Ezekiel 40:48

And 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.

And he brought ^{H935} me to the porch ^{H197} of the house ^{H1004}, and measured ^{H4058} each post ^{H352} of the porch ^{H197}, five ^{H2568} cubits ^{H520} on this side, and five ^{H2568} cubits ^{H520} on that side: and the breadth ^{H7341} of the gate ^{H8179} was three ^{H7969} cubits ^{H520} on this side, and three ^{H7969} cubits ^{H520} on that side.

He brought me to the vestibule of the house and measured at eight-and-three-quarters feet the thickness of the walls on either side of its entrance. On each side, these walls extended five-and-a-quarter feet from the side-walls of the vestibule.

Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the side pillars of the portico to be five cubits on each side. The width of the gateway was fourteen cubits and its sidewalls were three cubits on either side.

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.

Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 40:48

Ezekiel 40:48 is part of an extensive and highly detailed vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, beginning in Ezekiel chapter 40. After the destruction of the first Temple in Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites to Babylon, God provided Ezekiel with a prophetic glimpse of a future, glorious temple. This vision serves as a profound message of hope, restoration, and the eventual return of God's glory to His dwelling place.

In this particular verse, Ezekiel is being led by a celestial guide who meticulously measures various components of the temple complex. The focus here is on the "porch of the house," which refers to the vestibule or entrance hall leading into the main sanctuary building. The precise measurements given for its posts and the breadth of its gate underscore the divine origin and perfect order of this envisioned structure.

Key Themes and Messages

Divine Precision and Order: The overwhelming detail and exact measurements throughout Ezekiel 40-48, exemplified in this verse, highlight God's meticulousness. It signifies that God's plans are not vague but perfectly designed, reflecting His inherent order and holiness. This precision speaks to the certainty of His future promises.
The Future Temple: This vision points to a future reality, whether a literal rebuilding of a temple in Jerusalem (often associated with the Millennial Kingdom), or a symbolic representation of God's perfect dwelling among His people, perhaps fulfilled in the Church or the New Jerusalem. The porch, as an entrance, signifies access to God's presence.
God's Presence and Restoration: After the glory of God departed the temple in Ezekiel 10:18, this vision provides assurance that God will once again dwell among His people, with His glory returning to the new temple as described later in Ezekiel 43:4.

Linguistic Insights

The term "porch" in KJV is translated from the Hebrew word 'ulam (אוּלָם), which specifically refers to the vestibule or portico at the entrance of a building, particularly a temple or palace. It serves as an impressive and significant transitional space leading into the inner sanctity.

The unit of measurement, "cubit," was a standard ancient length, typically the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. While its exact modern equivalent varied, the consistency of its use throughout the temple vision emphasizes accuracy and the fixed nature of God's design.

Practical Application

While the exact fulfillment of Ezekiel's temple vision is debated, the principles embedded in verses like Ezekiel 40:48 offer timeless insights:

God is a God of Order: The meticulous measurements remind us that God operates with precision and purpose. His plans for our lives and for history are not random but intricately designed.
Reverence in Approach: The detailed design of the temple, including its entrance (the porch), suggests the importance of reverence and intentionality when approaching God. Every part of His dwelling is significant.
Hope in God's Promises: For ancient Israel, this vision was a beacon of hope amidst despair, promising a future where God's presence would be restored. For believers today, it reinforces the certainty of God's ultimate plan for redemption and His dwelling among His people, culminating in the New Jerusalem where God will dwell with humanity.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

1 Kings 6:3

And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits [was] the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; [and] ten cubits [was] the breadth thereof before the house.
2 Chronicles 3:4

And the porch that [was] in the front [of the house], the length [of it was] according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height [was] an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.