Ezekiel 45:20
And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house.
Original Language Analysis
וְכֵ֤ן
H3651
וְכֵ֤ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 10
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
תַּֽעֲשֶׂה֙
And so thou shalt do
H6213
תַּֽעֲשֶׂה֙
And so thou shalt do
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
2 of 10
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
בְּשִׁבְעָ֣ה
the seventh
H7651
בְּשִׁבְעָ֣ה
the seventh
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
3 of 10
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
מֵאִ֥ישׁ
for every one
H376
מֵאִ֥ישׁ
for every one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
5 of 10
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
שֹׁגֶ֖ה
that erreth
H7686
שֹׁגֶ֖ה
that erreth
Strong's:
H7686
Word #:
6 of 10
to stray (causatively, mislead), usually (figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally) to transgress; by extension (through the idea of intoxication
וְכִפַּרְתֶּ֖ם
so shall ye reconcile
H3722
וְכִפַּרְתֶּ֖ם
so shall ye reconcile
Strong's:
H3722
Word #:
8 of 10
to cover (specifically with bitumen)
Cross References
Psalms 19:12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.Ezekiel 45:15And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD.Ezekiel 45:18Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:Leviticus 16:20And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
Historical Context
Unintentional sin offerings (Leviticus 4-5) recognized that ignorance doesn't eliminate guilt. Archaeological evidence shows ancient Israel took ritual purity seriously, with mikveh (ritual baths) throughout settlements. Ezekiel's vision maintains this principle: even in Messiah's kingdom, human frailty requires atonement. This underscores humanity's ongoing need for grace, fulfilled in Christ who intercedes for sins we don't even recognize (Romans 8:26-27).
Questions for Reflection
- Why do unintentional sins require atonement if there's no deliberate rebellion?
- What does atonement for 'the simple' (naive) teach about responsibility and knowledge?
- How does Christ's intercession cover sins we're unaware of?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple—The cleansing repeats בַּשִּׁבְעָה בַחֹדֶשׁ (bashivʿāh baḥōdesh, 'on the seventh of the month') for שֹׁגֶה (shōgeh, 'one who errs/sins unintentionally') and פֶּתִי (petî, 'simple/naive one').
This addresses unintentional sin and ignorance-based sin. Even inadvertent violations require atonement (Leviticus 4:2, 22, 27, 5:15). So shall ye reconcile the house—וְכִפַּרְתֶּם אֶת־הַבָּיִת (wĕkhippartem ʾet-habbāyit, 'and you shall make atonement for the house'). Corporate purification covers individual failings. This demonstrates that sin—even unintentional—defiles and requires cleansing. Christ's atonement covers even unknown sins (Hebrews 9:7), providing comprehensive cleansing beyond individual awareness.