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.
And he brought {H935} me thither, and, behold, there was a man {H376}, whose appearance {H4758} was like the appearance {H4758} of brass {H5178}, with a line {H6616} of flax {H6593} in his hand {H3027}, and a measuring {H4060} reed {H7070}; and he stood {H5975} in the gate {H8179}.
That is where he took me, and there in front of me was a man whose appearance was like bronze. He had a flax cord and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.
So He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze. He was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.
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.
-
Revelation 11:1
¶ And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. -
Ezekiel 47:3
And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters [were] to the ankles. -
Daniel 10:5
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins [were] girded with fine gold of Uphaz: -
Daniel 10:6
His body also [was] like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. -
Ezekiel 1:7
And their feet [were] straight feet; and the sole of their feet [was] like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. -
Revelation 21:15
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. -
Revelation 1:15
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Ezekiel 40:3 marks the beginning of a profound and detailed vision given to the prophet Ezekiel concerning a future temple. This chapter opens the final major section of the book of Ezekiel, shifting from prophecies of judgment and restoration of the land to a meticulous description of a new, glorious temple.
Context
This vision occurs in the 25th year of Ezekiel's exile, fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the first temple (2 Kings 25:9). Ezekiel is transported in a vision to a very high mountain in the land of Israel. The previous chapters have dealt with the judgment of Judah and surrounding nations, followed by promises of Israel's restoration and the return of God's glory. This vision provides a detailed blueprint, not just for a physical structure, but as a symbolic representation of God's future dwelling among His people and the re-establishment of true worship. It offers immense hope to a people devastated by exile and the loss of their spiritual center.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "brass" or "bronze" is nechoshet (נְחֹשֶׁת). In biblical imagery, bronze often symbolizes strength, endurance, and judgment, or can be associated with divine glory and purity. The tools – a "line of flax" (pêṯîl pištîm, פְּתִיל פִּשְׁתִּים) and a "measuring reed" (qeneh hammiddâ, קְנֵה הַמִּדָּה) – are practical instruments for construction and surveying, emphasizing the literal and tangible nature of the measurements to follow, even within a visionary context.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 40:3 reminds us that God is a God of order, precision, and purpose. Even in times of desolation and exile, He has a detailed plan for restoration and future glory. For believers today, this vision speaks to: