Ezekiel 40:1

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

In the five {H2568} and twentieth {H6242} year {H8141} of our captivity {H1546}, in the beginning {H7218} of the year {H8141}, in the tenth {H6218} day of the month {H2320}, in the fourteenth {H702}{H6240} year {H8141} after {H310} that the city {H5892} was smitten {H5221}, in the selfsame {H6106} day {H3117} the hand {H3027} of the LORD {H3068} was upon me, and brought {H935} me thither.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month—in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been struck down—on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He took me there.

American Standard Version

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 Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me thither.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 40:1 marks a profound turning point in the book of Ezekiel, initiating an extensive vision of a new temple and the future restoration of Israel. This verse meticulously establishes the precise chronological and spiritual context for this divine revelation, grounding the supernatural experience within a specific moment of the Babylonian exile. It signifies a dramatic shift in Ezekiel's prophetic ministry from messages of judgment and destruction to a detailed prophecy of hope, renewal, and God's enduring presence among His people, even in their deepest despair.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a pivotal transition in the book of Ezekiel. The preceding chapters (Ezekiel 33-39) primarily detail the fall of Jerusalem, the judgment of surrounding nations, and prophecies of Israel's future restoration, including the powerful vision of the valley of dry bones and the reunification of Judah and Israel. The news of Jerusalem's destruction, recorded in [Ezekiel 33:21](/ezekiel/33-21 "Ezekiel 33:21 - News of Jerusalem's Fall"), marked a significant shift in Ezekiel's prophetic burden, moving from a watchman warning of impending doom to a prophet offering comfort and hope. Chapter 40, therefore, inaugurates a new, extensive section (Ezekiel 40-48) dedicated entirely to a meticulously detailed vision of a new temple and its associated ordinances. This vision symbolizes a future of renewed worship, the re-establishment of divine presence, and the reordering of Israel's life around God, providing a blueprint for spiritual and national restoration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Ezekiel was among the Jewish exiles deported to Babylon during the second wave of deportations in 597 BC, alongside King Jehoiachin. The chronological markers in this verse are exceptionally precise: "the five and twentieth year of our captivity" places the vision around 573 BC. Crucially, it is also "the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten," referring to the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by Nebuchadnezzar's forces in 587/586 BC. This means the vision of restoration came over a decade after the catastrophe, to a people whose hopes were shattered and whose spiritual center, the Temple, was annihilated. The phrase "in the beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month" is widely interpreted by scholars as referring to the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), which was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This timing would be profoundly symbolic for a vision of cleansing, renewal, and the re-establishment of God's dwelling among His people, offering a powerful counter-narrative to the despair of exile.
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 40:1 powerfully introduces several key themes that permeate the remainder of the book. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Revelation and Precise Timing**, emphasizing God's meticulous sovereignty over historical events and His perfect timing in unfolding His redemptive plans. The exact dating reinforces that this is not a random dream but a divinely orchestrated, purposeful revelation. Secondly, it highlights **Hope Amidst Desolation**. Delivered 14 years after the temple's destruction, this vision of a glorious new temple offers a profound message of future restoration and God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, even when His people are in a state of utter despair and displacement. This echoes themes of future hope found in passages like [Ezekiel 36:24-28](/ezekiel/36-24-28 "Ezekiel 36:24-28 - A New Heart and Spirit"). Thirdly, the recurring phrase "the hand of the LORD was upon me" signifies **Divine Empowerment and Presence**. This motif, seen elsewhere in Ezekiel (e.g., [Ezekiel 1:3](/ezekiel/1-3 "Ezekiel 1:3 - Ezekiel's Call"), [Ezekiel 3:22](/ezekiel/3-22 "Ezekiel 3:22 - The Hand of the LORD on Ezekiel")), denotes a direct, powerful, and often overwhelming divine influence that enables the prophet to receive and communicate God's message, frequently involving spiritual transportation or visionary experiences.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Captivity (Hebrew, _gâlûwth'_):** This feminine noun, derived from the verb meaning "to go into exile," refers to the state of being carried away from one's homeland. In Ezekiel 40:1, "our captivity" emphasizes the shared experience of displacement, loss, and suffering among the Jewish exiles in Babylon. It sets the somber backdrop of their collective despair against which God's magnificent vision of restoration is given, highlighting the contrast between their present reality and future hope.
* **Month (Hebrew, _chôdesh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be new," this word refers to the new moon and, by implication, a month. Its inclusion in the precise dating "in the tenth day of the month" is crucial for understanding the potential symbolic significance of the vision's timing. As discussed in the historical context, this phrase is widely interpreted as pointing to the tenth day of the seventh month, Tishri, which was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This connection highlights profound themes of cleansing, reconciliation, and new beginnings for God's covenant people.
* **Hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** A primitive word denoting the open hand, used both literally and figuratively to represent power, means, direction, and intervention. In the crucial phrase "the hand of the LORD," it functions as a powerful anthropomorphism (attributing human characteristics to God) signifying God's direct, tangible, and often forceful or empowering intervention. Here, it denotes the divine power that supernaturally seized Ezekiel and transported him into the vision, underscoring the divine origin and authority of the revelation he was about to receive.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month,"**: This initial clause provides the first layer of precise chronological dating. "The five and twentieth year of our captivity" refers to the period since the first major deportation of Judah in 597 BC, placing the vision around 573 BC. The subsequent phrase "in the beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month" is highly specific and, as widely interpreted by scholars, points to the tenth day of the seventh month, Tishri, which was the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This timing is deeply significant, suggesting a moment of spiritual cleansing, national repentance, and a fresh start for God's people, even while they remained in exile.
* **"in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten,"**: This second chronological marker is profoundly significant, providing an additional, crucial reference point. It clarifies that the vision occurred 14 years *after* the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and its beloved temple in 587/586 BC. This detail underscores the depth of Israel's despair and the apparent finality of their judgment, making the subsequent vision of a glorious new temple all the more astonishing and hopeful. It emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, providing a vision of future glory long after the visible signs of His presence (the temple) had been destroyed.
* **"in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither."**: This final clause describes the immediate, powerful divine action that initiated the vision. "In the selfsame day" reiterates the precision of the timing, emphasizing the direct and intentional nature of God's intervention. The phrase "the hand of the LORD was upon me" is a recurring and vital motif in Ezekiel, indicating a powerful, direct, and often overwhelming divine anointing or spiritual seizure that enables the prophet to receive and convey God's message. This divine power "brought me thither," signifying a supernatural transportation of Ezekiel to the location where he would receive the detailed temple vision, which the subsequent verse reveals as "a very high mountain."

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 40:1 employs several key literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Chronological Precision**, with multiple, overlapping time markers ("five and twentieth year of our captivity," "fourteenth year after that the city was smitten," "tenth day of the month"). This meticulous dating grounds the extraordinary vision that follows in historical reality, emphasizing God's sovereignty over time and His intentionality in revealing His redemptive plans. Another significant device is **Anthropomorphism**, particularly in the phrase "the hand of the LORD." This human-like attribute ascribed to God powerfully conveys His direct, personal, and forceful intervention in Ezekiel's life, enabling the prophet to receive the divine revelation. Finally, there is subtle **Symbolism** in the timing of the vision, potentially coinciding with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This choice of day for a vision of a new temple and restored worship would symbolically underscore themes of purification, reconciliation, and a renewed covenant relationship between God and His people, even in the midst of their exile.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 40:1 stands as a powerful testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and His sovereign control over history, even in the darkest moments of His people's experience. Coming after the devastation of Jerusalem and the temple, this vision of a meticulously detailed new temple signifies God's enduring commitment to dwell among His people and to restore their worship. It underscores the theological truth that divine revelation is not random but purposeful and perfectly timed, offering hope and direction when all earthly hope seems lost. This verse initiates a profound exploration of God's future plans for Israel, emphasizing the restoration of His presence and the re-establishment of a holy community centered around Him, a theme that resonates throughout biblical prophecy.

* [Jeremiah 29:10-14](/jeremiah/29-10-14 "Jeremiah 29:10-14 - Plans for Hope and a Future")
* [Isaiah 2:2-4](/isaiah/2-2-4 "Isaiah 2:2-4 - The Mountain of the Lord's House")
* [Haggai 2:6-9](/haggai/2-6-9 "Haggai 2:6-9 - The Glory of the Latter House")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 40:1 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating periods of loss, disillusionment, or apparent hopelessness. Just as God granted Ezekiel a vision of future glory 14 years after the temple's destruction, so too does He work in our lives, often revealing His purposes and providing hope precisely when circumstances seem most bleak. This verse reminds us that God's hand is always active, sovereignly orchestrating events and empowering His servants, even when His presence feels distant or His plans unclear. It calls us to cultivate a posture of patient waiting and expectant faith, trusting that God's timing is perfect and His ultimate plans for restoration and renewal are always unfolding. We are invited to look beyond our immediate circumstances to the greater, eternal purposes of God, finding solace in His unwavering faithfulness and the certainty of His redemptive work.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the precise dating of this vision challenge or affirm your understanding of God's sovereignty over time and history, especially in difficult seasons?**
* **In what areas of your life or the world around you do you feel a sense of "captivity" or "desolation," and how might this vision of a new temple offer you hope for God's future restoration?**
* **What does "the hand of the LORD was upon me" mean for your own experience of divine guidance and empowerment in your life today?**

### FAQ
**Why is the dating in Ezekiel 40:1 so meticulously precise?**

Answer: The meticulous dating in [Ezekiel 40:1](/ezekiel/40-1 "Ezekiel 40:1 - The Vision Begins") serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it grounds the extraordinary vision in historical reality, emphasizing that this was not a mere dream but a divinely ordained and specific event within the timeline of Israel's exile. Secondly, it highlights God's absolute sovereignty over time and history, demonstrating that even amidst national catastrophe, God is actively working out His purposes according to His perfect schedule. The specific mention of "the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten" (referring to the fall of Jerusalem) underscores the depth of the despair from which this vision of hope emerges, making the divine intervention all the more significant. It assures the exiles that God had not forgotten them but was revealing His future plans for their restoration at a divinely appointed moment.

**What is the significance of "the hand of the LORD was upon me" in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "the hand of the LORD was upon me" is a recurring and powerful motif throughout the book of Ezekiel (e.g., [Ezekiel 1:3](/ezekiel/1-3 "Ezekiel 1:3 - Ezekiel's Call"), [Ezekiel 3:22](/ezekiel/3-22 "Ezekiel 3:22 - The Hand of the LORD on Ezekiel"), [Ezekiel 8:1](/ezekiel/8-1 "Ezekiel 8:1 - The Hand of the LORD in Vision")). It signifies a direct, powerful, and often overwhelming divine influence or anointing that enables the prophet to receive and declare God's message. In [Ezekiel 40:1](/ezekiel/40-1 "Ezekiel 40:1 - The Vision Begins"), it specifically indicates the divine power that seized Ezekiel and supernaturally transported him to the place where he would receive the detailed vision of the new temple. It speaks to God's active involvement in the prophetic process, empowering His chosen messenger to witness and convey profound spiritual truths.

**Could the "tenth day of the month" refer to the Day of Atonement, and if so, what is the symbolic meaning?**

Answer: Many scholars interpret "the tenth day of the month" as referring to the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), which was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (see [Leviticus 23:27](/leviticus/23-27 "Leviticus 23:27 - The Day of Atonement")). If this interpretation is correct, the timing is highly symbolic. Yom Kippur was a day of national cleansing, repentance, and reconciliation with God. For a vision concerning a new temple, renewed worship, and the restoration of God's presence among His people, beginning on the Day of Atonement would powerfully underscore themes of purification, forgiveness, and a fresh start in their relationship with God, offering immense hope to a people burdened by sin and exile.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel's grand vision of a new temple in Ezekiel 40-48, initiated by the divine hand in [Ezekiel 40:1](/ezekiel/40-1 "Ezekiel 40:1 - The Vision Begins"), finds its ultimate fulfillment not in a literal rebuilding of a physical structure, but in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The meticulous details of the temple, its ordinances, and the promised return of God's glory foreshadow the reality of God's dwelling among humanity in a new and perfect way through Christ. Jesus Himself declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referring to [the temple of His body](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus on the Temple of His Body") ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus and the Temple")). He is the true and ultimate temple, the perfect meeting place between God and humanity, through whom we have access to the Father ([Ephesians 2:18](/ephesians/2-18 "Ephesians 2:18 - Access to the Father Through Christ")). Furthermore, the New Testament reveals that believers, individually and corporately, are now [the temple of the Holy Spirit](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body a Temple of the Holy Spirit") ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body a Temple of the Holy Spirit"), [2 Corinthians 6:16](/2_corinthians/6-16 "2 Corinthians 6:16 - You are the Temple of the Living God")), signifying God's indwelling presence among His new covenant people. The life-giving river flowing from Ezekiel's temple ([Ezekiel 47:1-12](/ezekiel/47-1-12 "Ezekiel 47:1-12 - The River from the Temple")) finds its echo in the [living water that Jesus offers](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water") ([John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water")), bringing spiritual life and healing. Ultimately, the vision points to the new heavens and new earth, where [God's dwelling is with humanity](/revelation/21-3 "Revelation 21:3 - God's Dwelling with Man"), and there is no longer a need for a physical temple, "for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb" ([Revelation 21:22](/revelation/21-22 "Revelation 21:22 - No Temple in the New Jerusalem")). Thus, Ezekiel's vision of a restored temple, initiated by the hand of the LORD, beautifully anticipates the complete and eternal restoration found in Christ, the Living Temple, and His eternal kingdom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 33:21

¶ And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, [that] one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.

Ezekiel 32:17

¶ It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 1:2

In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

Ezekiel 1:3

The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

Ezekiel 32:1

¶ And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 3:22

¶ And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

Ezekiel 3:14

So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.