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
Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east.
2
Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shined with his glory. ​
3
It was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city; and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. ​
4
the LORD’s glory came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. ​
5
The Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the LORD’s glory filled the house.
6
I heard one speaking to me out of the house; and a man stood by me.

The Lord Establishes His Dwelling

7
He said to me, Son of man,this is the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. The house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their prostitution, and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places; ​
8
in their setting of their threshold by my threshold, and their door post beside my door post, and there was a wall between me and them; and they have defiled my holy name by their abominations which they have committed: therefore I have consumed them in my anger. ​
9
Now let them put away their prostitution, and the dead bodies of their kings, far from me; and I will dwell in their midst forever. ​
10
You, son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. ​
11
If they be ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the form of the house, and its fashion, and its exits, and its entrances, and all its forms, and all its ordinances, and all its forms, and all its laws; and write it in their sight; that they may keep the whole form of it, and all its ordinances, and do them.
12
This is the law of the house: on the top of the mountain the whole limit around it shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. ​

Measurements of the Great Altar

13
These are the measures of the altar by cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a hand breadth): the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and its border around its edge a span; and this shall be the base of the altar. ​
14
From the bottom on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser ledge to the greater ledge shall be four cubits, and the breadth a cubit.
15
The upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns. ​
16
The altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve broad, square in the four sides of it.
17
The ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad in the four sides of it; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and its bottom shall be a cubit around; and its steps shall look toward the east. ​

Ordinances for Altar Consecration

18
He said to me, Son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings on it, and to sprinkle blood on it. ​
19
You shall give to the priests the Levites who are of the seed of Zadok, who are near to me, to minister to me, says the Lord GOD, a young bull for a sin offering. ​
20
You shall take of its blood, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all around: thus you shall cleanse it and make atonement for it. ​
21
You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burnt in the appointed place of the house, outside of the sanctuary.
22
On the second day you shall offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull.
23
When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without defect, and a ram out of the flock without defect.
24
You shall bring them near to the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt on them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering to the LORD.
25
Seven days you shall prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bull, and a ram out of the flock, without defect. ​
26
Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and purify it; so shall they consecrate it.
27
When they have accomplished the days, it shall be that on the eighth day, and forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, says the Lord GOD. ​

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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