Ezekiel40

Ezekiel, in the twenty-fifth year of his captivity, is brought by the hand of the LORD in visions to the land of Israel, set upon a high mountain. There, he encounters a man with the appearance of brass, holding a measuring line and reed. This divine guide instructs Ezekiel to observe carefully and declare all that he sees to the house of Israel, beginning with the meticulous measurement of the temple's outer wall and the eastern gate.
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The Vision of the New Temple Begins

1
In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month—in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been struck down—on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He took me there. ​
2
In visions of God He took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose southern slope was a structure that resembled a city. ​
3
So He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze. He was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. ​
4
“Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.” ​

Measuring the Outer Wall and East Gate

5
And I saw a wall surrounding the temple area. Now the length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits (each measuring a cubit and a handbreadth), and he measured the wall to be one rod thick and one rod high. ​
6
Then he came to the gate facing east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate to be one rod deep.
7
Each gate chamber was one rod long and one rod wide, and there were five cubits between the gate chambers. The inner threshold of the gate by the portico facing inward was one rod deep.
8
Then he measured the portico of the gateway inside;
9
it was eight cubits deep, and its jambs were two cubits thick. And the portico of the gateway faced the temple.
10
There were three gate chambers on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the gateposts on either side also had the same measurements.
11
And he measured the width of the gateway entrance to be ten cubits, and its length was thirteen cubits.
12
In front of each gate chamber was a wall one cubit high, and the gate chambers were six cubits square.
13
Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one gate chamber to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits from doorway to doorway.
14
Next he measured the gateposts to be sixty cubits high. The gateway extended around to the gatepost of the courtyard.
15
And the distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its inner portico was fifty cubits.
16
The gate chambers and their side pillars had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway. The porticos also had windows all around on the inside. Each side pillar was decorated with palm trees. ​
17
Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement, ​
18
which flanked the gateways and corresponded to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.
19
Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubits on the east side as well as on the north. ​

Measuring the Outer Court Gates

20
He also measured the length and width of the gateway of the outer court facing north. ​
21
Its three gate chambers on each side, its side pillars, and its portico all had the same measurements as the first gate: fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
22
Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them. ​
23
There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured the distance from gateway to gateway to be a hundred cubits.
24
Then he led me to the south side, and I saw a gateway facing south. He measured its side pillars and portico, and they had the same measurements as the others.
25
Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
26
Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.
27
The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured the distance from gateway to gateway toward the south to be a hundred cubits.

Measuring the Inner Court Gates

28
Next he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements as the others. ​
29
Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
30
(The porticoes around the inner court were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits deep.)
31
Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees. Eight steps led up to it. ​
32
And he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others.
33
Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
34
Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.
35
Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others,
36
as did its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
37
Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

Sacrificial Facilities and Priestly Chambers

38
There was a chamber with a doorway by the portico in each of the inner gateways. There the burnt offering was to be washed. ​
39
Inside the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were to be slaughtered. ​
40
Outside, as one goes up to the entrance of the north gateway, there were two tables on one side and two more tables on the other side of the gate’s portico.
41
So there were four tables inside the gateway and four outside—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered.
42
There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offering, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit high. On these were placed the utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.
43
The double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.
44
Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two chambers, one beside the north gate and facing south, and another beside the south gate and facing north.
45
Then the man said to me: “The chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple, ​
46
and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the only Levites who may approach the LORD to minister before Him.” ​
47
Next he measured the court. It was square, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple. ​

Measuring the Temple Vestibule (Porch)

48
Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the side pillars of the portico to be five cubits on each side. The width of the gateway was fourteen cubits and its sidewalls were three cubits on either side. ​
49
The portico was twenty cubits wide and twelve cubits deep, and ten steps led up to it. There were columns by the side pillars, one on each side. ​

Study Notes for Ezekiel 40

Verse 1

The date is precisely fixed: the 25th year of the exile, 14 years after the destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC). This timing emphasizes that God provides hope and a future structure immediately following the complete devastation of the old order.

Verse 2

Ezekiel is transported to a 'very high mountain,' symbolizing the transcendence and holiness of God’s dwelling place, often associated with Zion (cf. Isa. 2:2).

Verse 3

The 'man' with the appearance of brass (bronze) is Ezekiel’s divine guide, often interpreted as an angel or a manifestation of God, symbolizing durability and judgment. The measuring tools stress accuracy and divine design.

Verse 4

Ezekiel is commissioned to be a meticulous observer and reporter. The detailed measurements are not merely architectural but serve as a tangible promise of restoration and a blueprint for holiness that the exiles must understand.

Verse 5

The standard of measure is the 'long cubit,' which is a standard cubit (approx. 18 in.) plus a handbreadth (totaling about 20.6 inches). This larger, precise unit emphasizes the magnified scale and divine standard of the new sanctuary.

Verse 16

The 'narrow windows' suggest the gate structure was fortified, emphasizing the protective, sacred nature of the temple. The palm trees were a common decorative motif symbolizing life, fertility, and victory.

Verse 17

The 'outer court' is the largest area, accessible to all clean Israelites. The thirty chambers likely served as storage rooms or dining halls for sacrificial meals.

Verse 19

The distance of 100 cubits separates the outer court from the inner court, establishing a clear boundary between the more public and the more sacred areas.

Verse 20

The gates facing north and south are found to be identical to the eastern gate (v. 21), emphasizing symmetry and uniformity in the divine design.

Verse 22

The gates are ascended by seven steps, indicating that the court level was significantly higher than the external ground level, reinforcing the elevation of the sanctuary.

Verse 28

The inner court gates are also measured, leading into the area immediately surrounding the Temple proper. These gates are similar in dimension but differ in the number of steps (v. 31).

Verse 31

The inner gates are accessed by eight steps, one more step than the outer gates. This reflects the increased elevation and greater sanctity of the inner court.

Verse 38

These chambers near the gates were designated for washing the various animal parts associated with the burnt offering, ensuring ritual purity before presentation at the altar.

Verse 39

The presence of tables for slaying the burnt, sin, and trespass offerings confirms that the entire sacrificial system, central to Israel’s covenant relationship with God, is to be re-established.

Verse 45

These chambers are for the priests responsible for the daily administration ('charge of the house'), likely involving the care of the sanctuary furnishings and routines.

Verse 46

The sons of Zadok are specifically singled out as the faithful priestly line, reinforcing the promise of their exclusive right to minister before the Lord, a theme further developed in chapter 44.

Verse 47

The inner court measures 100 cubits square, symbolizing perfection and completion. The altar, though not measured here, is mentioned as the central focus of the court, immediately before the Temple building.

Verse 48

The vision moves from the courts to the structure of the Temple itself, beginning with the 'porch' or vestibule—the entrance hall preceding the Holy Place.

Verse 49

The porch is ascended by steps and flanked by pillars. This structure resembles Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 6:3), establishing continuity while emphasizing the new, purified design.

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