Ezekiel 44:13 - They shall not come near to me, to execute the office of priest to me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they will bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

Generated Verse: Ezekiel 44:13

What does "Ezekiel 44:13" mean?


Ezekiel 44:13 is a powerful condemnation of priests who were unfaithful to their duties and profaned the temple. Let's break it down:

"They shall not come near to me, to execute the office of priest to me..." This is the core punishment. These priests are barred from performing their priestly functions. They are no longer allowed to minister before God in the temple. This would have been a significant loss of status, purpose, and privilege.

"...nor to come near to any of my holy things, to the things that are most holy..." This reinforces the ban. They are not even allowed to approach the sacred objects and spaces within the temple. The restriction extends to all levels of holiness, especially the most sacred areas, emphasizing the gravity of their sin.

"But they will bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed." This explains the reason for the punishment and the consequences. "Bear their shame" signifies that they will endure the disgrace and humiliation of their actions being exposed and their unworthiness recognized. "Their abominations which they have committed" points to the specific sins that led to this judgment. These likely involved idolatry, neglecting their priestly duties, and profaning the temple with their actions (as detailed elsewhere in Ezekiel). It's a reminder that their actions had consequences, and they must face the repercussions of their sins.

In essence, this verse states that priests who have been unfaithful and committed abominations will be stripped of their priestly duties and access to the holy places within the temple. They will experience the shame and disgrace they deserve for their actions, serving as a warning to others about the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands.

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