And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.

EZEKIEL 46:11KJV
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Ezekiel 46:11 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 46:11 mean?

Ezekiel 46:11 gives instructions for the amount of grain and oil to be offered during special religious gatherings in the temple: an ephah of grain for each bull and ram, as much as one can give for the lambs, and a hin of oil for each ephah of grain. This verse sets out the practical details for worship offerings during feast days and appointed festivals.

In this part of Ezekiel, God is giving the prophet Ezekiel detailed rules for temple worship to share with the people of Israel, focusing on order and fairness in offerings. The verse is part of a larger vision about how worship should be carried out in a restored temple, emphasizing both generosity and structure in what is brought before God.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 46:11

  • "Feasts" (חַג, ḥag, H2282) and "solemnities" (מוֹעֵד, mo'ed, H4150) both refer to special times set aside for worship, but "mo'ed" often points to appointed or fixed times, highlighting the organized nature of these gatherings.
  • "Ephah" (אֵיפָה, 'eifah, H374) and "hin" (הִין, hin, H1969) are ancient Hebrew measurements: an ephah is a dry measure (about 22 liters or 5.8 gallons), and a hin is a liquid measure (about 3.8 liters or 1 gallon). Knowing these helps modern readers picture the actual amounts involved.
  • "Able" (יָד, yad, H3027) literally means "hand" in Hebrew, but here it is used to mean "as much as one is able," showing flexibility for those bringing lambs as offerings, rather than a fixed amount.

Why Ezekiel 46:11 matters

  • This verse clarifies that worship in the temple was meant to be both orderly and accessible, with set amounts for some offerings and flexibility for others, especially for those who might not have much.
  • The specific measurements show that worship was not just spiritual but also practical, involving real resources and thoughtful preparation.
  • Ezekiel 46:11 connects to the larger vision of a restored temple, showing God's desire for both structure and mercy in how people approach Him during important times.

Where else these words appear

“give” Hebrew H4991 · used in 6 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
  • Proverbs 25:14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

“hin” Hebrew H1969 · used in 19 verses

  • Exodus 29:40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
  • Numbers 15:6 Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.
  • Numbers 28:14 And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.

“ephah” Hebrew H374 · used in 29 verses

  • Exodus 16:36 Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.
  • Ruth 2:17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
  • Ezekiel 46:5 And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.

“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.