Verses 1-15 of chapter 46 continue the subsection on the offerings and festivals from the previous chapter. Although Good News Translation inserts a heading before this verse (“The Prince and the Festivals”), there is no real break here, and it is acceptable to allow the text to flow on uninterrupted.

Thus says the Lord GOD: This is the prophetic formula that calls attention to the importance of the following message from God. Lord renders the Hebrew word ʾadonai, and GOD renders “Yahweh” (YHWH in Hebrew).

The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days: See 44.1-2. The gate of the inner court that faces east refers to the east gateway of the inner courtyard, which is described in 40.32-34, but it is not clear whether it is the outer or inner door of the gateway that will usually be shut. If it is the one that the king goes through (see Ezek 46.2), it is probably the outer one. Shall be shut means that no one will open this door of the gatehouse. Contemporary English Version and Revised English Bible say “must remain closed,” and New International Reader’s Version has “you must keep … shut.” It must stay closed on the six working days, that is, from Sunday to Friday each week. These are the days when the Israelites were allowed to work, since Saturday was the day of rest for them. Translators may say “on the six days of the week when people work.”

But on the sabbath day it shall be opened: The only day of the week on which the door will be allowed to be open will be the sabbath day (see 20.13), that is, Saturday, the day of rest. Some languages may say “the day of rest of the Jews” to distinguish it from other days in their local calendar. The Hebrew expression rendered it shall be opened does not specify who will open the door. Those languages that do not have passive verbs may say that the priests or the Levites will open it, or they may use an impersonal subject, saying “they will open it.” Other alternative renderings are “it will be open” (New Living Translation) and “open it” (New International Reader’s Version).

And on the day of the new moon it shall be opened: The only other time the door will be allowed to be open will be on the day of the new moon, that is, on the first day of each month (see the comments on 45.17).

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .