The burnt offering that the prince offers to the LORD on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice that the prescribed burnt offering for the Sabbath here is significantly larger than what was required under the Mosaic Law. This isn't just more of the same; it points toward a future era of worship with greater devotion and a fuller revelation of God's provision.
The burnt offering that the prince offers to the LORD on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage continues Ezekiel's vision of a restored temple and its worship practices in a future kingdom. Following the specific instructions for the prince's role in opening the eastern gate on Sabbaths and new moons, these verses detail the additional, more generous sacrifices required from the prince on these occasions compared to the Mosaic Law. The prince's offerings here, like those for new moons, are significantly larger than prescribed previously, highlighting a renewed devotion and magnificence in worship under this new covenant.
We often think of worship as a personal, individual act. But what happens when leadership is involved?
Ezekiel's vision places a significant emphasis on the prince's role in public worship. He isn't just a spectator; he's responsible for providing the sacrifices for the Sabbath.
A Leader's Example
This shows that civil leaders are not exempt from God's call to worship. In fact, they are held to a high standard, expected to lead by example and acknowledge God in all their actions. The well-being of the land is often linked to the spiritual integrity of its leaders.
Divine Order
This arrangement underscores a divine order where both the spiritual and civil realms are under God's authority. The prince’s participation highlights that true leadership involves submission to God and the promotion of His worship.
The Sabbath offering here is much larger than what was prescribed before. Why the increase?
The prescribed burnt offering for the Sabbath in Ezekiel's vision is significantly more generous than the requirement in the Mosaic Law. Where the Law mandated two lambs (Numbers 28:9), Ezekiel's vision calls for six lambs and a ram.
Beyond Obligation
This abundance isn't just about quantity; it points to a deeper spirit of devotion and generosity expected in this new era. It suggests a willingness from leadership to give generously, reflecting a readiness to offer the best of their resources to God.
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Sign of Greater Grace
Some interpreters see this increased offering as a foreshadowing of the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It signifies a clearer understanding and a more extensive application of God's grace and provision for His people under the New Covenant.
Understand the original words
tamim · Hebrew Adjective
Describing an animal offered to God that has no physical defects or injuries, symbolizing the requirement that what is given to God must be the best and most perfect.
The detailed instructions for sacrifices in Ezekiel's vision, including the larger offerings required of the 'prince' on the Sabbath, stand in stark contrast to the devastation of the Temple and the exile. This vision offers hope and a blueprint for a future restored community, emphasizing a renewed commitment to worship and divine order.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many of the Jewish elite were exiled to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel was among them, beginning his ministry in exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the city and the Temple, and exiled most of the remaining population to Babylon. This marked a profound crisis for Judah.
c. 570 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of the New Temple
Ezekiel receives a lengthy and detailed vision of a future restored Jerusalem and a new Temple, recorded in chapters 40-48. This vision includes specific instructions for worship and the role of a future prince.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
The Babylonian empire was conquered by the Persians under Cyrus the Great, leading to a shift in geopolitical power.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree Allowing Return
Cyrus issued a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple, marking the beginning of the return and restoration.
This passage details the prescribed burnt offering for the Sabbath under the Mosaic Law, providing a direct comparison to the increased offerings described in Ezekiel 46:4.
Isaiah 56:6-7This prophetic passage speaks of inclusivity in worship and the acceptance of sacrifices, connecting to the future temple imagery where specific offerings are made on the Sabbath.
Hebrews 10:11-14This New Testament passage explains the sufficiency of Christ's one sacrifice, contrasting it with the repeated sacrifices under the Old Covenant, which Ezekiel's detailed offerings foreshadow.
John 1:29This verse identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, offering a theological lens through which to understand the symbolism of the unblemished lambs offered in Ezekiel's vision.
clarkeEzekiel 46:4: "And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish."
The burnt-offerings that the prince shall offer - The chief magistrate was always obliged to attend the public worship of God, as well as the priest, to show that the civil and ecclesiastical states were both under the same government of the Lord; and that no one was capable of being prince or priest, who did not acknowledge God in al…
barnesEzekiel 46:4: "And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish."
The offerings prescribed here Ezekiel 46:4-15 are generally in excess of those enjoined by the Law, to note not only the greater devotion and magnificence under the new state of things, but also the willingness (compare Deuteronomy 16:17 ) of king and people ready to give of their substance to the utmost of their means.
Notice that the prescribed burnt offering for the Sabbath here is significantly larger than what was required under the Mosaic Law. This isn't just more of the same; it points toward a future era of worship with greater devotion and a fuller revelation of God's provision.
This passage continues Ezekiel's vision of a restored temple and its worship practices in a future kingdom. Following the specific instructions for the prince's role in opening the eastern gate on Sabbaths and new moons, these verses detail the additional, more generous sacrifices required from the prince on these occasions compared to the Mosaic Law. The prince's offerings here, like those for new moons, are significantly larger than prescribed previously, highlighting a renewed devotion and magnificence in worship under this new covenant.
This passage continues Ezekiel's vision of a restored temple and its worship practices in a future kingdom. Following the specific instructions for the prince's role in opening the eastern gate on Sabbaths and new moons, these verses detail the additional, more generous sacrifices required from the prince on these occasions compared to the Mosaic Law. The prince's offerings here, like those for new moons, are significantly larger than prescribed previously, highlighting a renewed devotion and magnificence in worship under this new covenant.
"The burnt offering that the prince offers to the LORD on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish." — Notice that the prescribed burnt offering for the Sabbath here is significantly larger than what was required under the Mosaic Law. This isn't just more of the same; it points toward a future era of…
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Last reviewed October 2026