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.

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 - this was the fourteenth year after the city [of Yerushalayim] was struck - it was on that very day that the hand of ADONAI was on me, and he took me there. ​
2
In visions God brought me into the land of Isra'el and put me down on a very high mountain; on it, toward the south, it seemed that a city was being built. ​
3
That is where he took me, and there in front of me was a man whose appearance was like bronze. He had a flax cord and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway. ​
4
The man said to me, "Human being, look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to all the things I am showing you; because the reason you were brought here is so that I could show them to you. Tell everything you see to the house of Isra'el." ​

Measuring the Outer Wall and East Gate

5
There was a wall surrounding the house. The man had in his hand a measuring rod six cubits long [ten-and-a-half feet], each cubit [twenty-one inches] being a normal cubit [eighteen inches] plus a handbreadth [three inches]. He measured the wall's width at ten-and-a-half feet and its height ten-and-a-half feet. ​
6
He went to the east gate, climbed its steps and measured one of the gate's doorposts at ten-and-a-half feet wide and the other one the same.
7
There were guardrooms, each ten-and-a-half feet square; the distance between the guardrooms was eight-and-three-quarters feet. The threshold of the gate adjoining the gate's entranceway facing the house measured ten-and-a-half feet.
8
He measured the gate's entranceway facing the house at ten-and-a-half feet.
9
Then he measured the gate's entranceway itself, fourteen feet, and its supports, three-and-a-half feet; the gate's entranceway was on the side facing the house.
10
There were three guardrooms on each side of the east gate, all the same size; and on each side the supports [between the guardrooms] were also all the same size.
11
He measured the width of the opening to the gateway at seventeen-and-a-half feet and the width of the passage through the gateway at twenty-two-and-three-quarters feet.
12
There was a partition in front of the guardrooms [on one side] twenty-one inches [wide] and a partition on the other side twenty-one inches [wide], with the guardrooms themselves being ten-and-a-half feet square.
13
He measured [inside] the gate from the back wall of one guardroom to the back wall of the other a distance of forty-three-and-three-quarters feet, the openings [to the guardrooms] being opposite each other.
14
He made the posts 105 feet, likewise the posts of the other gates around the courtyard.
15
The distance along the passage from the outer opening of the gateway to the far side of the entranceway at the inner end of the gateway was eighty-seven-and-a-half feet.
16
There were narrow windows to the guardrooms and to their supports facing inward all along the gate; also the vestibules had windows all around facing inward. On each side support were [carvings of] palm trees. ​
17
Then he brought me into the outer courtyard. There I saw rooms and paved mosaic flooring made for the courtyard all around its perimeter, and thirty rooms facing the flooring. ​
18
The flooring was alongside the gates and corresponded to the length of the gates [from outside to inside], this lower flooring.
19
He measured at 175 feet the distance from inside this lower gate that faced east to the outside of the inner courtyard, and he did the same for the gate that faced north. ​

Measuring the Outer Court Gates

20
Next he measured the length and width of the outer courtyard gate that faced north. ​
21
It had three guardrooms on each side, and its supports and vestibule were the same size as those at the first gate; its length was eighty-seven-and-a-half feet and its width forty-three-and-three-quarters feet.
22
Its windows, vestibule and palm trees were the same size as those at the east gate. Seven steps led up to it [from the outside], while its vestibule was toward the inside. ​
23
There were gates to the inner courtyard across from the gates to the north and east; he measured 175 feet from each outer gate to its corresponding inner gate.
24
He led me toward the south, and there I saw a gate that faced south. He measured its supports and vestibule; they were the same size as the others.
25
There were windows in it and all around its vestibule like the other windows; the length was eighty-seven-and-a-half feet and the width forty-three-and-three-quarters feet.
26
Seven steps led up to it [from the outside], while its vestibule was toward the inside. It had palm trees, one on each side, on its supports.
27
The inner courtyard had a gate on the south; he measured from gate to gate toward the south 175 feet.

Measuring the Inner Court Gates

28
He brought me to the inner courtyard through its south gate. He measured this south gate as being the same size; ​
29
its guardrooms, supports and vestibule were the same size; it had windows and a vestibule surrounding it; it was eighty-seven-and-a-half feet long and forty-three-and-three-quarters feet wide.
30
There was a vestibule around it forty-three-and-three-quarters feet long and eight-and-three-quarters feet wide;
31
this vestibule faced the outer courtyard, palm trees were on its supports, and it had eight steps leading up to it. ​
32
He brought me into the inner courtyard, went toward the east and measured that gate as being the same size;
33
its guardrooms, supports and vestibule were the same size; it had windows and a vestibule surrounding it; it was eighty-seven-and-a-half feet long and forty-three-and-three-quarters feet wide.
34
Its vestibule faced the outer courtyard, palm trees were on its supports, both on the one side and on the other; and it had eight steps leading up to it.
35
He brought me over to the north gate and measured it as being the same size;
36
it had guardrooms, supports and a vestibule with windows all around; the length was eighty-seven-and-a-half feet and the width forty-three-and-three-quarters feet.
37
Its supports faced the outer courtyard; palm trees were on its supports, both on the one side and on the other; and it had eight steps leading up to it.

Sacrificial Facilities and Priestly Chambers

38
There was a room with its entry by the supports at the gates where the burnt offerings were washed. ​
39
In the entranceway to the gate were two tables on the one side and two on the other, on which to slaughter the burnt offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings. ​
40
On the outside, as one goes up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side of the entranceway to the gate were two tables.
41
So there were four tables on the one side and four on the other side, by the gate - eight tables on which to slaughter sacrifices.
42
There were four tables of cut stone for the burnt offering, thirty-one-and-a-half inches square and twenty-one inches high, on which to lay the instruments for slaughtering the burnt offerings and other sacrifices.
43
Hooks a handbreadth long were fastened all around the inside of the room; the flesh of the offerings was to be placed on the tables.
44
Outside the inner gate, in the inner courtyard, were rooms for the singers, one facing south alongside the north gate, and one facing north alongside the east gate.
45
He said to me, "This room facing south is for the cohanim in charge of the house; ​
46
while the room facing north is for the cohanim in charge of the altar; these are the descendants of Tzadok, who are the descendants of Levi designated to approach ADONAI and serve him." ​
47
Then he measured the courtyard at 175 feet long and 175 feet wide - it was square. The altar was in front of the house. ​

Measuring the Temple Vestibule (Porch)

48
He brought me to the vestibule of the house and measured at eight-and-three-quarters feet the thickness of the walls on either side of its entrance. On each side, these walls extended five-and-a-quarter feet from the side-walls of the vestibule. ​
49
The length of the vestibule was thirty-five feet and the width nineteen-and-a-quarter feet; steps led up to it. There were columns on each side of the entrance. ​

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.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options