Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer:

EZEKIEL 45:14KJV
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Ezekiel 45:14 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 45:14 mean?

Ezekiel 45:14 sets out a specific rule for how much oil should be offered as part of the temple offerings: one-tenth of a bath of oil from each cor, with a cor being the same as a homer, which equals ten baths. This verse gives a precise measurement for the oil portion required from the people, ensuring fairness and consistency in worship practices.

In this part of Ezekiel, God is giving the prophet Ezekiel detailed instructions about offerings for a future temple, speaking to the people of Israel through him. The verse explains how to measure oil for offerings, using ancient units: a "bath" for liquid and a "cor" or "homer" for larger quantities. The focus is on making sure everyone brings the right amount, reflecting order and care in worship.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 45:14

  • בָּת (bath, transliteration: bath): This word refers to a unit of liquid measure, often understood as about 5–6 gallons (20–24 liters). Knowing this helps modern readers picture the actual amount being discussed.
  • כֹּר (cor, transliteration: kor): This is a larger unit of measure, often used for dry goods but here applied to oil, and is equal to a "homer." It shows the scale of the offerings expected.
  • הֹמֶר (homer, transliteration: homer): This is another large measure, defined here as ten baths. The verse clarifies the relationship between these units, which helps avoid confusion about how much was required.
  • מַעֲשֵׂר (ma'aser, translated "tenth part"): This word means "a tenth" or "tithe," highlighting the principle of giving a set portion, a common idea in Israelite law.

Why Ezekiel 45:14 matters

  • Ezekiel 45:14 clears up how much oil each person was expected to bring, preventing misunderstandings or disputes about the correct amount.
  • The verse connects to a larger section where God gives Ezekiel detailed instructions for worship in the future temple, emphasizing order and fairness.
  • By spelling out the relationship between ancient measurements, Ezekiel 45:14 helps modern readers understand the practical side of Old Testament worship and the importance placed on precise obedience.

Where else these words appear

“cor” Hebrew H3734 · used in 6 verses

  • 1 Kings 4:22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,
  • 1 Kings 5:11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
  • 2 Chronicles 27:5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.

“bath” Hebrew H1324 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Kings 7:26 And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
  • Isaiah 5:10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.

“homer” Hebrew H2563 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
  • Job 27:16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
  • Isaiah 45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

“part” Hebrew H4643 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
  • Deuteronomy 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
  • Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.