What does the "ephah" and "hin" signify in the context of Ezekiel 46:5? Setting the Scene – Ezekiel 46:5 “ ‘The grain offering with the ram shall be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as he is able, together with a hin of oil with each ephah.’ ” The Ephah – A Dry Measure of Grain • Literally one-tenth of a homer (Ezekiel 45:11) • Roughly 22 liters / 5.8 gallons / 0.6 bushels • Used for flour, grain, or meal (Leviticus 5:11; Ruth 2:17) • Signals fullness and exactness—no vague “handful,” but a fixed amount God Himself specifies The Hin – A Liquid Measure of Oil • One-sixth of a bath (Exodus 30:24) • Roughly 3.6 liters / 1 gallon • Always associated with oil or wine (Exodus 29:40; Numbers 15:4–10) • Complements the ephah: dry offering (flour) paired with liquid (oil) Why These Measures Matter in Ezekiel 46:5 • Consistency in Worship – The same ratio—one hin per ephah—appears in Ezekiel 45:24, showing God’s desire for steady, predictable worship rather than impulse. • Integrity and Justice – Earlier Israel had been condemned for “dishonest scales and deficient measures” (Micah 6:10–11). Exact ephahs and hins confront that sin with righteous precision. • Generosity from the Prince – A whole ephah with a ram is far more than the Mosaic minimum (compare Numbers 15:6: “two-tenths of an ephah”). The millennial prince models liberal, wholehearted giving. • Symbol of Completeness – Grain + oil = sustenance + richness (Psalm 104:15). The worshiper approaches God with offerings that picture life in its entirety under His blessing. Connections with Other Scriptures • Exodus 29:40 – “with each lamb a tenth of an ephah of fine flour… and a quarter of a hin of oil.” (Shows earlier, smaller amounts.) • Leviticus 19:35–36 – “Use honest scales and honest ephah.” (Highlights the moral weight of correct measures.) • Ezekiel 45:10–12 – The prophet repeats the call for “honest ephah” right before temple regulations, tying true worship to economic righteousness. Practical Takeaways • God cares about the details of worship; accuracy matters because He is a God of truth. • Giving should be measured, generous, and transparent—no cutting corners with God. • The pairing of flour and oil reminds believers that spiritual service includes both basic obedience (grain) and Spirit-empowered devotion (oil, Zechariah 4:6). |
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