40:48 40:48

Ezekiel 40:49

41:1 41:1

Bible Versions

The length of the porch [was] twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and [he brought me] by the steps whereby they went up to it: and [there were] pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.
The length {H753} of the porch {H197} was twenty {H6242} cubits {H520}, and the breadth {H7341} eleven {H6249}{H6240} cubits {H520}; and he brought me by the steps {H4609} whereby they went up {H5927} to it: and there were pillars {H5982} by the posts {H352}, one {H259} on this side, and another {H259} on that side.
The length of the vestibule was thirty-five feet and the width nineteen-and-a-quarter feet; steps led up to it. There were columns on each side of the entrance.
The portico was twenty cubits wide and twelve cubits deep, and ten steps led up to it. There were columns by the side pillars, one on each side.
The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; even by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

Ezekiel 40:49 details the specific dimensions and features of the porch (or vestibule) of the visionary temple shown to the prophet Ezekiel. This verse is part of an extensive architectural description, providing precise measurements and structural elements that emphasize the divine blueprint for a future sacred dwelling.

Context

This verse is situated within a lengthy and highly detailed prophetic vision given to Ezekiel by God, beginning in Ezekiel 40:1. After being transported to a very high mountain, Ezekiel is shown a meticulously designed temple complex, far grander than any previously known earthly structure. The measurements, including the twenty cubits length and eleven cubits breadth of the porch mentioned here, are given with utmost precision. This divine exactness underscores the supernatural origin of the design and its importance. Given to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, this vision offered a powerful message of hope and future restoration for the people of Israel, promising a renewed relationship with God centered around a cleansed and glorified sanctuary.

Key Themes

  • Divine Precision and Order: The exhaustive detailing of dimensions throughout Ezekiel 40-42, including the exact length and breadth of the porch, highlights God's meticulous planning and the perfect order of His divine design. Every aspect of this future temple is governed by divine instruction, symbolizing holiness and separation.
  • Access to Holiness: The mention of "steps whereby they went up to it" and the "pillars by the posts" signifies a structured and reverent approach to a sacred space. The porch served as an important transitional area, preparing one to enter the holy precincts. This physical entry point can be seen as a metaphor for the necessary reverence and preparation required to approach God's presence.
  • Prophetic Hope and Future Glory: This entire vision, including the detailed measurements of the porch and its features, serves as a powerful promise of future restoration and God's renewed dwelling among His people. It points towards a time of ultimate peace, divine presence, and a fully established spiritual order, a theme also echoed in the promise of God dwelling with humanity in the new creation.

Linguistic Insights

The term for "porch" in Hebrew is 'ulam (אולם), which consistently refers to the vestibule or entrance hall of a temple or palace. The specific dimensions given—twenty cubits (approximately 34 feet or 10.36 meters) in length and eleven cubits (approximately 18.7 feet or 5.7 meters) in breadth—are crucial. A "cubit" was a standard ancient measurement, typically the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, varying slightly but generally around 17-21 inches (43-53 cm). The emphasis on these exact figures in Ezekiel's vision highlights the concrete and literal nature of the architectural plan being revealed.

Significance and Application

Ezekiel 40:49, along with the surrounding chapters, emphasizes that God is a God of order, precision, and purpose. While the exact nature of this temple's fulfillment is debated (whether literal, spiritual, or both), the vision itself communicates profound truths:

  • God's Meticulous Plans: The detailed blueprints remind us that God has a perfect plan for all things, including the establishment of His kingdom and the dwelling of His Spirit among His people.
  • The Path to God's Presence: The steps and porch illustrate that approaching God's holiness involves a designated path and preparation. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is revealed as the ultimate "way" to the Father, providing access through His sacrifice and eliminating the need for a physical temple to mediate God's presence.
  • A Vision of Restoration: For the exiled Israelites, this vision of a perfectly ordered temple brought immense hope, promising a future where God's glory would return and dwell among them. Today, it can inspire hope for God's ultimate restoration and the fulfillment of His promises, particularly in the building of a spiritual house of living stones—the Church, which is God's dwelling place by the Spirit.
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.

  • Jeremiah 52:17

    Also the pillars of brass that [were] in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that [was] in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.

  • Jeremiah 52:23

    And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; [and] all the pomegranates upon the network [were] an hundred round about.

  • Ezekiel 40:34

    And the arches thereof [were] toward the outward court; and palm trees [were] upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it [had] eight steps.

  • Ezekiel 40:37

    And the posts thereof [were] toward the utter court; and palm trees [were] upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it [had] eight steps.

  • 1 Kings 7:15

    For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.

  • 1 Kings 7:21

    And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.

  • Ezekiel 40:31

    And the arches thereof [were] toward the utter court; and palm trees [were] upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it [had] eight steps.
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