Ezekiel 44:27
And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD.
Original Language Analysis
וּבְיוֹם֩
And in the day
H3117
וּבְיוֹם֩
And in the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
1 of 14
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
בֹּא֨וֹ
that he goeth
H935
בֹּא֨וֹ
that he goeth
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
2 of 14
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
in the sanctuary
H6944
בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
in the sanctuary
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
4 of 14
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
הֶחָצֵ֤ר
court
H2691
הֶחָצֵ֤ר
court
Strong's:
H2691
Word #:
6 of 14
a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
לְשָׁרֵ֣ת
to minister
H8334
לְשָׁרֵ֣ת
to minister
Strong's:
H8334
Word #:
8 of 14
to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
in the sanctuary
H6944
בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
in the sanctuary
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
9 of 14
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
יַקְרִ֖יב
he shall offer
H7126
יַקְרִ֖יב
he shall offer
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
10 of 14
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
חַטָּאת֑וֹ
his sin offering
H2403
חַטָּאת֑וֹ
his sin offering
Strong's:
H2403
Word #:
11 of 14
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
Historical Context
On Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the High Priest offered sin offerings for himself before the people (Leviticus 16:6, 11). This demonstrated that mediators themselves needed mediation—all were sinners. Ezekiel's requirement that priests offer sin offerings before service continues this principle. Only Christ, the sinless High Priest, could enter God's presence without self-atonement, qualifying Him as perfect mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).
Questions for Reflection
- Why must cleansed priests still offer sin offerings before serving?
- How does priests needing self-atonement highlight Christ's superiority (Hebrews 7:26-27)?
- What does perpetual sacrifice (even after cleansing) teach about sin's seriousness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD—Before resuming service בַּקֹּדֶשׁ (baqqōdesh, 'in the sanctuary'), the cleansed priest must offer חַטָּאתוֹ (ḥaṭṭāʾtô, 'his sin offering').
Even after seven-day purification, sacrifice is required. This underscores that human effort (ritual washing, waiting) cannot fully cleanse—only blood atonement suffices. The priest cannot minister without offering for himself, demonstrating all humans (even priests) need atonement. This principle highlights Christ's superiority: He needed no sin offering for Himself (Hebrews 7:26-27), yet offered Himself once for all (Hebrews 9:12). Ezekiel's vision, whether literal millennial worship or symbolic, points to the necessity of blood atonement—fulfilled perfectly in Jesus.