New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1Then the man brought me back to the east gateway in the outer wall of the Temple area, but it was closed.

1וַיָּ֣שֶׁב אֹתִ֗י דֶּ֣רֶךְ שַׁ֤עַר הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ הַֽחִיצ֔וֹן הַפֹּנֶ֖ה קָדִ֑ים וְה֖וּא סָגֽוּר׃

2And the LORD said to me, “This gate must remain closed; it will never again be opened. No one will ever open it and pass through, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered here. Therefore, it must always remain shut.

2וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלַ֜י יְהוָ֗ה הַשַּׁ֣עַר הַזֶּה֩ סָג֨וּר יִהְיֶ֜ה לֹ֣א יִפָּתֵ֗חַ וְאִישׁ֙ לֹא־ יָ֣בֹא ב֔וֹ כִּ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּ֣א ב֑וֹ וְהָיָ֖ה סָגֽוּר׃

3Only the prince himself may sit inside this gateway to feast in the LORD’s presence. But he may come and go only through the entry room of the gateway.”

3אֶֽת־ הַנָּשִׂ֗יא נָ֥שִׂיא ה֛וּא יֵֽשֶׁב־ בּ֥וֹ לֶאֱכָול־ לֶ֖חֶם‪‬‪‬ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה מִדֶּ֨רֶךְ אֻלָ֤ם הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ יָב֔וֹא וּמִדַּרְכּ֖וֹ יֵצֵֽא׃

4Then the man brought me through the north gateway to the front of the Temple. I looked and saw that the glory of the LORD filled the Temple of the LORD, and I fell face down on the ground.

4וַיְבִיאֵ֜נִי דֶּֽרֶךְ־ שַׁ֣עַר הַצָּפוֹן֮ אֶל־ פְּנֵ֣י הַבַּיִת֒ וָאֵ֕רֶא וְהִנֵּ֛ה מָלֵ֥א כְבוֹד־ יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וָאֶפֹּ֖ל אֶל־ פָּנָֽי׃

5And the LORD said to me, “Son of man, take careful notice. Use your eyes and ears, and listen to everything I tell you about the regulations concerning the LORD’s Temple. Take careful note of the procedures for using the Temple’s entrances and exits.

5וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלַ֜י יְהֹוָ֗ה בֶּן־ אָדָ֡ם שִׂ֣ים לִבְּךָ֩ וּרְאֵ֨ה בְעֵינֶ֜יךָ וּבְאָזְנֶ֣יךָ שְּׁמָ֗ע אֵ֣ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ מְדַבֵּ֣ר אֹתָ֔ךְ לְכָל־ חֻקּ֥וֹת בֵּית־ יְהוָ֖ה וּלְכָל־ [תורתו] (תּֽוֹרֹתָ֑יו) וְשַׂמְתָּ֤ לִבְּךָ֙ לִמְב֣וֹא הַבַּ֔יִת בְּכֹ֖ל מוֹצָאֵ֥י הַמִּקְדָּֽשׁ׃

6And give these rebels, the people of Israel, this message from the Sovereign LORD: O people of Israel, enough of your detestable sins!

6וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֶל־ מֶ֙רִי֙ אֶל־ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה רַב־ לָכֶ֛ם מִֽכָּל־ תּוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

7You have brought uncircumcised foreigners into my sanctuary—people who have no heart for God. In this way, you defiled my Temple even as you offered me my food, the fat and blood of sacrifices. In addition to all your other detestable sins, you have broken my covenant.

7בַּהֲבִיאֲכֶ֣ם בְּנֵֽי־ נֵכָ֗ר עַרְלֵי־ לֵב֙ וְעַרְלֵ֣י בָשָׂ֔ר לִהְי֥וֹת בְּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י לְחַלְּל֣וֹ אֶת־ בֵּיתִ֑י בְּהַקְרִֽיבְכֶ֤ם אֶת־ לַחְמִי֙ חֵ֣לֶב וָדָ֔ם וַיָּפֵ֙רוּ֙ אֶת־ בְּרִיתִ֔י אֶ֖ל כָּל־ תּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

8Instead of safeguarding my sacred rituals, you have hired foreigners to take charge of my sanctuary.

8וְלֹ֥א שְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת קָדָשָׁ֑י וַתְּשִׂימ֗וּן לְשֹׁמְרֵ֧י מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֛י בְּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י לָכֶֽם׃

9“So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: No foreigners, including those who live among the people of Israel, will enter my sanctuary if they have not been circumcised and have not surrendered themselves to the LORD.

9כֹּה־ אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ כָּל־ בֶּן־ נֵכָ֗ר עֶ֤רֶל לֵב֙ וְעֶ֣רֶל בָּשָׂ֔ר לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא אֶל־ מִקְדָּשִׁ֑י לְכָל־ בֶּן־ נֵכָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֕ר בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

10And the men of the tribe of Levi who abandoned me when Israel strayed away from me to worship idols must bear the consequences of their unfaithfulness.

10כִּ֣י אִם־ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָֽחֲקוּ֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י בִּתְע֤וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּע֣וּ מֵֽעָלַ֔י אַחֲרֵ֖י גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם וְנָשְׂא֖וּ עֲוֺנָֽם׃

11They may still be Temple guards and gatekeepers, and they may slaughter the animals brought for burnt offerings and be present to help the people.

11וְהָי֤וּ בְמִקְדָּשִׁי֙ מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים פְּקֻדּוֹת֙ אֶל־ שַׁעֲרֵ֣י הַבַּ֔יִת וּֽמְשָׁרְתִ֖ים אֶת־ הַבָּ֑יִת הֵ֠מָּה יִשְׁחֲט֨וּ אֶת־ הָעֹלָ֤ה וְאֶת־ הַזֶּ֙בַח֙ לָעָ֔ם וְהֵ֛מָּה יַעַמְד֥וּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם לְשָֽׁרְתָֽם׃

12But they encouraged my people to worship idols, causing Israel to fall into deep sin. So I have taken a solemn oath that they must bear the consequences for their sins, says the Sovereign LORD.

12יַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְשָׁרְת֤וּ אוֹתָם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י גִלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָי֥וּ לְבֵֽית־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְמִכְשׁ֣וֹל עָוֺ֑ן עַל־ כֵּן֩ נָשָׂ֨אתִי יָדִ֜י עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה וְנָשְׂא֖וּ עֲוֺנָֽם׃

13They may not approach me to minister as priests. They may not touch any of my holy things or the holy offerings, for they must bear the shame of all the detestable sins they have committed.

13וְלֹֽא־ יִגְּשׁ֤וּ אֵלַי֙ לְכַהֵ֣ן לִ֔י וְלָגֶ֙שֶׁת֙ עַל־ כָּל־ קָ֣דָשַׁ֔י אֶל־ קָדְשֵׁ֖י הַקְּדָשִׁ֑ים וְנָֽשְׂאוּ֙ כְּלִמָּתָ֔ם וְתוֹעֲבוֹתָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשֽׂוּ׃

14They are to serve as the Temple caretakers, taking charge of the maintenance work and performing general duties.

14וְנָתַתִּ֣י אוֹתָ֔ם שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַבָּ֑יִת לְכֹל֙ עֲבֹ֣דָת֔וֹ וּלְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה בּֽוֹ׃ פ

15“However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign LORD.

15וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם בְּנֵ֣י צָד֗וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁמְר֜וּ אֶת־ מִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בִּתְע֤וֹת בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י הֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֵלַ֖י לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְעָמְד֣וּ לְפָנַ֗י לְהַקְרִ֥יב לִי֙ חֵ֣לֶב וָדָ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃

16They alone will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will fulfill all my requirements.

16הֵ֜מָּה יָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־ מִקְדָּשִׁ֗י וְהֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֶל־ שֻׁלְחָנִ֖י לְשָׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְשָׁמְר֖וּ אֶת־ מִשְׁמַרְתִּֽי׃

17“When they enter the gateway to the inner courtyard, they must wear only linen clothing. They must wear no wool while on duty in the inner courtyard or in the Temple itself.

17וְהָיָ֗ה בְּבוֹאָם֙ אֶֽל־ שַׁעֲרֵי֙ הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔ית בִּגְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים יִלְבָּ֑שׁוּ וְלֹֽא־ יַעֲלֶ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ צֶ֔מֶר בְּשָֽׁרְתָ֗ם בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛י הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖ית וָבָֽיְתָה׃

18They must wear linen turbans and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that would cause them to perspire.

18פַּאֲרֵ֤י פִשְׁתִּים֙ יִהְי֣וּ עַל־ רֹאשָׁ֔ם וּמִכְנְסֵ֣י פִשְׁתִּ֔ים יִהְי֖וּ עַל־ מָתְנֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א יַחְגְּר֖וּ בַּיָּֽזַע׃

19When they return to the outer courtyard where the people are, they must take off the clothes they wear while ministering to me. They must leave them in the sacred rooms and put on other clothes so they do not endanger anyone by transmitting holiness to them through this clothing.

19וּ֠בְצֵאתָם אֶל־ הֶחָצֵ֨ר הַחִיצוֹנָ֜ה אֶל־ הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַחִיצוֹנָה֮ אֶל־ הָעָם֒ יִפְשְׁט֣וּ אֶת־ בִּגְדֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר־ הֵ֙מָּה֙ מְשָׁרְתִ֣ם בָּ֔ם וְהִנִּ֥יחוּ אוֹתָ֖ם בְּלִֽשְׁכֹ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְלָֽבְשׁוּ֙ בְּגָדִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־ יְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם בְּבִגְדֵיהֶֽם׃

20“They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow too long. Instead, they must trim it regularly.

20וְרֹאשָׁם֙ לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֔חוּ וּפֶ֖רַע לֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑חוּ כָּס֥וֹם יִכְסְמ֖וּ אֶת־ רָאשֵׁיהֶֽם׃

21The priests must not drink wine before entering the inner courtyard.

21וְיַ֥יִן לֹֽא־ יִשְׁתּ֖וּ כָּל־ כֹּהֵ֑ן בְּבוֹאָ֖ם אֶל־ הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִֽית׃

22They may choose their wives only from among the virgins of Israel or the widows of the priests. They may not marry other widows or divorced women.

22וְאַלְמָנָה֙ וּגְרוּשָׁ֔ה לֹֽא־ יִקְח֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לְנָשִׁ֑ים כִּ֣י אִם־ בְּתוּלֹ֗ת מִזֶּ֙רַע֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה אַלְמָנָ֔ה מִכֹּהֵ֖ן יִקָּֽחוּ׃

23They will teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is common, what is ceremonially clean and unclean.

23וְאֶת־ עַמִּ֣י יוֹר֔וּ בֵּ֥ין קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹ֑ל וּבֵין־ טָמֵ֥א לְטָה֖וֹר יוֹדִעֻֽם׃

24“They will serve as judges to resolve any disagreements among my people. Their decisions must be based on my regulations. And the priests themselves must obey my instructions and decrees at all the sacred festivals, and see to it that the Sabbaths are set apart as holy days.

24וְעַל־ רִ֗יב הֵ֚מָּה יַעַמְד֣וּ [לשפט] (לְמִשְׁפָּ֔ט) בְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י [ושפטהו] (יִשְׁפְּט֑וּהוּ‪‬) וְאֶת־ תּוֹרֹתַ֤י וְאֶת־ חֻקֹּתַי֙ בְּכָל־ מוֹעֲדַ֣י יִשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וְאֶת־ שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י יְקַדֵּֽשׁוּ׃

25“A priest must not defile himself by being in the presence of a dead person unless it is his father, mother, child, brother, or unmarried sister. In such cases it is permitted.

25וְאֶל־ מֵ֣ת אָדָ֔ם לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא לְטָמְאָ֑ה כִּ֣י אִם־ לְאָ֡ב וּ֠לְאֵם וּלְבֵ֨ן וּלְבַ֜ת לְאָ֗ח וּלְאָח֛וֹת אֲשֶֽׁר־ לֹא־ הָיְתָ֥ה לְאִ֖ישׁ יִטַּמָּֽאוּ׃

26Even then, he can return to his Temple duties only after being ceremonially cleansed and then waiting for seven days.

26וְאַחֲרֵ֖י טָֽהֳרָת֑וֹ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים יִסְפְּרוּ־ לֽוֹ׃

27The first day he returns to work and enters the inner courtyard and the sanctuary, he must offer a sin offering for himself, says the Sovereign LORD.

27וּבְיוֹם֩ בֹּא֨וֹ אֶל־ הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ אֶל־ הֶחָצֵ֤ר הַפְּנִימִית֙ לְשָׁרֵ֣ת בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ יַקְרִ֖יב חַטָּאת֑וֹ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃

28“The priests will not have any property or possession of land, for I alone am their special possession.

28וְהָיְתָ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְֽנַחֲלָ֔ה אֲנִ֖י נַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם וַאֲחֻזָּ֗ה לֹֽא־ תִתְּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲנִ֖י אֲחֻזָּתָֽם׃

29Their food will come from the gifts and sacrifices brought to the Temple by the people—the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Whatever anyone sets apart for the LORD will belong to the priests.

29הַמִּנְחָה֙ וְהַחַטָּ֣את וְהָאָשָׁ֔ם הֵ֖מָּה יֹֽאכְל֑וּם וְכָל־ חֵ֥רֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָהֶ֥ם יִהְיֶֽה׃

30The first of the ripe fruits and all the gifts brought to the LORD will go to the priests. The first batch of dough must also be given to the priests so the LORD will bless your homes.

30וְרֵאשִׁית֩ כָּל־ בִּכּ֨וּרֵי כֹ֜ל וְכָל־ תְּר֣וּמַת כֹּ֗ל מִכֹּל֙ תְּרוּמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים יִֽהְיֶ֑ה וְרֵאשִׁ֤ית עֲרִסֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ תִּתְּנ֣וּ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן לְהָנִ֥יחַ בְּרָכָ֖ה אֶל־ בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃

31The priests may not eat meat from any bird or animal that dies a natural death or that dies after being attacked by another animal.

31כָּל־ נְבֵלָה֙ וּטְרֵפָ֔ה מִן־ הָע֖וֹף וּמִן־ הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה לֹ֥א יֹאכְל֖וּ הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ פ

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.