In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.
EZEKIEL 45:25KJVWhat does Ezekiel 45:25 mean?
Ezekiel 45:25 describes a festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, during which the leader is to offer the same types of sacrifices—sin offering, burnt offering, grain offering, and oil—as were given at a previous festival. This instruction sets out a pattern for worship and offerings during a specific seven-day feast.
This verse is part of a vision where God, through Ezekiel, gives detailed instructions about worship in a future temple. Ezekiel is speaking to the exiled Israelites, outlining how the community’s leader should observe a festival in the seventh month (which corresponds to the Feast of Tabernacles in the Jewish calendar). The focus is on the proper way to approach God with offerings, emphasizing order and consistency in worship.
The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 45:25
- "Seventh" (שְׁבִיעִי, shevi‘i) and "fifteenth" (חֲמִשָּׁה, chamesh + עָשָׂר, asar): These words specify the exact timing of the festival, which matches the start of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in the Jewish calendar.
- "Feast" (חַג, chag): This word points to a special, joyful religious gathering, not just a regular meeting.
- "Sin offering" (חַטָּאת, chatat), "burnt offering" (עֹלָה, olah), "meat offering" (מִנְחָה, minchah), and "oil" (שֶׁמֶן, shemen): Each term refers to a specific type of sacrifice or offering, highlighting the completeness and variety of worship expected during the festival.
Why Ezekiel 45:25 matters
- Ezekiel 45:25 clarifies that the festival in the seventh month is to be celebrated with the same offerings as another festival, showing a deliberate pattern in worship.
- The verse connects the restored temple practices to earlier traditions, especially the Feast of Tabernacles, helping readers see continuity between past and future worship.
- By detailing the offerings, Ezekiel 45:25 emphasizes the importance of both ritual purity (sin offering) and thanksgiving or dedication (burnt and grain offerings), reflecting a holistic approach to worship.