Ezekiel 46:1
New International Version
“’This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be opened.

New Living Translation
“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The east gateway of the inner courtyard will be closed during the six workdays each week, but it will be open on Sabbath days and the days of new moon celebrations.

English Standard Version
“Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

Berean Standard Bible
“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.

King James Bible
Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

New King James Version
‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.

New American Standard Bible
‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “The gate of the inner courtyard facing east shall be shut for the six working days; but it shall be opened on the Sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon.

NASB 1995
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “The gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon.

NASB 1977
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “The gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the sabbath day, and opened on the day of the new moon.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “The gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon.

Amplified Bible
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “The gate of the inner courtyard that faces east shall be shut during the six working days, but it shall be opened on the Sabbath day and opened on the day of the New Moon.

Christian Standard Bible
“This is what the Lord GOD says: The gate of the inner court that faces east is to be closed during the six days of work, but it will be opened on the Sabbath day and opened on the day of the New Moon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: The gate of the inner court that faces east must be closed during the six days of work, but it will be opened on the Sabbath day and opened on the day of the New Moon.

American Standard Version
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said: The east gate of the inner courtyard must remain closed during the six working days of each week. But on the Sabbath and on the first day of the month, this gate will be opened.

English Revised Version
Thus saith the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: The east gate of the inner courtyard must be closed during the six working days, but it must be opened on the weekly day of worship. It must also be opened on the New Moon Festival.

Good News Translation
The Sovereign LORD says, "The east gateway to the inner courtyard must be kept closed during the six working days, but it is to be opened on the Sabbath and at the New Moon Festival.

International Standard Version
"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'The inner, east-facing courtyard is to remain shut during the six working days of the week, but on the Sabbath day it is to be opened, as well as on the day of the New Moon.

Majority Standard Bible
“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.

NET Bible
"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: The gate of the inner court that faces east will be closed six working days, but on the Sabbath day it will be opened and on the day of the new moon it will be opened.

New Heart English Bible
"Thus says the Lord GOD: 'The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh towards the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

World English Bible
“‘The Lord Yahweh says: “The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said Lord YHWH: “The gate of the inner court that is looking eastward is shut [during] the six days of work, and on the day of rest it is opened, and in the day of the new moon it is opened;

Young's Literal Translation
'Thus said the Lord Jehovah: The gate of the inner court that is looking eastward is shut the six days of work, and on the day of rest it is opened, and in the day of the new moon it is opened;

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: The gate of the inner enclosure turning to the east shall be shut six days of work; and in the day of the Sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east, shall be shut the six days, on which work is done; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, yea and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord God: “The gate of the inner court which looks toward the east shall be closed for the six days on which work is done. Then, on the Sabbath day, it shall be opened. But also on the day of the new moon, it shall be opened.

New American Bible
Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court facing east shall remain closed throughout the six working days, but on the sabbath and on the day of the new moon it shall be open.

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall remain closed on the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THUS says the LORD God: The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut during the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: “The gate of the inner courtyard that faces to the East shall be shut the six days in which work is done, and on the day of the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the first moon it shall be opened
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord God; The gate that is in the inner court, that looks eastward, shall be shut the six working days; but let it be opened on the sabbath-day, and it shall be opened on the day of the new moon.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Prince's Offerings
1“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened. 2The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost, while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and peace offerings. He is to bow in worship at the threshold of the gate and then depart, but the gate must not be shut until evening.…

Cross References
Isaiah 66:23
From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. ...

Leviticus 23:3
For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

Nehemiah 13:19
When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

Isaiah 56:2
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Isaiah 58:13-14
If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, / then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Matthew 12:8
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:27-28
Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. / Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Luke 4:16
Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,

Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

Revelation 1:10
On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

Ezekiel 44:1-3
The man then brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faced east, but it was shut. / And the LORD said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It shall not be opened, and no man shall enter through it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. Therefore it will remain shut. / Only the prince himself may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He must enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.”

Ezekiel 45:17
And it shall be the prince’s part to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—for all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.

2 Chronicles 8:13
He observed the daily requirement for offerings according to the commandment of Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons, and the three annual appointed feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles.


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

shall be shut

Ezekiel 44:1,2
Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut…

six working

Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Exodus 20:9
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

Luke 13:14
And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

on the sabbath

Ezekiel 45:17
And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.

Isaiah 66:23
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Hebrews 4:9,10
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God…

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Ezekiel 46
1. Ordinances for the prince in his worship
9. and for the people
16. An order for the prince's inheritance
19. The courts for boiling and baking














This is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase underscores the divine authority and origin of the message. In Hebrew, "Lord GOD" is "Adonai Yahweh," emphasizing both the sovereignty and the covenantal relationship God has with His people. This introduction sets the tone for the seriousness and sacredness of the instructions that follow, reminding us that these are not mere human traditions but divinely ordained practices.

The gate of the inner court that faces east
The east-facing gate holds significant symbolic meaning in biblical literature. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the east was often associated with the direction of the rising sun, symbolizing new beginnings and divine presence. The inner court refers to the sacred space within the temple complex, reserved for priestly activities. The east-facing gate, therefore, represents a point of access to the divine, a place where heaven and earth meet.

must be shut for the six working days
The instruction to keep the gate shut during the six working days highlights the distinction between the sacred and the secular. The six days of labor reflect the creation narrative in Genesis, where God worked for six days and rested on the seventh. This pattern establishes a rhythm of work and rest, underscoring the importance of dedicating time to both earthly responsibilities and spiritual reflection.

but on the Sabbath day and the New Moon it shall be opened
The opening of the gate on the Sabbath and New Moon signifies special times of worship and divine encounter. The Sabbath, instituted in the Ten Commandments, is a day of rest and spiritual renewal, a covenant sign between God and His people. The New Moon, marking the beginning of a new month, was also a time for special offerings and worship in ancient Israel. Together, these occasions remind believers of the importance of setting aside regular times for worship, reflection, and communion with God, reinforcing the rhythm of sacred time in the life of the community.

XLVI.

The first fifteen verses of this chapter belong to Ezekiel 45. The prince was required to provide and bring the sacrifices for himself and for the people (Ezekiel 45:17); therefore, as soon as the yearly festivals have been described, directions are given (Ezekiel 46:1-3) for the conduct of the prince at these sacrifices. He was required to be always present, while attendance on the part of the people was obligatory only at the yearly festivals. The prophet then goes on to provide for the sacrifices for the Sabbaths and new moons, for free-will offerings, and for the daily sacrifices.

(1) The gate of the inner court.--It has already been provided (Ezekiel 44:1-3) that the outer gate on the east should be kept closed, except for the prince. The same thing is now commanded for the east gate of the inner court also; and, further, the days are specified, the Sabbaths and new moons, on which it shall be used by the prince.

Verses 1-15. - The supplementary directions contained in these verses relate to the worship of the prince and the people on the sabbaths and the new moons (vers. 1-7) and at the appointed feasts generally (vers. 5-15). Verse 1. - Like the preceding sections which introduced distinctly new enactments in Ezekiel's Torah (see Ezekiel 44:9; Ezekiel 45:9, 18), this properly opens with a Thus saith the Lord God, since it refers to the worship that should be celebrated at the gate of the inner court which looketh toward the east. Ewald, after the LXX. (ἡ πύλη ἡ ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ τῇ ἐσωτέρᾳ), changes the text so as to read the outer court gate, and understands the statement here made to be a qualification of that contained in Ezekiel 44:1-3. It is, however, the inner east gate to which the present clause alludes, and the announce-meat made concerning it is that, like the outer east gate, it should be shut on the six working days; literally, the six days of the business (comp. 1 Samuel 20:19); but that, unlike the outer east gate, it should be opened on the sabbath (literally, in the day of the sabbath) and in the day of the new moon, both of which clays had been marked under the Law, and should in future continue to be marked, by special sacrificial celebrations.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is what
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִה֒ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

says:
אָמַר֮ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘The gate
שַׁ֜עַר (ša·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

of the inner
הַפְּנִימִית֙ (hap·pə·nî·mîṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6442: Interior

court
הֶחָצֵ֤ר (he·ḥā·ṣêr)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

that faces
הַפֹּנֶ֣ה (hap·pō·neh)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

east
קָדִ֔ים (qā·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6921: The fore, front part, the East

must be
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

kept shut
סָג֔וּר (sā·ḡūr)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

during the six
שֵׁ֖שֶׁת (šê·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

days
יְמֵ֣י (yə·mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of work,
הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה (ham·ma·‘ă·śeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

but on the Sabbath
הַשַּׁבָּת֙ (haš·šab·bāṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

day
וּבְי֤וֹם (ū·ḇə·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

[and]
יִפָּתֵֽחַ׃ (yip·pā·ṯê·aḥ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

on the day
וּבְי֥וֹם (ū·ḇə·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of the New Moon
הַחֹ֖דֶשׁ (ha·ḥō·ḏeš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month

it shall be opened.
יִפָּתֵ֔חַ (yip·pā·ṯê·aḥ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 46:1 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: The gate (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 45:25
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