Ezekiel 40:38

And the chambers and the entries thereof [were] by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.

And the chambers {H3957} and the entries {H6607} thereof were by the posts {H352} of the gates {H8179}, where they washed {H1740} the burnt offering {H5930}.

There was a room with its entry by the supports at the gates where the burnt offerings were washed.

There was a chamber with a doorway by the portico in each of the inner gateways. There the burnt offering was to be washed.

And a chamber with the door thereof was by the posts at the gates; there they washed the burnt-offering.

Commentary

Ezekiel 40:38 provides a precise detail within the prophet Ezekiel's grand vision of a future temple, describing a specific functional area for sacrificial preparations. This verse states, "And the chambers and the entries thereof [were] by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering."

Context

This verse is found in Ezekiel chapters 40-48, which meticulously detail a visionary temple structure. Following the destruction of the first temple and the Babylonian exile, this elaborate blueprint served as a profound message of hope and restoration for the exiled Israelites. The vision emphasizes the divine order, purity, and the re-establishment of God's presence among His people. Verse 38 specifically points to practical areas within the temple's outer court, likely near the gates, designated for the ritual cleansing of animals intended for sacrifice.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Purity and Holiness: The washing of the burnt offering underscores the absolute necessity of purity in approaching God. Every element of the sacrificial system demanded meticulous cleanliness, reflecting God's holy nature.
  • Order and Precision: The detailed architectural descriptions throughout Ezekiel 40 highlight God's divine order and the precise requirements for worship. Nothing in God's service is arbitrary.
  • Sacrificial System: The presence of an area for washing burnt offerings indicates the continuation of the sacrificial system in this future temple vision, which foreshadows the ultimate atonement.

Linguistic Insights

The term "burnt offering" translates the Hebrew word 'olah (Χ’Χ•ΦΉΧœΦΈΧ”), which literally means "that which goes up" or "ascends." This refers to the entire animal being consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing a complete dedication and surrender to God, with its smoke ascending as a pleasing aroma. The act of "washing" was a fundamental aspect of Old Testament ritual purity, ensuring that the offering was ceremonially clean before being presented to the Lord, as seen in Leviticus 1:9.

Reflection and Application

While this verse describes a physical detail of a visionary temple, its principles hold enduring spiritual significance. The emphasis on washing and purity reminds us of the divine requirement for holiness in approaching God. In the New Covenant, the need for ritual cleansing has been superseded by the perfect and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). This passage encourages believers to approach God with a pure heart and cleansed conscience, not through animal sacrifices, but through faith in Christ's finished work, recognizing that our worship should be marked by reverence and spiritual purity.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 4:6

    He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea [was] for the priests to wash in.

  • Leviticus 1:9

    But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, [to be] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

  • Hebrews 10:22

    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Ezekiel 42:13

    Then said he unto me, The north chambers [and] the south chambers, which [are] before the separate place, they [be] holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place [is] holy.

  • 1 Kings 6:8

    The door for the middle chamber [was] in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle [chamber], and out of the middle into the third.

  • Ezekiel 40:12

    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.

  • Ezekiel 40:17

    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.
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