New Living Translation
Ezekiel 44:17
17“When they enter the gateway to the inner courtyard, they must wear only linen clothing. They must wear no wool while on duty in the inner courtyard or in the Temple itself.
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“However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign Lord. 16They alone will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will fulfill all my requirements. “When they enter the gateway to the inner courtyard, they must wear only linen clothing. They must wear no wool while on duty in the inner courtyard or in the Temple itself. 18They must wear linen turbans and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that would cause them to perspire. 19When they return to the outer courtyard where the people are, they must take off the clothes they wear while ministering to me. They must leave them in the sacred rooms and put on other clothes so they do not endanger anyone by transmitting holiness to them through this clothing.
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“Weave Aaron’s patterned tunic from fine linen cloth. Fashion the turban from this linen as well. Also make a sash, and decorate it with colorful embroidery.
- Exodus 39:27They made tunics for Aaron and his sons from fine linen cloth.
- Leviticus 16:4He must put on his linen tunic and the linen undergarments worn next to his body. He must tie the linen sash around his waist and put the linen turban on his head. These are sacred garments, so he must bathe himself in water before he puts them on.
- Revelation 4:4Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.
- Revelation 19:8She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
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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