Ezekiel 46:4
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָ֣עֹלָ֔ה
And the burnt offering
H5930
וְהָ֣עֹלָ֔ה
And the burnt offering
Strong's:
H5930
Word #:
1 of 12
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יַקְרִ֥ב
shall offer
H7126
יַקְרִ֥ב
shall offer
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
3 of 12
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
הַנָּשִׂ֖יא
that the prince
H5387
הַנָּשִׂ֖יא
that the prince
Strong's:
H5387
Word #:
4 of 12
properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist
לַֽיהוָ֑ה
unto the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֑ה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּי֣וֹם
day
H3117
בְּי֣וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 12
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
הַשַּׁבָּ֗ת
in the sabbath
H7676
הַשַּׁבָּ֗ת
in the sabbath
Strong's:
H7676
Word #:
7 of 12
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
שִׁשָּׁ֧ה
shall be six
H8337
שִׁשָּׁ֧ה
shall be six
Strong's:
H8337
Word #:
8 of 12
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
תָּמִֽים׃
without blemish
H8549
תָּמִֽים׃
without blemish
Strong's:
H8549
Word #:
10 of 12
entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth
Historical Context
Written during exile when temple sacrifices had ceased, Ezekiel's vision anticipated restoration with enhanced worship. The increased Sabbath offering (seven animals versus two under Moses) reflects the prophets' expectation that the return from exile would surpass the original exodus in glory (Isaiah 43:18-19). This escalation never materialized in the Second Temple period, leading many interpreters to see millennial fulfillment.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does the restored temple vision intensify Sabbath worship beyond Mosaic law?
- How does the prince's personal provision of unblemished sacrifices model leadership in costly devotion rather than mere administration?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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—The Sabbath olah (עֹלָה, "burnt offering," wholly consumed on the altar) requires seven animals: six kevasim (כְּבָשִׂים, "lambs") plus one ayil (אַיִל, "ram"), all temimim (תְּמִימִם, "without blemish/perfect"). This exceeds the Mosaic requirement of two lambs for Sabbath (Numbers 28:9), signaling intensified worship in the restored temple.
The number seven (completion/perfection) on the seventh day (Sabbath) creates symbolic doubling—perfect offering on the day of rest. The ram, larger and more valuable than lambs, represents the prince himself leading in costly devotion. The emphatic "without blemish" recalls God's holiness demanding unblemished sacrifice (Leviticus 22:20-22), pointing to Christ the Lamb of God "without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19). That the prince personally ensures this offering demonstrates leadership-by-example in worship, not delegation.