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Ezekiel 44:8

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 44:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things; but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things; but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
Ezekiel 44:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 44

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5And Jehovah said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of Jehovah, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every egress of the sanctuary.
6And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
7in that ye have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to profane it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant, [to add] unto all your abominations.
8And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things; but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
9Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any foreigners that are among the children of Israel.
10But the Levites that went far from me, when Israel went astray, that went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.
11Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, and ministering in the house: they shall slay the burnt-offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
← Ezekiel 44:7Ezekiel 44:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things, &c.] That is, have not kept and retained the holy doctrines of the Gospel; nor observed the holy ordinances of it, as they were first delivered: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves; meaning either, that such as were in public office did not attend to it; but were idol shepherds, and left the flock, their care and charge, to others, to surrogates and curates, to do their work for them; while they indulged themselves in sloth and idleness: or that the members and hearers set up preachers for themselves, according to their lusts, agreeable to their own carnal sentiments, without any regard to the will and glory…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“keepers . . . for yourselves--such as you yourselves thought fit, not such as I approve of. Or else, "Ye have not yourselves kept the charge of My holy things, but have set others as keepers of My charge in My sanctuary for yourselves" [MAURER].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Admonition to the ministering priests, grounded upon former neglect. Ezekiel 44:4 The north gate before the house - The north gate of the inner court. God expostulates with His people in the seat of their former idolatries Ezekiel 8:3. Ezekiel 44:5 Mark well - The careful arrangements made had all been intended to keep the temple and its surroundings from profanation. Hence, attention to these particulars is enjoined. Ezekiel 44:7 Strangers - This refers especially to the sin of unauthorized and unfaithful priests ministering in the services of the temple. Compare marginal references. Ezekiel 44:8 Mine holy things - The altar, its sacrifices, the sacred utensils, and the like. For yourselves…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Have not kept - You have not observed the laws I gave you for the keeping of my holy things, house, sacrifices, and worship. Have set - You have substituted others in your rooms. Ezekiel 44:10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“ye have not: Lev. 22:2-33; Num 18:3-5; Act 7:53; Ti1 6:13; Ti2 4:1 charge: or, ward, or ordinance, and so Eze 44:14, Eze 44:16, Eze 40:45, Eze 40:46; Ch1 23:32; Ezr 8:24-30 Ezekiel 44:9”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification