Ezekiel43

Ezekiel witnesses the glorious return of the Lord to the new temple, entering from the east gate and filling the house. God declares this temple to be His eternal dwelling place, condemning Israel's past defilement and calling for repentance. He then instructs Ezekiel to show the people the temple's pattern and the specific measurements and consecration rituals for the altar.

The Return of God's Glory

1
After this, he brought me to the gate facing east.
2
There I saw the glory of the God of Isra'el approaching from the east. His voice was like the sound of rushing water, and the earth shone with his glory. ​
3
The vision seemed like the vision I had seen when I came to destroy the city; also the visions were like the vision I had seen by the K'var River; and I fell on my face. ​
4
ADONAI's glory entered the house through the gate facing east. ​
5
Next, a spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and I saw ADONAI's glory fill the house.
6
I heard someone speaking to me from the house, and a man was standing by me.

The Lord Establishes His Dwelling

7
He said, "Human being, this is the place for my throne, the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Isra'el forever. The house of Isra'el, both they and their kings, will never again defile my holy name by their prostitution, by [burying] the corpses of their kings [on] their high places, ​
8
or by placing their threshold next to my threshold and their door-frames next to my door-frames, with only a common wall between me and them. Yes, they defiled my holy name by the disgusting practices they committed; which is why I destroyed them in my anger. ​
9
So now, they should put their prostitution at a distance and the corpses of their kings far away from me; then I will live among them forever. ​
10
"You, human being, describe this house to the house of Isra'el, so that they will be ashamed of their crimes. And let them measure accurately. ​
11
If they become ashamed of all they have done, show them the elevation and plan of the house, its exits and entrances, all its details and decorations, and all its specifications, its design and its Torah. Sketch it for them to see, so that they can observe the entire design with its specifications, and carry them out.
12
This is Torah for the house: the whole surrounding area on the mountaintop will be especially holy. This is Torah for the house." ​

Measurements of the Great Altar

13
These are the measurements of the altar in cubits (a cubit here is defined as a normal cubit [eighteen inches] plus a handbreadth [three inches]): the base, one cubit [twenty-one inches] deep and one cubit wide; with the molding surrounding it at its rim about a hand-span [nine inches] in width. The height of the altar is thus: ​
14
from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, three-and-a-half feet, with the width twenty-one inches; from the lower ledge to the upper ledge, seven feet, with the width again twenty-one inches.
15
The hearth measures seven feet [high], with four horns on top of the hearth. ​
16
The hearth is a square twenty-one feet on each of its four sides.
17
The ledge measures a square twenty-four-and-a-half feet on each of its four sides; the molding around it ten-and-a-half inches [across]; and its base twenty-one inches [larger than the rest, all the way] around. Its steps face east. ​

Ordinances for Altar Consecration

18
He said to me, "Human being, Adonai ELOHIM says, 'These are the regulations for the altar when the time comes to construct it, offer burnt offerings on it and splash the blood against it: ​
19
you are to give to the cohanim, who are L'vi'im descended from Tzadok and who approach to serve me,' says Adonai ELOHIM, 'a young bull as a sin offering. ​
20
You are to take its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge and on the molding all the way around; this is how you will purify it and make atonement for it. ​
21
You are also to take the bull which is the sin offering and have it burned up at the designated place [on the grounds] of the house, outside the sanctuary.
22
On the second day you are to offer a male goat without defect as a sin offering, and they are to purify the altar as they purified it with the bull.
23
When you have finished purifying it, you are to offer a young bull without defect and a ram from the flock without defect.
24
You are to present them before ADONAI, and the cohanim will throw salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering to ADONAI.
25
Every day, for seven days, you are to prepare a goat as a sin offering; they are also to prepare a young bull and a ram from the flock without defect. ​
26
For seven days, they are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it; in this way they are to consecrate it.
27
When these days are over, then, on the eighth day and afterwards, the cohanim will present your burnt offerings on the altar and your peace offerings; and I will accept you,' says Adonai ELOHIM." ​

Study Notes for Ezekiel 43

Verse 2

The Glory (*Kavod*) returns from the east, the same direction it had departed in the vision of judgment (Ezek. 10:19; 11:23). The sound of God's voice like 'many waters' emphasizes His majesty and overwhelming power (cf. Rev. 1:15).

Verse 3

Ezekiel explicitly links this vision of divine restoration to his earlier, terrifying visions of judgment, confirming that the same God who judged Israel is the one now restoring His presence.

Verse 4

The return of God’s presence through the East Gate symbolizes the reversal of the judgment pronounced upon the first Temple. This entry establishes the new Temple as the site of God's permanent dwelling.

Verse 7

God declares that the rebuilt Temple is the 'place of my throne' and where He will dwell 'for ever.' This signifies a permanent, unbreakable covenant relationship, provided Israel maintains holiness.

Verse 8

The defilement of the former Temple included syncretism and idolatry. 'Setting their threshold by my thresholds' likely refers to kings building their palaces or burying their dead immediately adjacent to the sacred Temple area, blurring the distinction between the holy and the common.

Verse 9

The promise of God’s permanent dwelling is conditional upon the people’s repentance, requiring them to remove all remnants of idolatry and ritual impurity.

Verse 10

The detailed architectural plan serves a theological purpose: to induce repentance. By comparing the perfect divine blueprint to their past flawed practices, the people are meant to be 'ashamed of their iniquities.'

Verse 12

This verse establishes the 'Law of the House,' defining the entire surrounding mountain area as 'most holy.' This expansive definition emphasizes absolute separation and purity required of the restored community.

Verse 13

The cubit standard used throughout the vision is the longer, royal cubit ('a cubit and an hand breadth,' approximately 20.6 inches), confirming the immense scale and divine origin of the design.

Verse 15

The altar is described in three tiers (base, lower settle, upper settle) leading up to the main hearth, which is four cubits high and features four horns for the application of sacrificial blood.

Verse 17

The stairs facing east would have allowed the priests to ascend without violating the prohibition in Mosaic law against exposing their nakedness (Ex. 20:26). The altar’s overall dimensions make it a large, perfect square (12x12 cubits at the top hearth).

Verse 18

The vision now shifts from the structure's physical dimensions to the rituals required to sanctify it, making it fit for offering sacrifices to the Lord.

Verse 19

As mandated earlier (Ezek. 40:46; 44:15), only the priests of the line of Zadok—who remained faithful during the apostasy—are authorized to perform the sacred ministry.

Verse 20

The application of blood to the corners and borders cleanses and purges the inanimate altar structure itself, preparing it to be a consecrated instrument for worship.

Verse 25

The seven-day purification ritual mirrors the dedication periods for the Mosaic Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple, emphasizing the profound holiness required for the new sanctuary.

Verse 27

Upon completion of the seven-day consecration, the altar is ready for regular use. The concluding promise, 'I will accept you,' links proper ritual obedience directly to God’s gracious acceptance of His people.

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