Ezekiel 46:13 · Bible study
Ezekiel 46:13 Commentary: The Omitted Evening Sacrifice in Ezekiel's Temple
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Ezekiel's vision prescribe only a morning lamb? The omission of the evening sacrifice carries profound theological meaning for the new order.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God commands a daily morning lamb offering without defect, omitting the evening sacrifice of Mosaic law, pointing to Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.
- Key words: “Lamb a year old without defect” (echoes Exodus 12:5, Numbers 28:3); “morning by morning” (rhythm of fresh mercy).
- Main debate: Whether the omission of the evening lamb is a selection for a limited purpose (Barnes), a typological reference to Christ’s death (Gill), or a deliberate change in the new worship order (Keil & Delitzsch).
- Theological theme: The sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice; daily dependence on grace; the renewal of worship after judgment.
- Best use: A preaching text on the constancy of God’s provision and the finality of the cross; also valuable in teaching on the relationship between old and new covenants.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And you shall provide an unblemished year-old lamb as a daily burnt offering to the LORD; you are to offer it every morning.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“‘“You shall prepare a lamb a year old without defect for a burnt offering to Yahweh daily. Morning by morning you shall prepare it.
KJV King James Version 1769
Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the Lord of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And thou shalt prepare a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt-offering unto Jehovah daily: morning by morning shalt thou prepare it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And a lamb, son of a year, a perfect one, thou dost make a burnt-offering daily to Jehovah; morning by morning thou dost make it.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And thou shalt daily offer a burnt-offering unto Jehovah, of a yearling-lamb without blemish: thou shalt prepare it morning by morning.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he shall offer every day for a holocaust to the Lord, a lamb of the same year without blemish: he shall offer it always in the morning.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y sacrificarás á Jehová cada día en holocausto un cordero de un año sin defecto, cada mañana lo sacrificarás.
E a cada dia prepararás um cordeiro sem defeito de um ano sem defeito como oferta de queima ao SENHOR; todas as manhãs o prepararás.
Tu offriras chaque jour en holocauste à l’ Éternel un agneau d’ un an, sans défaut; tu l’ offriras tous les matins.
Und er soll dem HERRN täglich ein Brandopfer tun, nämlich ein jähriges Lamm ohne Fehl; dasselbe soll er alle Morgen opfern.
Wijders zult gij een volkomen eenjarig lam dagelijks bereiden ten brandoffer den HEERE; alle morgens zult gij dat bereiden.
Tu offrirai ogni giorno, come olocausto all’Eterno, un agnello d’un anno, senza difetto; l’offrirai ogni mattina.
Nadto baranka rocznego zupełnego Panu ofiarować będzie co dzień na całopalenie; na każdy poranek baranka ofiarować będzie.
Каждый день приноси Господу во всесожжение однолетнего агнца без порока; каждое утро приноси его.
「每日，你要預備 無殘疾 一 歲 的羊羔一隻，獻與耶和華 為燔祭；要每 早晨 預備。
And you are to give a lamb a year old without any mark on it for a burned offering to the Lord every day: morning by morning you are to give it.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
The commentators agree that this verse intentionally omits the evening lamb sacrifice required in the Mosaic law (Numbers 28:3-8). Adam Clarke noted that “the evening offering is entirely omitted, which makes an important difference between this and the old laws.” Barnes argued that “the seer is selecting a few only of the sacrifices of the Law, with a particular object in view.” Keil and Delitzsch concluded that the repeated emphasis on “morning by morning” shows the omission is no oversight but a deliberate change in the new order of worship. Gill offered a typological reading: Christ offered himself “once in the evening of the world,” so the shadow of the evening sacrifice is fulfilled. All agree that the verse points a worshipper toward the final, sufficient sacrifice that the daily lamb prefigured.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Selective citation view: Barnes: Ezekiel is choosing only some sacrifices for a particular narrative purpose, not prescribing a new liturgy.
- Typological fulfillment view: Gill: The evening sacrifice is omitted because Christ offered himself once at evening, ending the need for repeated evening offerings.
- New order of worship view: Keil & Delitzsch: The repeated 'morning by morning' and the increased grain offering indicate a deliberate, permanent change in the covenant worship.
What is clear: God commands a daily morning lamb offering without defect, and the omission of the evening sacrifice is intentional, not accidental.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Omission of the evening sacrifice | All major commentators agree the omission is intentional, not a scribal mistake or oversight. | Some (Barnes, Cambridge Bible) see it as a selection of a few sacrifices for the vision's limited focus on the restored temple; others (Gill, Keil & Delitzsch) argue it signals a theological shift, with Christ's evening sacrifice making the old evening offering obsolete. |
| Identity of the offerer | The verse uses 'you' (singular, addressed to the prophet), indicating the divine command comes through Ezekiel to the priesthood or community. | Whether 'you' refers to the prince (as some argue from context) or to the priests/people generally is disputed. Keil & Delitzsch say it is the duty of the congregation, which the priests superintend. |
| Literal or symbolic fulfillment | Christian readers agree the passage speaks of worship in a restored temple setting, whether future or ideal. | Some interpret the temple vision as a literal blueprint for a millennial temple (dispensationalism); others see it as a symbolic picture of the church age or heaven (covenant theology). |
| Relationship to the Mosaic law | The passage modifies the Mosaic daily offering by increasing the grain and oil and dropping the evening lamb. | Is this a divine revision superseding the law's pattern (Keil & Delitzsch), or simply a selective citation for the vision's purpose (Barnes)? |
Historical & Cultural Context
Ezekiel 46:13 sits within the prophet’s extended vision of a restored temple (chapters 40-48). Ezekiel, a priest deported to Babylon in 597 BC, received this blueprint for worship after the exile. The Mosaic law prescribed two lambs daily, one in the morning, one at twilight (Exodus 29:38-42; Numbers 28:3-8). That pattern had governed the first temple liturgy for centuries. By the time of the second temple, the practice included a morning burnt offering and an evening meal offering, as seen in 2 Kings 16:15.
Ezekiel’s revision is striking. He increases the grain and oil portions (from a tenth to a sixth of an ephah, from a fourth to a third of a hin of oil) but completely drops the evening lamb. The Cambridge Bible notes that Ezekiel nowhere mentions wine in offerings, another departure from the Mosaic norm. The vision thus presents an idealised, purified worship for the restored community, one that looks forward to a time when the daily sacrifices find their true meaning. The repeated “morning by morning” (בבקר בבקר) underscores a rhythm of fresh consecration, while the vanished evening sacrifice raises the central question: what has changed?
Textual Notes
The supplied commentary sources note no significant textual variants for Ezekiel 46:13. The phrase “morning by morning” (בבקר בבקר) is consistent across manuscripts. Keil and Delitzsch discuss a variant in verse 15 (Chetib vs. Keri for “they shall prepare”), but this does not affect verse 13. The major translations agree closely.
Reception History
Early Jewish interpreters such as Kimchi (cited by Gill) suggested that in the future age only the morning sacrifice would be offered. Christian commentators from the Reformation onward have read the verse typologically. Matthew Henry (1710) saw the daily lamb as a picture of Christ, “the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” Gill (1748) developed this most fully, arguing that the omission of the evening sacrifice points to Christ’s death having occurred “between the two evenings.” In the nineteenth century, critical scholars like Keil & Delitzsch focused on the literary and historical significance of the change. Today, the verse is often used in discussions about the nature of Ezekiel’s temple, whether it describes a literal future restoration or a symbolic vision of God’s presence among His people.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Constancy of the Lamb, The command to prepare a lamb “morning by morning” establishes a rhythm of daily dependence. Just as Israel needed manna each dawn, so they needed atonement. There is no day off from grace.
- The Omission of the Evening Sacrifice, Why is the evening lamb missing? Many Christian readers, following Gill, see the evening as the time of Christ’s death, the true Lamb offered once for all. The type gives way to the reality. The morning sacrifice then becomes a thankful remembrance of the perfect sacrifice that never needs repeating.
- The Freshness of Each Morning, Lamentations 3:22-23 declares mercies new every morning. The repeated “morning by morning” calls God’s people to begin each day by acknowledging His provision. It is an invitation to start the day with worship, not worry.
Five-point outline
- The lamb: a year-old, without defect, pointing to the perfect offering.
- The offering: a burnt offering (olah), entire consumption, signifying total devotion.
- The frequency: daily, no interruption in God’s provision.
- The time: morning, a fresh start, a firstfruits of the day.
- The omission of evening: the once-for-all sacrifice fulfills the daily cycle.
Illustration hooks
- A morning cup of coffee: a daily ritual that prepares you for the day. What if worship became that kind of non-negotiable start?
- The one-time payment of a mortgage: you still get monthly statements, but the debt is settled. The morning sacrifice is the statement that reminds you the Lamb already paid.
- A sunrise hike: the world looks different at dawn. Worship at first light reorients the whole day.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If Christ is the final sacrifice, why does the Bible still talk about sacrifices in the future temple?”
- “Should we observe a morning prayer time every day, or is this just Old Testament ceremonial law?”
- “What does it mean that the evening sacrifice isn’t mentioned, is there something we’re missing about the timing of Christ’s death?”
Leading a Discussion
This verse calls us to consider the daily rhythm of grace. The old covenant required unceasing sacrifice; the new covenant calls us to unceasing gratitude. As you discuss, let the question of the evening sacrifice open deeper reflection on the finished work of Christ.
Discussion questions
- What does the command to prepare a lamb “without defect” reveal about God’s standard and His provision? (Exodus 12:5)
- Compare this verse with Numbers 28:3-8. What difference stands out most sharply, and why might Ezekiel have made that change?
- Gill writes: “Christ has appeared once in the evening of the world, and offered up himself.” How does the omission of the evening sacrifice help you understand the finality of the cross?
- The repeated phrase “morning by morning” suggests a daily practice. How could you build a “morning sacrifice” of prayer and Scripture into your routine?
- Ezekiel’s temple is a vision of restored worship after exile. What does this passage say about God’s commitment to dwelling with His people, even after judgment?
- The burnt offering was entirely consumed on the altar, a picture of total dedication. In what area of your life is God calling you to give Him everything, not just a portion?
- How does knowing Jesus is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) change the way you approach God each morning?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 12:5 | Your lamb shall be without defect, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep or from the goats. |
| Exodus 29:38 | “Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually. |
| Exodus 29:42 | It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh, where I will meet with you, to speak there to you. |
| Leviticus 12:6 | “‘When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the Tent of Meeting, a year old lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove, for a sin offering. |
| Numbers 28:3 | You shall tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to Yahweh: male lambs a year old without defect, two day by day, for a continual burnt offering. |
| Numbers 28:8 | The other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. |
| Numbers 28:10 | this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering. |
| Psalms 92:2 | to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night, |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
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What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Thou shalt prepare it every morning - The evening offering is entirely omitted, which makes an important difference between this and the old laws. See Exodus 29:31-46.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the list of sacrifices here deliberately omits the evening sacrifice. The seer is not being exhaustive but is selecting only a few kinds of offerings, and he does so with a specific purpose in view that shapes which ones appear.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that Ezekiel’s daily offering omits the wine drink-offering that was prescribed in Numbers, and the amounts of flour and oil differ from that earlier law. This suggests a simplified practice in Ezekiel’s vision, distinct from the Mosaic regulations.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the unbroken daily rhythm of worship: a perfect, year-old lamb offered every single morning. This constant repetition underscores that God’s people never outgrow their need for sacrifice and atonement—it is a non-negotiable, daily provision.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the daily morning lamb offering as a type of Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, whose sacrifice has perpetual cleansing power. He highlights that only the morning sacrifice is commanded here, not the evening, because Christ appeared once in the evening of the world and offered himself, fulfilling the type of the Passover lamb.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch notes that Ezekiel's temple vision prescribes only a morning lamb for the daily burnt offering, deliberately omitting the evening sacrifice of Mosaic law. They also highlight that the accompanying grain and oil offerings are increased compared to Numbers 28, marking these as intentional changes for the new order of worship.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange distinguishes between the outer east gate (always shut) and the inner east gate (opened only on Sabbath and new moon). He notes that the prince now stands rather than sits, a modification showing that the true king is the Messiah, whose glory entered through that gate and now governs all princely prerogative.