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 five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. ​
2
In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. ​
3
And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. ​
4
And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel. ​

Measuring the Outer Wall and East Gate

5
And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed. ​
6
Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
7
And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed.
8
He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
9
Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.
10
And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.
11
And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
12
The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.
13
He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
14
He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.
15
And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.
16
And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees. ​
17
Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement. ​
18
And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.
19
Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward. ​

Measuring the Outer Court Gates

20
And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof. ​
21
And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
22
And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them. ​
23
And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.
24
After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.
25
And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
26
And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.
27
And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.

Measuring the Inner Court Gates

28
And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures; ​
29
And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
30
And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.
31
And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps. ​
32
And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
33
And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
34
And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
35
And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
36
The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
37
And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

Sacrificial Facilities and Priestly Chambers

38
And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering. ​
39
And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering. ​
40
And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.
41
Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.
42
And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
43
And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.
44
And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
45
And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. ​
46
And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him. ​
47
So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house. ​

Measuring the Temple Vestibule (Porch)

48
And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side. ​
49
The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that 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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