Ezekiel 40:7

And [every] little chamber [was] one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers [were] five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within [was] one reed.

And every little chamber {H8372} was one {H259} reed {H7070} long {H753}, and one {H259} reed {H7070} broad {H7341}; and between the little chambers {H8372} were five {H2568} cubits {H520}; and the threshold {H5592} of the gate {H8179} by {H681} the porch {H197} of the gate {H8179} within {H1004} was one {H259} reed {H7070}.

There were guardrooms, each ten-and-a-half feet square; the distance between the guardrooms was eight-and-three-quarters feet. The threshold of the gate adjoining the gate's entranceway facing the house measured ten-and-a-half feet.

Each gate chamber was one rod long and one rod wide, and there were five cubits between the gate chambers. The inner threshold of the gate by the portico facing inward was one rod deep.

And every lodge was one reed long, and one reed broad; and the space between the lodges was five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate toward the house was one reed.

Context of Ezekiel 40:7

Ezekiel 40:7 is part of a profound and highly detailed prophetic vision given to the prophet Ezekiel by God, beginning in Ezekiel chapter 40. This section (chapters 40-48) describes an elaborate temple, its courts, gates, and the surrounding land, all with incredibly precise measurements. This vision occurred during Ezekiel's exile in Babylon, offering a powerful message of hope and future restoration to a despondent Israel. The intricate architectural details, like those found in verse 7, emphasize the divine origin and perfect order of this future sanctuary.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Precision and Order: The meticulous measurements of the "little chambers," the spaces between them, and the threshold highlight God's absolute precision and the inherent order in His divine plans. Nothing in God's design is arbitrary or chaotic.
  • Holiness and Sacred Space: The detailed architectural blueprint underscores the sacredness of the temple as God's dwelling place. Every dimension contributes to creating a space set apart for divine presence and worship, emphasizing the holiness required for approaching God.
  • Prophetic Significance: While debated whether this is a literal future temple or a symbolic representation, the vision points to God's ultimate desire to dwell among His people in perfect communion, a theme that resonates throughout biblical prophecy concerning future restoration.

Linguistic & Measurement Insights

To fully grasp the specificity of Ezekiel's vision, understanding the ancient units of measurement is crucial:

  • Reed (qaneh): As defined in Ezekiel 40:5, a measuring reed was not a simple stick. It was "six great cubits by the cubit and an hand breadth." This means one reed was approximately 10.5 feet (or about 3.2 meters) long. The "little chambers" being "one reed long, and one reed broad" indicates substantial, square rooms within the gate complex, likely serving as guardrooms or administrative spaces.
  • Cubit (ammah): An ancient unit of length, typically the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18 inches (or about 45 cm). The "five cubits" between the chambers refer to wall thickness or passageway width, underscoring the solid and spacious nature of the visionary structure.
  • The repetition of these specific measurements throughout Ezekiel 40-42 reinforces the idea of an exact, divinely ordained blueprint, not a general concept.

Spiritual Significance and Practical Application

Ezekiel 40:7, with its focus on precise measurements, offers several layers of spiritual significance and practical application:

  • God is a God of Order: The meticulous detail of the temple vision reminds us that God is not a God of confusion but of perfect order and design. This can bring comfort and assurance that His plans for our lives and for history are equally precise and purposeful.
  • The Importance of Holiness: The separation and exactness of the temple structure reflect God's holiness and the need for purity in approaching Him. While the physical temple is gone, believers are now called to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, called to live lives of intentional holiness.
  • Hope in God's Future Plans: This visionary temple, whether literal or symbolic, points to a future where God's presence will be fully manifested among His people. It foreshadows the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity, as described in the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21, which also includes precise measurements, indicating a continuity of divine order and perfection.
  • Attention to Detail: The verse encourages us to pay attention to the details in our spiritual lives, recognizing that even the smallest aspects of our walk with God contribute to the overall structure of faith and obedience.
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 40:36

    The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length [was] fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

  • Jeremiah 35:4

    And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which [was] by the chamber of the princes, which [was] above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:

  • Ezra 8:29

    Watch ye, and keep [them], until ye weigh [them] before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 40:33

    And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, [were] according to these measures: and [there were] windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: [it was] fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

  • 2 Chronicles 3:9

    And the weight of the nails [was] fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.

  • 1 Chronicles 23:28

    Because their office [was] to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;

  • Ezekiel 42:5

    Now the upper chambers [were] shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.

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