Ezekiel 46:12
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְכִֽי
H3588
וְכִֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 30
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה
and he shall prepare
H6213
יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה
and he shall prepare
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
2 of 30
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
הַנָּשִׂ֨יא
Now when the prince
H5387
הַנָּשִׂ֨יא
Now when the prince
Strong's:
H5387
Word #:
3 of 30
properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist
נְדָבָ֣ה
a voluntary
H5071
נְדָבָ֣ה
a voluntary
Strong's:
H5071
Word #:
4 of 30
properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a spontaneous or (by inference, in plural) abundant gift
עֹֽלָתוֹ֙
burnt offering
H5930
עֹֽלָתוֹ֙
burnt offering
Strong's:
H5930
Word #:
5 of 30
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
אֽוֹ
H176
אֽוֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
6 of 30
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
שְׁלָמָ֔יו
and his peace offerings
H8002
שְׁלָמָ֔יו
and his peace offerings
Strong's:
H8002
Word #:
7 of 30
properly, requital, i.e., a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks
נְדָבָ֣ה
a voluntary
H5071
נְדָבָ֣ה
a voluntary
Strong's:
H5071
Word #:
8 of 30
properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a spontaneous or (by inference, in plural) abundant gift
לַֽיהוָה֒
unto the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָה֒
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 30
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּפָ֣תַֽח
one shall then open
H6605
וּפָ֣תַֽח
one shall then open
Strong's:
H6605
Word #:
10 of 30
to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַפֹּנֶ֣ה
that looketh
H6437
הַפֹּנֶ֣ה
that looketh
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
14 of 30
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
קָדִ֔ים
toward the east
H6921
קָדִ֔ים
toward the east
Strong's:
H6921
Word #:
15 of 30
the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה
and he shall prepare
H6213
יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה
and he shall prepare
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
16 of 30
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עֹֽלָתוֹ֙
burnt offering
H5930
עֹֽלָתוֹ֙
burnt offering
Strong's:
H5930
Word #:
18 of 30
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
19 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שְׁלָמָ֔יו
and his peace offerings
H8002
שְׁלָמָ֔יו
and his peace offerings
Strong's:
H8002
Word #:
20 of 30
properly, requital, i.e., a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
21 of 30
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה
and he shall prepare
H6213
יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה
and he shall prepare
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
22 of 30
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
בְּי֣וֹם
day
H3117
בְּי֣וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
23 of 30
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
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת
on the sabbath
H7676
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת
on the sabbath
Strong's:
H7676
Word #:
24 of 30
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
צֵאתֽוֹ׃
his going forth
H3318
צֵאתֽוֹ׃
his going forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
25 of 30
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
27 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Ezekiel 45:17And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.Ezekiel 44:3It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.Ezekiel 46:8And 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.Leviticus 23:38Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.2 Chronicles 29:31Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
Historical Context
Freewill offerings (Leviticus 22:18-23) expressed gratitude, fulfilled vows, or simply delighted in God's goodness. The eastern gate's special status—where God's glory entered (43:4)—made it fitting for the prince's extraordinary devotion. Opening and closing protocols maintained holiness boundaries.
Questions for Reflection
- What motivates your voluntary acts of worship beyond required obedience, and how do they reflect the overflow of God's grace in your life?
- How does the careful protocol even for spontaneous worship guard against presumption while encouraging genuine devotion?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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. The Hebrew nedavah (נְדָבָה, 'freewill offering') marks spontaneous worship beyond required sacrifices—the prince may bring olah (עֹלָה, burnt offering) or shelamim (שְׁלָמִים, peace offerings) whenever his heart moves him. The eastern gate, normally shut (44:1-2), opens specially for these occasions.
As he did on the sabbath day indicates freewill offerings follow Sabbath protocols, maintaining worship's dignity even in spontaneous devotion. After his going forth one shall shut the gate preserves the gate's sacred exclusivity. This models 2 Corinthians 9:7's principle: 'God loveth a cheerful giver'—worship combines prescribed duty with Spirit-prompted generosity. David's lavish temple preparations (1 Chronicles 29:3) exemplify such voluntary devotion.