Ezekiel 46:7 Study Bible: and he shall prepare a meal offering, an ephah for the bull, and an ephah for the ram, and for the lambs according as he is able, and a hin of oil to an ephah.

◄ Ezekiel 46:7 ►

He is to provide a grain offering of an ephah with the bull, an ephah with the ram, and as much as he is able with the lambs, along with a hin of oil per ephah.

Study Bible

He is to provide a grain offering of an ephah with the bull
In the context of Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple, the grain offering signifies dedication and thanksgiving to God. An ephah is a unit of dry measure, approximately 22 liters or 0.6 bushels, indicating a substantial offering. The bull, often used in sacrifices, symbolizes strength and atonement for the community's sins. This offering reflects the importance of giving from one's resources to honor God, paralleling the sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus.

an ephah with the ram
The ram, used in various Old Testament sacrifices, represents leadership and substitutionary atonement. The consistent measure of an ephah for both the bull and the ram underscores the uniformity and fairness in offerings, emphasizing that all sacrifices, regardless of the animal, require a significant grain offering. This practice aligns with the sacrificial laws in Numbers 15, where grain offerings accompany animal sacrifices.

and as much as he is able with the lambs
This phrase introduces flexibility, allowing the offerer to give according to their means. The lamb, often associated with innocence and purity, is a common sacrificial animal. This provision highlights God's understanding and accommodation of individual circumstances, reminiscent of the widow's mite in Mark 12:41-44, where the heart and intent behind the offering are valued over the amount.

along with a hin of oil per ephah
A hin is a liquid measure, approximately 3.7 liters or 1 gallon. Oil, often symbolizing the Holy Spirit and anointing, is mixed with the grain offering, enhancing its value and significance. The combination of oil and grain in offerings is a recurring theme in Levitical law, symbolizing the blending of divine presence with human dedication. This practice points to the holistic nature of worship, involving both material and spiritual elements.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Ezekiel
A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the author of the book. He receives visions and messages from God concerning the future of Israel and the temple.

2. The Prince
In Ezekiel 46, the prince is a leader who offers sacrifices and worships in the temple. He represents a future leader of Israel, possibly a messianic figure.

3. The Temple
The temple described in Ezekiel's vision is a future temple, symbolizing God's presence and the restoration of Israel.

4. Grain Offering
A sacrificial offering made of flour, representing dedication and thanksgiving to God. It is a part of the temple worship described in Ezekiel.

5. Oil
Used in offerings, oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit and anointing, playing a significant role in temple rituals.

Teaching Points

Symbolism of Offerings
The grain offering symbolizes our dedication and thanksgiving to God. Just as the prince offers what he is able, we are called to give our best to God in worship and service.

Role of Leadership in Worship
The prince's role in offering sacrifices highlights the importance of godly leadership in guiding worship and setting an example of devotion.

Generosity in Giving
The phrase "as much as he is able to give" emphasizes the principle of giving according to one's ability, encouraging believers to be generous and willing in their offerings to God.

Anointing and the Holy Spirit
The use of oil in offerings points to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, reminding us of the Spirit's role in empowering and sanctifying our lives and worship.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the prince in Ezekiel 46:7 inform our understanding of leadership in the church today?

2. In what ways can the principle of giving "as much as he is able" be applied to our financial and spiritual offerings to God?

3. How does the symbolism of the grain offering in Ezekiel connect to the New Testament understanding of living sacrifices in Romans 12:1?

4. What is the significance of oil in biblical offerings, and how does it relate to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

5. How can we ensure that our worship and offerings are genuine expressions of thanksgiving and dedication to God, as exemplified in Ezekiel 46:7?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 2
Provides detailed instructions on grain offerings, highlighting their significance in worship and dedication to God.

Isaiah 61:1-3
Speaks of the anointing of the Spirit, connecting the use of oil in offerings to the empowerment and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 10:1-10
Discusses the fulfillment of the sacrificial system in Christ, offering a New Testament perspective on the offerings described in Ezekiel.
Sermons
Distinction and Equality in the Kingdom of God W. Clarkson Ezekiel 46:2, 3, 10
The Optional and the Obligatory in the Kingdom of God W. Clarkson Ezekiel 46:4-12

People
Ephah, Ezekiel
Places
Most Holy Place
Topics
Able, Along, Attain, Attaineth, Bull, Bullock, Cereal, Ephah, Grain, Hin, Lambs, Meal, Meal-offering, Meat, Meat-offering, Oblation, Offer, Offering, Oil, Ox, Prepare, Prepareth, Present, Provide, Ram, Sheep, Suffice, Wants, Whatever
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 46:5-7
5617 measures, liquid
Library
Chel. The Court of the Women.
The Court of the Gentiles compassed the Temple and the courts on every side. The same also did Chel, or the Ante-murale. "That space was ten cubits broad, divided from the Court of the Gentiles by a fence, ten hand-breadths high; in which were thirteen breaches, which the kings of Greece had made: but the Jews had again repaired them, and had appointed thirteen adorations answering to them." Maimonides writes: "Inwards" (from the Court of the Gentiles) "was a fence, that encompassed on every side, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica
Things to be Meditated on as Thou Goest to the Church.
1. That thou art going to the court of the Lord, and to speak with the great God by prayer; and to hear his majesty speak unto thee by his word; and to receive his blessing on thy soul, and thy honest labour, in the six days past. 2. Say with thyself by the way--"As the hart brayeth for the rivers of water, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, even for the living God: When shall I come and appear before the presence of God? For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety
Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3
Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament
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