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 captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was struck, in the same day, the hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me there. ​
2
In the visions of God brought he me into Eretz-Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, whereon was as it were the frame of a city on the south. ​
3
He brought me there; 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
The man said to me, Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I shall show you; for, to the intent that I may show them to you, you are brought here: declare all that you see to the house of Israel. ​

Measuring the Outer Wall and East Gate

5
Behold, a wall on the outside of the house all around, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed six cubits long, of a cubit and a hand breadth each: so he measured the thickness of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed. ​
6
Then came he to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up its steps: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.
7
Every lodge was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the lodges was five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate toward the house was one reed.
8
He measured also the porch of the gate toward the house, one reed.
9
Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its posts, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was toward the house.
10
The lodges 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
He measured the breadth of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits;
12
and a border before the lodges, one cubit on this side, and a border, one cubit on that side; and the lodges, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.
13
He measured the gate from the roof of the one lodge to the roof of the other, a breadth of twenty-five cubits; door against door.
14
He made also posts, sixty cubits; and the court reached to the posts, around the gate.
15
From the forefront of the gate at the entrance to the forefront of the inner porch of the gate were fifty cubits.
16
There were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches; and windows were around inward; and on each post were palm trees. ​
17
Then brought he me into the outer court; and behold, there were rooms and a pavement, made for the court all around: thirty rooms were on the pavement. ​
18
The pavement was by the side of the gates, answerable to the length of the gates, even the lower pavement.
19
Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate to the forefront of the inner court outside, one hundred cubits, both on the east and on the north. ​

Measuring the Outer Court Gates

20
The gate of the outer court whose prospect is toward the north, he measured its length and its breadth. ​
21
The lodges of it were three on this side and three on that side; and its posts and its arches were after the measure of the first gate: its length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.
22
The windows of it, and its arches, and the palm trees of it, were after the measure of the gate whose prospect is toward the east; and they went up to it by seven steps; and its arches were before them. ​
23
There was a gate to the inner court facing the other gate, on the north and on the east; and he measured from gate to gate one hundred cubits.
24
He led me toward the south; and behold, a gate toward the south: and he measured its posts and its arches according to these measures.
25
There were windows in it and in its arches all around, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.
26
There were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them; and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on its posts.
27
There was a gate to the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south a hundred cubits.

Measuring the Inner Court Gates

28
Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures; ​
29
and its lodges, and its posts, and its arches, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in its arches all around; it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.
30
There were arches all around, twenty-five cubits long, and five cubits broad.
31
The arches of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts: and the ascent to it had eight steps. ​
32
He brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures;
33
and its lodges, and its posts, and its arches, according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in its arches all around; it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.
34
The arches of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.
35
He brought me to the north gate: and he measured it according to these measures;
36
its lodges, its posts, and its arches: and there were windows therein all around; the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.
37
The posts of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

Sacrificial Facilities and Priestly Chambers

38
A room with its door was by the posts at the gates; there they washed the burnt offering. ​
39
In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, on which to kill the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. ​
40
On the one side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to 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 killed the sacrifices.
42
There were four tables for the burnt offering, of cut stone, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high; whereupon they laid the instruments with which they killed the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
43
The hooks, a hand breadth long, were fastened within all around: and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.
44
Outside of the inner gate were rooms for 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
He said to me, This room, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the house; ​
46
and the room whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to the LORD to minister to him. ​
47
He measured the court, one hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad, square; and the altar was before the house. ​

Measuring the Temple Vestibule (Porch)

48
Then 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; even by the steps by which 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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