And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

EZEKIEL 44:13KJV
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Ezekiel 44:13 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 44:13 mean?

Ezekiel 44:13 says that certain people—specifically, some priests—are not allowed to come close to God to serve as priests or handle the most sacred things because of their past wrongdoings. Instead, they must live with the shame and consequences of the detestable acts they committed.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel, focusing on the Levites who had previously served idols. The verse is part of a larger section where God is explaining new rules for worship in the restored temple. The main point is that those who were unfaithful in the past are restricted from the highest priestly duties, as a consequence of their actions.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 44:13

  • near (נָגַשׁ, nagash): This word means "to approach" or "to come near." Here, it emphasizes that these priests are not allowed to draw close to God or His most sacred things, highlighting a barrier caused by their past actions.
  • priest (כָּהַן, kahan): This is the verb for acting as a priest. The verse uses it to stress that these individuals are not permitted to perform priestly functions before God.
  • holy things (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh): This word refers to things that are set apart as sacred. The restriction includes not just the most holy place, but any of the holy things, showing the seriousness of their disqualification.
  • bear (נָשָׂא, nasa’): This means "to carry" or "to bear." The verse says they must bear their shame, indicating an ongoing consequence, not just a one-time punishment.
  • shame (כְּלִמָּה, kelimmah): This word means disgrace or humiliation. It underlines the lasting impact of their actions on their status.
  • abominations (תּוֹעֵבָה, to’evah): This refers to detestable acts, often associated with idolatry. The verse connects their exclusion directly to these specific wrongdoings.
  • committed (עָשָׂה, asah): This is the common verb for "to do" or "to make," used here for the acts that led to their shame.

Why Ezekiel 44:13 matters

  • Ezekiel 44:13 clarifies that past unfaithfulness has real, lasting consequences, even for those in religious service, which helps explain why some priests are restricted in later temple service.
  • The verse shows a distinction between different groups of priests, which is important for understanding the structure and rules of worship in Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple.
  • This restriction connects to the larger theme in Ezekiel of God’s holiness and the need for purity among those who serve closest to Him, reinforcing why certain boundaries are set.

Where else these words appear

“priest” Hebrew H3547 · used in 23 verses

  • Exodus 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
  • Exodus 31:10 And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,
  • Numbers 3:3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.

“shame” Hebrew H3639 · used in 29 verses

  • Job 20:3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
  • Isaiah 30:3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
  • Ezekiel 16:63 That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.

“near” Hebrew H5066 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
  • Deuteronomy 25:9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.
  • 2 Kings 2:5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

“abominations” Hebrew H8441 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
  • Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
  • Ezekiel 7:3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.