Ezekiel 45:20 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 45:20 mean?

Ezekiel 45:20 calls for a ceremony on the seventh day of the month to cleanse God’s house in connection with people who have gone wrong or acted without understanding. The verse presents the cleansing of the house as a concern for the whole community.

God is giving Ezekiel instructions for the temple described in his vision. After the first-day ceremony in verse 19, the instruction “so thou shalt do” calls for action again on the seventh day. “The house” is the temple, the place set apart for God’s presence among the people.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 45:20

• “erreth” — שָׁגָה (shagah): This word can mean to go astray or make a mistake. Here it points to someone who has gone wrong, with an emphasis on error rather than a planned act.
• “simple” — פֶּתִי (peti): This word often describes someone inexperienced or easily led. In this verse, it suggests a person who acts without full understanding.
• “reconcile” — כָּפַר (kaphar): This word can carry the sense of dealing with wrongdoing through a prescribed act. Here the action is directed toward the house, making it fit for its sacred use.

Why Ezekiel 45:20 matters

• The concern reaches beyond a person’s deliberate choices. The words “erreth” and “simple” include those whose wrongdoing involves error or lack of understanding.
• The cleansing follows a set pattern rather than a private decision. “So thou shalt do” points back to the instructions for handling blood at the temple entrances and altar in verse 19.
• The temple’s cleansing is connected with the people who use it. The verse joins action for those who have gone wrong with the result, “so shall ye reconcile the house.”