God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 44:17
17When they enter the gateways to the inner courtyard, they must wear linen clothes. They must have no wool on them while they serve in the gateways to the inner courtyard and in the temple.
Ezekiel 44:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
- New International Version (NIV)“ ‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes; they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen garments. They shall have nothing of wool on them, while they minister at the gates of the inner court, and within.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house.
Context of Ezekiel 44:17
15“ ‘But the priests who are Levites and descendants of Zadok took care of my holy place when the Israelites wandered away from me. They may come near me and serve me, and they may stand in my presence. They may bring fat and blood to me, declares the Almighty Lord. 16They may enter my holy place, come near my table to serve me, and take care of everything I gave them. When they enter the gateways to the inner courtyard, they must wear linen clothes. They must have no wool on them while they serve in the gateways to the inner courtyard and in the temple. 18They must wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that makes them sweat. 19When they go out among the people in the outer courtyard, they must take off the clothes that they wore as they served. They must leave their clothes in the side rooms of the holy place and put on other clothes so that they do not transfer the holiness from their clothes to the people.
Read all of Ezekiel 44Ezekiel 44:17 word by word
וְהָיָ֗ה בְּבוֹאָם֙ אֶֽל־שַׁעֲרֵי֙ הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔ית בִּגְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים יִלְבָּ֑שׁוּ וְלֹֽא־יַעֲלֶ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ צֶ֔מֶר בְּשָֽׁרְתָ֗ם בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛י הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖ית וָבָֽיְתָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- when they enterבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- in at the gatesשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
- of the innerפְּנִימִיpenîymîy · innerH6442
- courtחָצֵרchâtsêr · courtH2691
- they shall be clothedלָבֵשׁlâbash lâbêsh · to clotheH3847
- with linenפֵּ֫שֶׁתpishteh · flaxH6593
- garmentsבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- and no woolצֶ֫מֶרtsemer · woolH6785
- shall comeעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- upon them, whiles they ministerשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
- and withinבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: insideH1004
Cross-references for Ezekiel 44:17
- Exodus 28:39“Make the specially woven inner robe of fine linen. Make the turban of fine linen, but the belt should be embroidered with colored yarn.
- Exodus 39:27They wove inner robes out of fine linen for Aaron and his sons.
- Leviticus 16:4He must put on a holy linen robe and wear linen undergarments. He must wear a linen belt and turban. These are holy clothes. He must wash his body and put them on.
- Revelation 4:4Around that throne were 24 other thrones, and on these thrones sat 24 leaders wearing white clothes. They had gold crowns on their heads.
- Revelation 19:8She has been given the privilege of wearing dazzling, pure linen.” This fine linen represents the things that God’s holy people do that have his approval.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 44:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17No wool shall come upon them - The reason is plain; wool is more apt than linen to contract dirt and breed insects; linen breeds none; besides, this is a vegetable, and the other an animal substance. It was an ancient maxim, that whatever was taken from a dead body was impure in matters of religion, and should not be permitted to enter into the temple. The Egyptian priests always wore linen on their bodies, and shoes of matting or rushes on their feet…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17-31Verses 17-31 Regulations as to the priests‘ services. The garments of the priests are defined and various rules prescribed in the Law are repeated with some additions in order to denote additional care to avoid uncleanness. Ezekiel 44:18 The material of which the four vestments of the ordinary priest were made was “linen,” or, more accurately, “byssus,” the cotton stuff of Egypt. The two special qualities of the byssus - white and shining - are…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-19The priests had special access to God. Because of this privilege, they also had greater responsibility to live in holiness. Their behavior was more restricted than that of the people. They had to wear linen clothing instead of wool. This helped prevent sweat, which would make them ritually unclean (see study note on Ezekiel 36:17). They also had to keep separate garments that were used only for sacred service. transmit holiness to the people with their…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. linen--symbolical of purity. Wool soon induces perspiration in the sultry East and so becomes uncleanly.Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 44:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 44
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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