Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Ezekiel
Chapter 46: None Returns the Way He Came
This chapter governs the ongoing worship of the restored community. The inner east gate is shut through the six working days but opened on the sabbath and the new moon, when the prince leads the people in worship, standing humbly at the threshold, not entering the priests' place. A striking rule is given for the feasts: whoever comes in by the north gate goes out by the south, and whoever comes in by the south goes out by the north, 'he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in.' No one leaves the presence of God the same way, or the same person, he came. A lamb is offered every morning as 'a continual burnt offering,' and the prince, for all his honor, is forbidden to seize the people's land: he must protect their inheritance, not exploit it. Worship, here, is ordered, daily, humble, and just.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Ezekiel chapter 46, the ordinances for the ongoing worship of the prince and people, and the protection of the people's inheritance. For each section you will find the KJV text, key word studies, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Sabbaths and New Moons
The gate opened for worship at God's appointed times.
Not the Way You Came
None returns by the gate he entered; worship changes direction.
A Continual Offering
A lamb offered every morning, devotion renewed each day.
No Oppression
The prince must protect the people's inheritance, not seize it.
He Shall Not Return the Way He Came (Ezekiel 46:1-15)
The gate opens for sabbath and new-moon worship, the prince worships humbly at the threshold among the people, none leaves by the gate he entered, and a lamb is offered every morning as a continual burnt offering.
A Continual Burnt Offering Every Morning
"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. And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons. And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish. And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish. And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah. And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof. But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it. And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth. And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate. Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning. And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD. Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering."
Word Study
"he shall worship at the threshold of the gate." Note the humility of the prince. For all his honor, he does not enter the priestly space; he stands "by the post of the gate" and worships "at the threshold," among the people, "in the midst of them." Authority does not exempt him from worship; it models it. The greatest in the community bows lowest before God. Earthly rank means nothing at the threshold of the Holy One.
"a continual burnt offering," olah tamid (עֹלָה תָּמִיד). A lamb offered "every morning," day after day, "by a perpetual ordinance." Worship is not only for feast days but for every ordinary morning. God's people are to begin each day with devotion, for His mercies "are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23), and the believer prays with David, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee" (Psalm 5:3). It points to the "continual" sacrifice of praise we now offer through Christ (Hebrews 13:15).
Explanation
The inner east gate stays "shut the six working days" but is "opened" on "the sabbath" and "the new moon" for worship. The prince comes and "worship[s] at the threshold of the gate," and "the people of the land" worship "before the LORD" at the same times. God gives His people a rhythm, ordinary work through the week, set times to gather and worship.
Then comes the memorable rule for the feasts: those who enter by the north gate leave by the south, and those who enter by the south leave by the north; "he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it." None goes back the way he came. And through it all, "the prince in the midst of them" worships as one of the people. Finally God commands "a continual burnt offering" of a lamb "every morning", daily, perpetual devotion. The life of the restored community is set to a steady beat of worship: weekly gatherings, festal feasts, and a fresh offering every single morning.
Gospel Focus
Two beautiful lessons rise from this worship. First, "he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in." No one who truly meets God leaves the same way, or the same person, he came. Real worship changes our direction; we go out different from how we came in, pressing forward, not backtracking, "reaching forth unto those things which are before" (Philippians 3:13), for "no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). We are "changed" by beholding the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). Second, the "continual burnt offering... every morning" calls us to daily consecration. The Christian life is not sustained by festival highs alone but by a fresh offering each morning, presenting our "bodies a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) day by day, meeting the mercies that "are new every morning." And behind both stands the humility of the prince worshipping "in the midst of" the people, no one, however honored, is above bowing before God. Come to worship expecting to be changed, offer yourself fresh each morning, and bow low, for the throne belongs to God alone.
He Shall Not Take by Oppression (Ezekiel 46:16-24)
The prince may give of his own inheritance to sons or servants, but he must never seize the people's land by oppression; and the priests are given places to boil and bake the offerings, keeping the holy from the common.
That My People Be Not Scattered
"Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance. But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them. Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession. After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward. Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people. Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court. In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure. And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about. Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people."
Word Study
"the year of liberty," (the year of release). A gift the prince makes to a servant reverts "to the year of liberty", the year of jubilee, when all Israel's inheritances returned to their families (Leviticus 25:10, "proclaim liberty throughout all the land"). Built into God's law was a regular restoration, a resetting so that no family permanently lost its inheritance. This liberty finds its fullness in Christ, who came "to proclaim liberty to the captives" (Isaiah 61:1) and "to preach deliverance to the captives... to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18). The gospel is the great jubilee.
"the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression." The ruler is expressly forbidden to enlarge himself at the people's expense, "to thrust them out of their possession." He must provide for his sons "out of his own possession," so that "my people be not scattered every man from his possession." God cares that His people keep their inheritance, and He holds rulers accountable to protect, not plunder, the ones they govern. This is the very opposite of a king like Ahab seizing Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21).
Explanation
God gives rules about the prince's inheritance. A gift to "his sons" is permanent; a gift to "one of his servants" lasts only "to the year of liberty" and then reverts. But the central command is a limit on the ruler's power: "the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession." He must provide for his own family "out of his own possession," not by grabbing the people's land, "that my people be not scattered every man from his possession." Even in a glorified temple vision, God legislates against the abuse of power.
Then the guide shows Ezekiel the practical provision for worship: "holy chambers" where "the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering", kept separate so they "bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people," again guarding the line between holy and common. And in the four corners of the outer court are "boiling places" where "the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people", where the ordinary worshippers' offerings could be cooked for the fellowship meals. God provides, in careful detail, for both holiness and the people's communion.
Gospel Focus
The heart of this section is that God protects His people's inheritance and restrains those in power. The prince may not "take of the people's inheritance by oppression"; the "year of liberty" ensures that what is lost is restored. This is the very character of God's kingdom, and it points to the gospel jubilee. Jesus opened His ministry by reading Isaiah in the synagogue, "to preach deliverance to the captives... to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18), and announcing that the true year of liberty had come in Him. In Christ our lost inheritance is restored, and more, we are made "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17), given "an inheritance incorruptible... that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 1:4). No oppressor can seize it; no year can erode it. And the careful provision of "boiling places" for "the sacrifice of the people" shows a God who cares for the ordinary worshipper's fellowship, arranging even the kitchens so His people can eat before Him. The God of this vision guards the inheritance of the humble, restores the captive, and spreads a table for His people. That is the shape of grace.
Chapter 46 in Review
Ezekiel 46 orders the ongoing worship and justice of the restored community. The gate opens on "the sabbath" and "the new moon" for worship, and the prince, for all his rank, worships humbly "at the threshold" and "in the midst of" the people. A memorable rule governs the feasts: none "return by the way of the gate whereby he came in", no one leaves God's presence the way he entered. A lamb is offered "every morning" as "a continual burnt offering." Then God limits the ruler's power, "the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression", and provides the "boiling places" where the priests and ministers prepare the offerings, keeping the holy from the common.
For the Apostolic reader the chapter is full of practical grace. Worship has a rhythm, weekly, festal, and daily, and it is meant to change us: we do not go out the way we came in. Devotion is renewed "every morning," a fresh living sacrifice to meet the mercies that are new each day. The humblest posture belongs to the highest rank, for all bow at the threshold of God. And the God who orders this house cares deeply for justice and for the inheritance of the humble, forbidding oppression and pointing to the great jubilee in Christ, who came "to set at liberty them that are bruised" and to make us "heirs of God." Come to be changed, offer yourself fresh each morning, and rest in the God who guards your inheritance forever.
- Worship has God-appointed rhythms: sabbaths, new moons, feasts, and daily offerings (46:1, 13; Psalm 5:3).
- The highest rank worships humbly among the people; no one is above bowing to God (46:2, 10).
- None returns the way he came: true worship changes our direction (46:9; Philippians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
- Devotion is renewed "every morning" as "a continual burnt offering" (46:13-15; Lamentations 3:23; Romans 12:1).
- Rulers must not oppress; God protects the people's inheritance (46:18; 1 Kings 21).
- The "year of liberty" points to the gospel jubilee in Christ (46:17; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18).
Questions for Reflection
- Do you leave times of worship changed, or do you "return by the way you came in," unchanged?
- Is there a "continual" morning offering in your life, a daily meeting with God, or only occasional highs?
- The exalted prince still bowed at the threshold. Where might God be calling you to greater humility before Him?
- Christ came to proclaim the year of liberty. How does your restored, unshakable inheritance in Him free you?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Key terms: olah tamid ("continual burnt offering," verse 15); "the year of liberty" (verse 17) is the jubilee of Leviticus 25:10. The continual/daily offering: Exodus 29:38-42; Numbers 28:3-8; morning devotion: Psalm 5:3; 55:17; Lamentations 3:22-23; the continual sacrifice of praise: Hebrews 13:15; the living sacrifice: Romans 12:1. Not returning / not looking back: Philippians 3:13-14; Luke 9:62; changed by beholding: 2 Corinthians 3:18. The jubilee and liberty: Leviticus 25:8-13; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19. Rulers forbidden to oppress and seize inheritance: 1 Kings 21 (Naboth's vineyard); Micah 2:1-2. The believer's inheritance in Christ: Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:11, 14; 1 Peter 1:4. Keeping holy separate from common: Ezekiel 42:20; 44:19. The "prince" is the human ruler of the restored community. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Worship at the gates, none returning the way he came, and the continual morning offering: Ezekiel 46:1-15; Philippians 3:13; Lamentations 3:23; Romans 12:1.
- The prince forbidden to oppress the people's inheritance; the year of liberty; the places of provision: Ezekiel 46:16-24; Leviticus 25:10; Luke 4:18; 1 Peter 1:4.