And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth.

EZEKIEL 46:10KJV
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What does Ezekiel 46:10 mean?

Ezekiel 46:10 describes how the prince will enter and leave the temple together with the people during worship. The verse shows that the prince is not set apart from the community but participates alongside everyone else when coming in and going out.

In this part of Ezekiel, God is giving instructions about worship in a future temple. The prophet Ezekiel is relaying these details to the Israelites in exile. The focus here is on the prince’s role: he joins the people in their movements, showing shared worship rather than special privilege or separation.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 46:10

  • "prince" (נָשִׂיא, nāśî’): This word means a leader or ruler, but not necessarily a king. In Ezekiel, the prince has responsibilities but is not above the law or the people.
  • "midst" (תָּוֶךְ, tāwek): This word means "in the middle" or "among." The prince is described as being "in the midst" of the people, highlighting his presence with them rather than above them.
  • "go in" (בּוֹא, bô’): This verb is used twice, emphasizing that the prince enters at the same time as the people.
  • "go forth" (יָצָא, yāṣā’): Also used twice, this word means to go out or leave. The repetition underlines that the prince’s actions mirror those of the people.

Why Ezekiel 46:10 matters

  • This verse corrects any idea that the prince is isolated or privileged in worship; instead, he is part of the community’s rhythm of entering and leaving.
  • The shared movement of the prince and people points to a model of leadership that is present and involved, not distant or above others.
  • In the wider context of Ezekiel 40–48, this detail helps paint a picture of order, equality, and unity in the future temple worship God describes through Ezekiel.