Ezekiel 45:21 - “‘“In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.

Generated Verse: Ezekiel 45:21

What does "Ezekiel 45:21" mean?


This verse from Ezekiel 45:21 is a commandment to observe the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Let's break down what each part means:

"In the first month": This refers to the first month of the Jewish religious calendar, which is Nisan (roughly corresponding to March/April in the Gregorian calendar).

"in the fourteenth day of the month": This specifies the exact day on which the Passover begins. The Passover Seder (the ceremonial meal) is held on the evening of the 14th of Nisan.

"you shall have the Passover": This is a command to celebrate the Passover. The Passover commemorates the Israelites' exodus from slavery in Egypt. It recalls the night when God "passed over" the houses of the Israelites when he struck down the firstborn sons of the Egyptians (Exodus 12).

"a feast of seven days": This indicates that the Passover is not just a one-day event. It is followed by a seven-day festival.

"unleavened bread shall be eaten": This is the crucial connection to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During these seven days, Jews are commanded to eat only unleavened bread (matzah). This symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, not having time for their bread to rise. It also symbolizes purity and the removal of the "leaven" of sin.

In summary: The verse is a directive to observe the Passover, beginning on the 14th of the first month (Nisan), and to follow it with a seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, during which only unleavened bread is to be eaten. This observance is a central part of Jewish religious practice and is a remembrance of God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

Context within Ezekiel: In Ezekiel 40-48, the prophet Ezekiel envisions a restored temple and a renewed religious system for the Israelites after their return from exile. This verse regarding Passover is part of these instructions for the restored temple worship and the observance of religious festivals. It emphasizes the importance of re-establishing these observances according to God's law in the rebuilt temple.

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