Ezekiel 40:5

¶ And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits [long] by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

And behold a wall {H2346} on the outside {H2351} of the house {H1004} round about {H5439}, and in the man's {H376} hand {H3027} a measuring {H4060} reed {H7070} of six {H8337} cubits {H520} long by the cubit {H520} and an hand breadth {H2948}: so he measured {H4058} the breadth {H7341} of the building {H1146}, one {H259} reed {H7070}; and the height {H6967}, one {H259} reed {H7070}.

There was a wall surrounding the house. The man had in his hand a measuring rod six cubits long [ten-and-a-half feet], each cubit [twenty-one inches] being a normal cubit [eighteen inches] plus a handbreadth [three inches]. He measured the wall's width at ten-and-a-half feet and its height ten-and-a-half feet.

And I saw a wall surrounding the temple area. Now the length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits (each measuring a cubit and a handbreadth), and he measured the wall to be one rod thick and one rod high.

And, behold, a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed six cubits long, of a cubit and a handbreadth each: so he measured the thickness of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

Context of Ezekiel 40:5

Ezekiel 40 marks a pivotal shift in the prophet's book, transitioning from prophecies of judgment and restoration to an extensive, detailed vision of a new temple. This vision begins in Ezekiel 40:1, occurring in the 25th year of Ezekiel's exile in Babylon, long after the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the Babylonians. The prophet is transported in a vision to a very high mountain in the land of Israel, where he encounters a "man," an angelic or divine being, who serves as his guide. This verse introduces the first element of the detailed architectural survey: an outer wall surrounding the temple complex, and the instrument used for its meticulous measurement.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Precision and Order: The immediate mention of exact measurements—a wall of specific breadth and height measured by a precise reed—highlights God's meticulous nature. This vision underscores that God's plans are not vague but are executed with absolute precision and divine order. It speaks to the sovereignty of God over every detail, from grand design to the smallest dimension.
  • Holiness and Separation: The presence of "a wall on the outside of the house round about" immediately establishes a boundary. This wall signifies the sacredness of the temple area, setting it apart from the common or profane. It emphasizes the need for separation and purity when approaching God's dwelling place.
  • Future Hope and Restoration: For Ezekiel and the exiled Israelites, this vision of a new, perfectly measured temple offered immense hope. It was a divine assurance that God would indeed dwell among His people again, signifying a future of spiritual and national restoration after their suffering. This architectural blueprint was a tangible promise of God's enduring covenant and presence.

Linguistic Insights

The verse specifies the measuring instrument: "a measuring reed of six cubits [long] by the cubit and an hand breadth."

  • "Measuring Reed" (Hebrew: qaneh hammiddah): This instrument symbolizes divine authority and accuracy in the construction and layout of the visionary temple. It is a tool for exactitude, emphasizing that this temple is built according to divine standards, not human ones.
  • "Cubits and an Hand Breadth": This phrase refers to what is often called the "long cubit" or "sacred cubit." While a common cubit was approximately 18 inches (the length from elbow to fingertip), a "cubit and an hand breadth" (Hebrew: ʼammah vĕṭōphaḥ) implies a longer measurement, roughly 21 inches (about 52.5 cm). This distinction suggests a divine standard of measurement, possibly signifying a higher, more sacred precision than everyday human measurements. This concept of divine measurement is also seen in the detailed descriptions of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:15.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 40:5, with its emphasis on precise measurements and boundaries, offers several timeless applications:

  • God's Detailed Plan for Our Lives: Just as God had a meticulous blueprint for the temple, He has a detailed and purposeful plan for our lives. This verse encourages trust in His sovereign design, even when we cannot see the full picture.
  • Setting Spiritual Boundaries: The wall serves as a reminder of the importance of establishing spiritual boundaries in our lives. Just as the temple was set apart, believers are called to live distinctively, separating themselves from unholy influences to maintain purity and fellowship with God. 2 Corinthians 6:17 speaks to this call for separation.
  • The Reliability of God's Word: The precision of the measurements underscores the absolute reliability and truthfulness of God's Word and His promises. Every detail of His prophetic word, like the measurements of this visionary temple, is exact and will come to pass.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 42:20

    He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred [reeds] long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

  • Isaiah 26:1

    ¶ In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will [God] appoint [for] walls and bulwarks.

  • Revelation 21:12

    And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

  • Psalms 125:2

    As the mountains [are] round about Jerusalem, so the LORD [is] round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

  • Zechariah 2:5

    For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

  • Isaiah 60:18

    Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

  • Deuteronomy 3:11

    For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead [was] a bedstead of iron; [is] it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits [was] the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
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