The priests must not drink wine before entering the inner courtyard.
Parallel translations
- WEB Neither shall any of the priests drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
- KJV Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
- BSB No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.
- NKJV No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court.
- NASB Nor shall any of the priests drink wine when they enter the inner courtyard.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Priests are forbidden to drink wine before entering the inner court to minister.
Overview
Abstaining from wine kept the priests clear-minded and reverent while serving in God's presence (cf. Leviticus 10:9). Ministry before a holy God demands sobriety and full attention. This sober readiness models the alertness and self-control fitting for all who would serve and worship God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Lev 10:9“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.
- Titus 1:7–8For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;
- Luke 1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
- 1 Tim 3:8Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money;
- 1 Tim 5:23Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 44:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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