. It was part of their business to judge upon appeals made to them (Deu 17:8, Deu 17:9); and in controversy they shall stand in judgment, Eze 44:24. They shall have the honesty to stand up for what is right, and, when they have passed a right judgment, shall have the courage to stand to it and stand by it. They must judge, not according to their own fancies, or inclinations, or secular interests, but according to my judgments; that must be their rule and standard. Note, Ministers must decide controversies according to the word of God, to the law and to the testimony. Sit liber judex - Let the judge be unbiased. Their business is to keep courts in God's name, to preside in the congregations of his people. And herein they must go to the statute-book: They shall keep my statutes in all my assemblies. God calls the assemblies of his people his assemblies, because they are held in his name, to his glory. Ministers are the masters of those assemblies, are to preside in them, and in all their acts must keep close to God's laws. Another part of their work, as church governors, is to hallow God's sabbaths, to do the public work of that day with a becoming care and reverence, as the work of a holy day should be done, and to see that God's people also sanctify that day and do nothing to pollute it.
VI. Concerning their mourning for dead relations; the rule here agrees with the law of Moses, Lev 21:1, Lev 21:11. A priest shall not come near any dead body (for they must be purified from dead works) except of his next relations, Eze 44:25. Decent expressions of a pious sorrow for dear relations, when they are removed by death, are not disagreeable to the character of a minister. Yet by this approach to the dead body of a relation they contracted a ceremonial pollution, from which they must be cleansed by a sin-offering before they went in again to minister, Eze 44:26, Eze 44:27. Note, Though sorrow for the dead is very allowable and commendable, yet there is danger of sinning in it, either by excess or dissimulation; and those tears have too often need to be wept over again.
VII. Concerning their maintenance; they must live upon the altar at which they served, and live comfortably (Eze 44:28): "You shall give them no possession in Israel, no lands or tenements, lest they should be entangled with the affairs of this life;" for God has said, I am their inheritance, and they need no other in reserve; I am their possession, and they need no other in hand. Some land was allowed them (Eze 48:10), but their principal subsistence was by their office. What God appropriated to himself they were the receivers of, for their own proper use and behoof; they lived upon the holy things, and so God himself was the portion both of their inheritance and of their cup. Note, Those who have God for their inheritance and their possession may be content with a little, and ought not to covet a great deal of the possessions and inheritances of this earth. If we have God, we have all; and therefore may well reckon that we have enough. Observe,
1. What the priests were to have from the people, for their maintenance and encouragement. (1.) They must have the flesh of many of the offerings, the sin-offering and trespass-offering, which would supply them and their families with flesh-meat, and the meat-offerings, which would supply them with bread. What we offer to God will redound to our own advantage. (2.) They must have every dedicated devoted thing in Israel, which was in many cases to be turned into money and given to the priest. This is explained, Eze 44:20. Every oblation or free-will offering (which in times of reformation and devotion would be many and considerable) of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's. We have the law concerning them Lev. 27. (3.) They were to have the first of the dough when it was going to the oven, as well as the first of their fruits when they were going to the barn. God, who is the first, must have the first; and, if it belong to him, his priests must have it. We may then comfortably enjoy what we have, when a share of it has been first set apart for works of piety and charity. To this the apostle's rule bears some analogy, to begin the week with laying by for pious uses, Co1 16:2. The priests being so well provided for, it would be inexcusable in them if they (contrary to the law which every Israelite is bound by) should eat that which is torn or which died of itself, Eze 44:31. Those that were in want of necessary food might perhaps expect to be dispensed with in such a case. Poverty has its temptations, but the priests were so well provided for that they could have no pretence for it.
2. What the people might expect from the priest for their recompence. Those that are kind to a prophet, to a priest, shall have a prophet's, a priest's reward: That he may cause the blessing to rest in thy house (Eze 44:30), that God may cause it by commanding it, that the priest may cause it by praying for it; and it was part of the priest's work to bless the people in the name of the Lord, not only their congregations, but their families. Note, It is all in all to the comfort of any house to have the blessing of God upon it and to have the blessing to rest in it, to dwell where we dwell and to attend the entail of it upon those that shall come after us. And the way to have the blessing of God abide upon our estates is to honour God with them, and to give him and his ministers, him and his poor, their share out of them. God blesses, he surely blesses, the habitation of those who are thus just, Pro 3:33. And ministers, by instructing and praying for the families that are kind to them, should do their part towards causing the blessing to rest there. Peace be to this house.
Cross-references: Ezek 44:17 · Ezek 44:18 · Ezek 44:19 · Ezek 42:14 · Ezek 44:20 · 1Cor 11:14 · Ezek 44:21 · Lev 10:9 · Prov 31:4 · Prov 31:5 · Ezek 44:22 · Ezek 44:23 · Deut 17:8 · Deut 17:9 · Ezek 44:24 · Lev 21:1 · Lev 21:11 · Ezek 44:25 · Ezek 44:26 · Ezek 44:27 · Ezek 44:28 · Ezek 48:10 · 1Cor 16:2 · Ezek 44:31 · Ezek 44:30 · Prov 3:33