And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.

EZEKIEL 45:17KJV
Know the Bible

Ezekiel 45:17 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 45:17 mean?

Ezekiel 45:17 says that the prince of Israel will be responsible for providing all the offerings—burnt, grain, and drink offerings—at the regular feasts, new moons, and sabbaths, as well as for preparing sin, grain, burnt, and peace offerings to bring reconciliation for the people of Israel. This verse sets out the prince’s duty to supply what is needed for Israel’s worship and atonement.

In this part of Ezekiel, God is giving detailed instructions for worship in a future restored temple. Ezekiel is speaking to exiled Israelites, describing a new order where a leader called “the prince” will ensure that the nation’s worship is properly maintained. The verse highlights the prince’s role in supporting the spiritual life of the whole community.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 45:17

  • The word for “offerings” used here includes עֹלָה (ʿolah, H5930), meaning “burnt offering,” מִנְחָה (minchah, H4503), meaning “grain offering,” and נֶסֶךְ (nesekh, H5262), meaning “drink offering.” Each term points to a different type of sacrifice, showing the prince’s responsibility covers all aspects of worship.
  • The word for “feasts” is חַג (chag, H2282), which refers to the major religious festivals. This highlights that the prince’s duty is not just occasional but ongoing throughout the year.
  • The word for “reconciliation” is כָּפַר (kaphar, H3722), which means “to make atonement” or “to cover over.” This emphasizes that the offerings are meant to restore the relationship between God and Israel.

Why Ezekiel 45:17 matters

  • This verse clarifies that, in Ezekiel’s vision, the prince—not the priests or the people—bears the responsibility for providing what is needed for public worship and atonement.
  • Ezekiel 45:17 helps correct the idea that offerings were only a personal or priestly matter; here, the leader acts on behalf of the whole nation.
  • The verse ties into the larger section (Ezekiel 40–48) where God is outlining a renewed, orderly system of worship for Israel’s future, showing the importance of leadership in spiritual life.

Where else these words appear

“feasts” Hebrew H2282 · used in 55 verses

  • Exodus 10:9 And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.
  • Deuteronomy 16:14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
  • Nehemiah 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

“offerings” Hebrew H5262 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
  • Numbers 28:24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
  • 2 Kings 16:13 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
  • Joshua 22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.

“sabbaths” Hebrew H7676 · used in 89 verses

  • Exodus 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
  • Leviticus 26:35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
  • Nehemiah 13:21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.