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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/44.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ezekiel/44.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/44.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Instead of safeguarding my sacred rituals, you have hired foreigners to take charge of my sanctuary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/44.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And you have not kept charge of my holy things, but you have set others to keep my charge for you in my sanctuary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/44.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/44.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/44.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have set <i>others</i> to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/44.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And you have not taken responsibility for My holy things yourselves, but you have appointed <i>foreigners</i> to take responsibility for My sanctuary.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/44.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220And you have not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have set foreigners to keep charge of My sanctuary.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/44.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And you have not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have set <i>foreigners</i> to keep charge of My sanctuary.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/44.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And you have not kept the responsibility of My holy things yourselves, but you have set <i>foreigners</i> as keepers of the responsibility <i>given by</i> Me for My sanctuary.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/44.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And you have not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have chosen <i>foreigners</i> [to please yourselves] and have set them in charge of My sanctuary.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/44.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You have not kept charge of my holy things but have appointed others to keep charge of my sanctuary for you.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/44.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You have not kept charge of My holy things but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/44.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things; but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/44.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Instead of following the proper ways to worship me, you have put foreigners in charge of worship at my temple. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/44.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/44.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />You didn't take care of my holy things. You put foreigners in charge of my temple.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/44.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They have not taken charge of the sacred rituals in my Temple, but instead have put foreigners in charge. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/44.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Furthermore, you haven't paid attention to the requirements for my holy things. Instead, you placed foreigners in charge of my sanctuary."'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/44.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />You have not kept charge of my holy things, but you have assigned foreigners to keep charge of my sanctuary for you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/44.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />You have not performed the duty of my holy things; but you have set performers of my duty in my sanctuary for yourselves.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/44.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/44.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/44.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />You have not performed the duty of my holy things; but you have set performers of my duty in my sanctuary for yourselves.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/44.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and you have not kept [the] charge of My holy things, and you set [others] for keeping My charge in My sanctuary for you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/44.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and ye have not kept the charge of My holy things, and ye set them for keepers of My charge in My sanctuary for you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/44.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And ye watched not the watches of my holy place: and ye set for watching of my watches in my holy place for yourselves.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/44.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And you have not kept the ordinances of my sanctuary: but you have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/44.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And you have not observed the precepts of my sanctuary, yet you have stationed observers of my vigil in my sanctuary for yourselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/44.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Instead of caring for the service of my sanctuary, you appointed these foreigners to care for the service of my sanctuary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/44.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And you have not kept charge of my sacred offerings; but you have appointed foreigners to act for you in keeping my charge in my sanctuary.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/44.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And you have not had charge of my sanctuary; but you have made the keepers of my sanctuary guards for yourselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/44.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And you do not keep guard of my Holy Place, but you have made the Keepers of the Guard of my Holy Place your Guards<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/44.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And ye have not kept the charge of My holy things; but ye have set keepers of My charge in My sanctuary to please yourselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/44.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and ye appointed <i>others</i> to keep the charges in my sanctuary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=13397" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/44.htm">The Duties of the Levites</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food—the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">And you have not</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: šə·mar·tem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">kept</a> <a href="/hebrew/4931.htm" title="4931: miš·me·reṯ (N-fsc) -- Fem. Of mishmar; watch, i.e. The act, or The sentry, the post; obj. Preservation, or Safe; fig. Observance, i.e. Duty or A usage or party.">charge</a> <a href="/hebrew/6944.htm" title="6944: qā·ḏā·šāy (N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Apartness, sacredness. From qadash; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity.">of My holy things,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7760.htm" title="7760: wat·tə·śî·mūn (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2mp:: Pn) -- To put, place, set. Or siym; a primitive root; to put.">but have appointed</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: lə·šō·mə·rê (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">others to keep</a> <a href="/hebrew/4931.htm" title="4931: miš·mar·tî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Fem. Of mishmar; watch, i.e. The act, or The sentry, the post; obj. Preservation, or Safe; fig. Observance, i.e. Duty or A usage or party.">charge</a> <a href="/hebrew/4720.htm" title="4720: bə·miq·dā·šî (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 1cs) -- A sacred place, sanctuary. Or miqqdash; from qadash; a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary or asylum.">of My sanctuary</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">for you.’</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/18-7.htm">Numbers 18:7</a></span><br />But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/29-11.htm">2 Chronicles 29:11</a></span><br />Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/56-6.htm">Isaiah 56:6-7</a></span><br />And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant— / I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-11.htm">Jeremiah 23:11</a></span><br />“For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7-8</a></span><br />For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. / But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/22-9.htm">Leviticus 22:9</a></span><br />The priests must keep My charge, lest they bear the guilt and die because they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm">1 Samuel 2:12-17</a></span><br />Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD / or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/13-29.htm">Nehemiah 13:29</a></span><br />Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-28.htm">1 Chronicles 23:28-32</a></span><br />but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God, / as well as for the rows of the showbread, the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. / They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/23-8.htm">2 Kings 23:8-9</a></span><br />Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places of the gates at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which was to the left of the city gate. / Although the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread with their fellow priests.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-12.htm">Matthew 21:12-13</a></span><br />Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. / And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/2-14.htm">John 2:14-16</a></span><br />In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables. / So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. / To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/6-2.htm">Acts 6:2-4</a></span><br />So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. / Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them / and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/15-16.htm">Romans 15:16</a></span><br />to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/9-13.htm">1 Corinthians 9:13</a></span><br />Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And you have not kept the charge of my holy things: but you have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.</p><p class="hdg">ye have not</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/22-2.htm">Leviticus 22:2</a></b></br> Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name <i>in those things</i> which they hallow unto me: I <i>am</i> the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/18-3.htm">Numbers 18:3-5</a></b></br> And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/7-53.htm">Acts 7:53</a></b></br> Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept <i>it</i>.</p><p class="hdg">charge.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/44-14.htm">Ezekiel 44:14,16</a></b></br> But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/40-45.htm">Ezekiel 40:45,46</a></b></br> And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect <i>is</i> toward the south, <i>is</i> for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/23-22.htm">1 Chronicles 23:22</a></b></br> And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/40-46.htm">Care</a> <a href="/jeremiah/17-27.htm">Carrying</a> <a href="/ezekiel/40-46.htm">Charge</a> <a href="/ezekiel/40-46.htm">Duty</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-7.htm">Foreigners</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-1.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-34.htm">Instead</a> <a href="/ezekiel/40-46.htm">Keepers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-24.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/ezekiel/40-36.htm">Others</a> <a href="/ezekiel/37-14.htm">Performed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-14.htm">Performers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/33-30.htm">Please</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-21.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-7.htm">Sanctuary</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-19.htm">Work</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-17.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/44-14.htm">Care</a> <a href="/zechariah/5-10.htm">Carrying</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-11.htm">Charge</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-14.htm">Duty</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-9.htm">Foreigners</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-9.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/daniel/1-16.htm">Instead</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-14.htm">Keepers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-15.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-9.htm">Others</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-15.htm">Performed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-14.htm">Performers</a> <a href="/daniel/1-12.htm">Please</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-28.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-9.htm">Sanctuary</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-11.htm">Work</a> <a href="/ezekiel/47-21.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 44</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-1.htm">The east gate assigned only to the prince</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-4.htm">The priests reproved for polluting the sanctuary</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-9.htm">Idolaters incapable of the priests office</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-15.htm">The sons of Zadok are accepted thereto</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-17.htm">Ordinances for the priests</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/44.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/44.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And you have not kept charge of My holy things</b><br>This phrase addresses the failure of the Israelites, particularly the priests, to maintain the sanctity and proper care of the sacred items and rituals associated with the temple. In the context of Ezekiel, the temple represents God's dwelling place among His people, and the "holy things" refer to the sacred duties, objects, and rituals that were to be handled with reverence and obedience. The neglect of these responsibilities signifies a broader spiritual decline and disobedience to God's commands, as outlined in the Mosaic Law (<a href="/leviticus/10.htm">Leviticus 10:1-3</a>). This failure is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where the Israelites often turned away from God's statutes, leading to judgment and exile.<p><b>but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.</b><br>This part of the verse highlights the delegation of priestly duties to those who were not authorized by God to perform them. Historically, the Levitical priesthood was established to serve in the temple, with specific roles assigned to the descendants of Aaron (<a href="/numbers/3-10.htm">Numbers 3:10</a>). By appointing others, possibly foreigners or those not of the Levitical line, the Israelites violated the divine order and purity required for temple service. This act can be seen as a compromise of spiritual integrity and a failure to uphold the covenant relationship with God. It reflects a broader pattern of Israel's leadership failing to adhere to God's instructions, which is echoed in other scriptures such as <a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm">1 Samuel 2:12-17</a>, where Eli's sons also abused their priestly roles. This mismanagement of the sanctuary foreshadows the need for a perfect High Priest, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who restores the true worship and sanctity of God's presence (<a href="/hebrews/4-14.htm">Hebrews 4:14-16</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the author of the book and the one receiving God's messages.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who are being addressed in this passage, specifically the leaders and priests who have neglected their duties.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_sanctuary.htm">The Sanctuary</a></b><br>Refers to the holy place where God's presence dwells, which the Israelites were supposed to maintain and protect.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/f/foreigners.htm">Foreigners</a></b><br>Those who were appointed by the Israelites to take care of the sanctuary, contrary to God's instructions.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_babylonian_exile.htm">The Babylonian Exile</a></b><br>The historical context in which Ezekiel prophesied, a time of judgment and reflection for the Israelites.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_holiness.htm">The Importance of Holiness</a></b><br>God calls His people to maintain the holiness of His sanctuary, which requires dedication and reverence.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/delegation_vs._responsibility.htm">Delegation vs. Responsibility</a></b><br>While delegation is a part of leadership, certain responsibilities, especially spiritual ones, cannot be outsourced.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_neglect.htm">Consequences of Neglect</a></b><br>Neglecting God-given duties can lead to spiritual decay and judgment, as seen in the history of Israel.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_stewardship.htm">Spiritual Stewardship</a></b><br>Believers today are called to be stewards of their spiritual lives and communities, ensuring that they honor God in all things.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/role_of_the_priesthood.htm">Role of the Priesthood</a></b><br>In the New Covenant, all believers are part of a royal priesthood, tasked with maintaining spiritual integrity and holiness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_44.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 44</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_ezekiel_40's_details.htm">How should one reconcile the detailed architectural descriptions in Ezekiel 40 with the absence of any clear historical record of its fulfillment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_ezekiel_44_9_and_other_passages_align.htm">In Ezekiel 44:9, foreigners are barred from the sanctuary, yet other passages invite them to worship--how can these conflicting views on outsiders be reconciled?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where's_proof_zadokites_stayed_faithful.htm">Ezekiel 44:15 singles out Zadokite priests for special privileges--where is the historical record or proof that this priestly line remained uniquely faithful?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_ezekiel's_and_1_kings'_temples_differ.htm">What explains inconsistencies between the Temple vision in Ezekiel 40 and other biblical Temple descriptions, such as in 1 Kings 6-7?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/44.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">For yourselves.--</span>Comp. <a href="/1_kings/12-31.htm" title="And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.">1Kings 12:31</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/44.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - Instead of having exercised a holy solicitude for the purity of the temple and the regularity of its rites, by keeping strict watch over the <span class="cmt_word">holy things</span> of Jehovah, the house of Israel had <span class="cmt_word">set keepers</span>; literally, <span class="accented">had set them</span>, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the uncircumcised "strangers" above referred to, as keepers of Jehovah's <span class="cmt_word">charge in his sanctuary for themselves</span>, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> to please themselves, irrespective altogether of Jehovah's enactments. From this it has been argued, by Wellhausen, Smend, Driver, and others, that the "strangers" above mentioned had been not only allowed access to the outer court as spectators or as worshippers while the priests were offering sacrifice, but admitted to the inner court as assistants to the priests in their altar duties, that this, the employment of these heathen hierodules, had been the special wickedness of which Israel had been guilty, and that henceforward these "foreign ministers" were to be thrust out from their offices, and their places supplied by the about-to-be-degraded Levites. It is, however, doubtful if the phrase, <span class="accented">keepers of my charge in the sanctuary</span>, can be made to signify more than has already been expressed by the clause, "to be in my sanctuary... when ye offer my bread" (ver. 7), by which, as Kliefoth and Keil explain, Israel had practically made these strangers "keepers of Jehovah's charge," <span class="accented">i.e.</span> observers of the rites of worship prescribed by him, though observers in their way, not in his; if more can be extracted from the words, then the most they can be legitimately made to affirm (as there is no mention of the inner court) is that these "strangers," in addition to obtaining access to the outer court to witness the sacrifices, or perhaps offer such for themselves, had been more or less frequently employed in performing subordinate offices towards the Levites, who were the proper priests' assistants, like the Gibeonites, whom Joshua (Joshua 9:27) made "hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord unto this day," and like the Nethinim, whom, according to Ezra (Ezra 8:20), David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites (see Delitzsch, Luthardt's 'Zeitschrift fur kirchliche Wissenschaft,' 1880, p. 283). (On the phrase, "to keep the charge of Jehovah," as signifying to follow his directions or comply with his prescriptions, see <a href="/numbers/9-23.htm">Numbers 9:23</a>.) "In the sanctuary" explains that the prescriptions alluded to were those pertaining to the sanctuary or to the worship of Jehovah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And you have not</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">kept</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(šə·mar·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">charge</span><br /><span class="heb">מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת</span> <span class="translit">(miš·me·reṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4931.htm">Strong's 4931: </a> </span><span class="str2">A guard, watch, charge, function</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of My holy things,</span><br /><span class="heb">קָדָשָׁ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(qā·ḏā·šāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6944.htm">Strong's 6944: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sacred place, thing, sanctity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but have appointed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתְּשִׂימ֗וּן</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tə·śî·mūn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7760.htm">Strong's 7760: </a> </span><span class="str2">Put -- to put, place, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">others to keep</span><br /><span class="heb">לְשֹׁמְרֵ֧י</span> <span class="translit">(lə·šō·mə·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">charge</span><br /><span class="heb">מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֛י</span> <span class="translit">(miš·mar·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4931.htm">Strong's 4931: </a> </span><span class="str2">A guard, watch, charge, function</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of My sanctuary</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(bə·miq·dā·šî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4720.htm">Strong's 4720: </a> </span><span class="str2">A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for you.’</span><br /><span class="heb">לָכֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/44-8.htm">Ezekiel 44:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/44-8.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 44:8 You have not performed the duty (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/44-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 44:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 44:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/44-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 44:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 44:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>