What is the significance of the "kor" measurement in Ezekiel 45:14? Text of Ezekiel 45:14 “and as the prescribed portion of oil, you shall give one-tenth of a bath from each cor (which is ten baths or one homer; for ten baths are a cor);” What Is a Kor? • “Kor” (sometimes “cor”) is an ancient Hebrew unit of volume. • It equals 10 “baths” in liquid measure. • A kor also equals 1 “homer” in dry measure, roughly 6 bushels (about 220 liters / 58 gallons). • Scripture treats it as a standard, fixed amount; the same word appears in 1 Kings 4:22 and 2 Chronicles 2:10. Relationship Between Kor, Bath, Homer, and Ephah • 1 kor = 10 baths (liquid) • 1 kor = 1 homer (dry) • 1 homer = 10 ephahs (Ezekiel 45:11) • Therefore, 1 kor = 10 baths = 10 ephahs • The prophet underscores that ratio so everyone—priest, prince, or commoner—uses the same scale. Why Ezekiel Specifies the Kor • Standardization: God’s temple economy in the coming kingdom will run on fixed, righteous measurements. • Equity: Everyone gives “one-tenth of a bath from each kor,” an even, proportional offering (cf. Leviticus 27:30). • Holiness: By tying ordinary commerce to temple standards, daily life is brought under God’s sanctifying rule. • Anticipation of the Messianic age: These regulations picture a future kingdom where justice and worship intertwine seamlessly (Isaiah 11:3-5). Spiritual Significance • God cares about details. Honest scales are part of righteousness (Proverbs 11:1; Deuteronomy 25:14-15). • Proportional giving foreshadows New-Covenant stewardship—each gives “as he purposes in his heart” (2 Corinthians 9:7) yet according to a revealed standard. • The number ten (10 baths per kor) often signals completeness; the offering represents the fullness of life submitted to the Lord. • By literal measurements God illustrates an eternal principle: worship involves both heart and tangible substance (Romans 12:1). Lessons for Today • Use honest, transparent measures in business, finances, and ministry. • Give proportionally and intentionally—God delights in precision because it reflects His orderly nature (1 Corinthians 14:33). • Recognize that the mundane (measuring grain or oil) is sacred when devoted to God. • Look forward to Christ’s reign, when perfect justice will govern even the smallest unit of measure. |
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