What role does a "male goat without blemish" play in Ezekiel's vision? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel 40–48 describes a future temple that the prophet sees in his vision. • After the detailed measurements, God’s glory fills the temple (43:1-5). • Immediately following, the LORD lays out a seven-day inauguration of the altar (43:18-27). Where the Male Goat Appears Ezekiel 43:22: “On the second day you are to present a male goat without blemish as a sin offering, and they shall purify the altar as they purified it with the bull.” The Role of the Male Goat Without Blemish • Sin Offering (חַטָּאת, chattat) – The goat is specifically designated “as a sin offering,” highlighting its purpose of atonement (cf. Leviticus 4:23-24). • Purification of the Altar – “They shall purify the altar” (43:22); the blood of the goat symbolically cleanses the very place where future sacrifices will be presented (Leviticus 16:15-19). • Continuity with Mosaic Law – Mirrors the pattern in Exodus 29:36-37 and Leviticus 8:14-17, where a sin offering is made on the second day of a priestly ordination. • Second-Day Emphasis – Day 1: a young bull (43:19-21) addressed the general guilt of the priesthood. – Day 2: the goat focuses more narrowly on ongoing defilement, reinforcing total cleansing before regular worship can begin. • Without Blemish – Stresses moral and physical perfection (Leviticus 22:19-21); foreshadows the ultimate sinless sacrifice (1 Peter 1:18-19). Why a Goat and Not Another Bull? • Goats in the Torah often carry the idea of bearing sin for the people (Leviticus 16:5-10; Numbers 28:15). • Using a different animal on day 2 broadens the scope of atonement, covering both priestly and communal defilement (2 Chronicles 29:21). Connection to Christ • Hebrews 9:11-14 explains that animal blood prefigured “the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God.” • While Ezekiel’s vision speaks of literal future sacrifices, their ultimate meaning is fulfilled in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 10:1-4, 10). Takeaways for Believers • God insists on purity before worship; cleansing precedes communion. • Even in a future restored temple, atonement remains central, underscoring humanity’s ongoing need for redemption. • The flawless male goat points to the flawless Lamb of God, assuring us that our sin has been fully dealt with at the cross. |
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