Definition: And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 46. It's a pretty detailed instruction about how to offer food to God! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse tells us that we need to regularly give a specific amount of food – a “meat offering” – to the LORD every morning. Let's unpack each part: “Ezekiel 46:14…” : This is where the verse starts. It’s from a prophecy written by Ezekiel, a prophet in ancient Israel. “…And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning…” : This means you need to set aside a portion of food each day to give to God. “the sixth part of an ephah…” : An "ephah" was a large container used for storing grain and other goods in ancient times. So, this is 60 cups (or roughly 22 pounds). “…and the third part of an hin of oil…” : An “hin” was another large container – about 4 quarts. This is 3 quarts (roughly 1.5 pounds). "...to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.” : This is the most important part. “Temper with the fine flour” means to mix it with a special type of grain. “A perpetual ordinance unto the LORD” means it’s a regular, ongoing practice that must be done. It's not just a one-time thing; it’s a tradition that God has established. So, what’s the point? This is a way for the Israelites to show their devotion and gratitude to God by regularly giving a portion of their food. It’s a symbolic act – like a regular offering – that reminds them they are connected to and dependent on God's provision. It emphasizes that the Lord is in control and deserves our respect and obedience. In short, it’s a requirement for a consistent and dedicated way to honor God through giving food. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse further? Give an example of how this practice might have been done in ancient times?