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Translation
King James Version
The thickness of the wall, which was for the side chamber without, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side chambers that were within.
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KJV (with Strong's)
The thickness H7341 of the wall H7023, which was for the side chamber H6763 without H2351, was five H2568 cubits H520: and that which was left H3240 was the place H1004 of the side chambers H6763 that were within H1004.
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Complete Jewish Bible
The outer wall of the side-rooms was eight-and-three-quarters feet thick [at ground level], likewise the empty space left [between] the structure containing the side-rooms [and the house itself also measured eight-and-three quarters feet wide].
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Berean Standard Bible
The outer wall of the side rooms was five cubits thick, and the open area between the side rooms of the temple
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American Standard Version
The thickness of the wall, which was for the side-chambers, on the outside, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side-chambers that belonged to the house.
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World English Bible Messianic
The thickness of the wall, which was for the side rooms, on the outside, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side rooms that belonged to the house.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
The thickenesse of the wall which was for the chamber without, was fiue cubites, and that which remained, was the place of the chambers that were within.
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Young's Literal Translation
The breadth of the wall that is to the side-chamber at the outside is five cubits; and that which is left is the place of the side-chambers that are to the house.
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In the KJVVerse 21,536 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ezekiel 41:9 meticulously details the architectural dimensions of the visionary temple, specifically outlining the five-cubit thickness of the outer wall for the side chambers and the remaining space designated for the inner side chambers. This precise divine blueprint underscores God's intentionality and order in His sacred dwelling, emphasizing the clear demarcation of holy space and the functional layout essential for temple operations and the accommodation of priestly service.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Ezekiel 41:9 is situated within the extensive architectural vision of the new temple, which spans Ezekiel chapters 40-48. This particular verse continues the highly detailed measurements of the temple proper, following the descriptions of the outer and inner courts, gates, and the main sanctuary building. Specifically, it builds upon the preceding verses (Ezekiel 41:5-8) that detail the dimensions of the temple's main structure and the three stories of side chambers surrounding it. The continuous flow of precise numerical data, from the temple's exterior to its innermost parts, serves to highlight the divine origin and perfect order of this visionary structure, leaving no detail to human conjecture or improvisation. This meticulousness emphasizes the absolute authority and comprehensive nature of God's design.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The vision of the temple was granted to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, a period from approximately 593 to 571 BC. This was a time of profound national trauma for the Israelites, who had witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple in 586 BC, leading to a deep crisis of faith, identity, and hope. In this desperate context, the detailed temple vision served as a powerful divine message of hope, restoration, and the enduring presence of God among His people. It directly countered the despair by promising a future where God's glory would return to a perfectly ordered and sanctified dwelling. Culturally, ancient Near Eastern temples were understood as the dwelling places of deities, and their design often reflected cosmological beliefs, societal hierarchies, and the nature of the deity worshipped. The meticulousness of Ezekiel's temple, with its precise measurements and distinct areas, would have resonated deeply with the Israelite understanding of Yahweh's absolute holiness, the necessity of separation, and the ordered, pure worship required by their covenant God, contrasting sharply with the chaotic and often immoral worship practices of surrounding nations.
  • Key Themes: This verse, as part of the broader temple vision, significantly contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Ezekiel. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates Divine Precision and Order, emphasizing that God's plans are not arbitrary but are meticulously designed and executed with perfect exactitude, leaving nothing to chance or human imperfection. The consistent and specific cubit measurements throughout Ezekiel 40-48 underscore God's sovereignty and His ultimate control over the future and the re-establishment of His dwelling. Secondly, the detailed descriptions of walls, chambers, and their specific dimensions reinforce the theme of Holiness and Separation. The temple's architecture was inherently designed to create distinct zones, separating the holy from the common, and regulating access to God's sacred presence. This architectural separation echoes the broader biblical principle of God's absolute holiness and the imperative for His people to be set apart and consecrated, as powerfully articulated in Leviticus 11:44. Finally, the entire vision, including these intricate architectural details, functions as a profound message of Future Hope and Restoration. For a people languishing in exile, the promise of a new temple—a place where God's glory would decisively return, as described in Ezekiel 43:4—offered tangible assurance of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and a future of renewed fellowship and worship.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • thickness (Hebrew, rôchab', H7341): Derived from the root רָחַב (rachab), meaning "to be wide," this term refers to the breadth or width of an object. In Ezekiel 41:9, it specifically denotes the substantial dimension of the wall, emphasizing its solidity, robustness, and the clear demarcation it provides. This precision in measurement is characteristic of the entire temple vision, highlighting the divine exactitude in God's blueprint and the importance of structural integrity in sacred architecture.
  • side chamber (Hebrew, tsêlâʻ', H6763): This word literally means "rib" (as in Adam's rib in Genesis 2:21) but is frequently used architecturally to refer to a "side" or "side chamber" within a building. In the context of the temple, these were ancillary rooms built against the outer walls of the main sanctuary, likely serving various practical functions such as storage for sacred vessels, priestly vestments, or perhaps as living quarters for priests during their service. Their presence and specific dimensions underscore the functional and organizational aspects of the meticulously planned temple complex.
  • without (Hebrew, chûwts', H2351): Meaning "outside" or "outdoors," this term indicates the external aspect or perimeter. In this verse, it specifies that the described wall's thickness pertains to the part of the side chamber that faces the exterior of the temple complex. This emphasizes the critical boundary between the sacred, consecrated temple grounds and the profane, outside world. This highlights the concept of separation and the protective nature of the temple's structure, ensuring the sanctity of the divine dwelling.

Verse Breakdown

  • "The thickness of the wall, which [was] for the side chamber without, [was] five cubits:" This clause provides a precise architectural dimension, stating that a particular wall is five cubits thick (approximately 7.5 to 8.75 feet or 2.3 to 2.7 meters). This wall serves as the outer boundary for the side chambers, indicating a substantial barrier. The phrase "for the side chamber without" clarifies that this wall forms the exterior boundary of these ancillary rooms, effectively distinguishing the temple complex from its external surroundings. This significant thickness implies not only structural integrity but also symbolizes a clear separation and protection for the sacred spaces within.
  • "and [that] which [was] left [was] the place of the side chambers that [were] within." This second clause describes the remaining space within the temple's overall footprint, after accounting for the substantial outer wall, as the designated area for the inner side chambers. The phrase "that which was left" refers to the space that remains between the outer wall (just described) and the main temple building itself, within which these chambers are situated. This indicates a careful and efficient utilization of every dimension and area within the divine blueprint, where each space serves a specific purpose in the overall design, ensuring both functionality and the proper arrangement of sacred space for worship and service.

Literary Devices

The primary literary device evident in Ezekiel 41:9, and indeed pervading Ezekiel chapters 40-48, is Precision and Detail. The meticulous enumeration of measurements, down to the cubit, serves as a powerful literary technique to emphasize the divine origin and perfect order of the visionary temple. This extreme detail is not merely architectural; it functions to convey God's absolute sovereignty, His comprehensive planning, and the infallibility of His future plans for His people. Furthermore, the description of substantial walls and distinct chambers embodies profound Symbolism. These physical boundaries represent a spiritual separation between the holy and the common, reinforcing the overarching biblical theme of God's absolute holiness and the imperative for purity in His presence and service. The entire structure of the temple, with its ordered spaces and precise dimensions, functions as a Metaphor for the ordered, righteous, and consecrated community God desires to dwell among, standing in stark contrast to the chaos, defilement, and destruction that had befallen Jerusalem and its previous temple. The entire vision can also be understood as a form of Prophetic Vision, using concrete, tangible architectural details to convey an abstract, future hope of restoration, renewed covenant relationship with God, and the re-establishment of His glorious presence among His people.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 41:9, with its precise architectural details, speaks profoundly to God's nature as a God of order, intentionality, and absolute holiness. The meticulous measurements of the temple underscore that God's plans are not haphazard or arbitrary but are executed with perfect design and divine purpose. This divine precision extends beyond physical structures to encompass His comprehensive redemptive plan for humanity and the ultimate establishment of His kingdom. The walls and chambers symbolize the necessary boundaries for holiness, serving as a powerful reminder that God's presence demands reverence, purity, and a clear separation from defilement. This vision, given in a time of profound national desolation and despair, served as a powerful assurance of God's unwavering faithfulness to restore His people and dwell among them once more, pointing forward to a future where His glory would fill His sanctuary and His presence would be fully realized.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ezekiel 41:9, while seemingly a dry architectural detail, offers profound and practical insights for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is a God of meticulous detail, perfect order, and intentional design. If He orchestrates the dimensions of a physical sanctuary with such precision, how much more does He care about the intricate details of our lives, the spiritual "architecture" of our character, and the structure and function of His church? This passage challenges us to consider the intentionality with which we live our lives, cultivate our relationships, and contribute to the body of Christ. The concept of "walls" and "side chambers" also functions as a powerful metaphor for the importance of spiritual boundaries. Just as the temple had clear separations to preserve its holiness and regulate access, we are called to establish and diligently maintain boundaries in our lives that protect our faith, our purity, and our intimate relationship with God from the encroaching and defiling influences of the world. This requires discernment, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to living set apart for God's holy purposes. Ultimately, the entire temple vision points to God's profound desire to dwell intimately among His people, prompting us to prepare our hearts and lives as suitable dwelling places for His Holy Spirit, living in anticipation of His glorious and transformative presence.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the meticulous detail of Ezekiel's temple vision challenge or affirm your understanding of God's character and His involvement in your life?
  • What "walls" or "boundaries" do you need to establish or reinforce in your life to protect your spiritual health, moral purity, and relationship with God?
  • In what specific ways can your life, as a "temple of the Holy Spirit," more fully reflect the divine order, intentionality, and holiness seen in this passage?

FAQ

What is the significance of the "cubit" as a unit of measurement in Ezekiel's vision?

Answer: The cubit was an ancient linear unit of measurement, typically based on the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. While its exact modern equivalent varied, it was generally around 17.5 to 21 inches (approximately 44 to 53 centimeters). In Ezekiel's vision, the consistent and precise use of the cubit throughout the detailed architectural descriptions underscores the tangible, measurable nature of the divine blueprint. It emphasizes the reality, exactness, and divine authority of God's plan, even if the vision itself carries profound symbolic and eschatological weight. The meticulousness conveyed by these measurements highlights God's absolute control and intentionality in His design for His dwelling place, signaling that nothing in His plan is arbitrary or left to chance.

Is Ezekiel's temple vision meant to be built literally, or is it symbolic?

Answer: The interpretation of Ezekiel's temple vision (chapters 40-48) is a subject of ongoing theological debate among scholars. Some interpret it as a literal blueprint for a future temple to be built in Jerusalem, often associated with a millennial kingdom following Christ's return. Others view it as primarily symbolic, representing God's renewed presence among His people, the perfection of worship, or the spiritual reality of the church as God's dwelling place in the New Covenant era. A third perspective sees it as a combination of both, with spiritual truths conveyed through literal, albeit idealized, architectural details that point to a greater spiritual reality. Regardless of the specific literal or symbolic fulfillment, the vision's primary and immediate message to Ezekiel's original audience in exile was one of profound hope, restoration, and the enduring nature of God's covenant promises, assuring them that God would indeed dwell among His people again in glory and purity.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Ezekiel 41:9, with its emphasis on the precise dimensions of the temple's walls and side chambers, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament temple, with its intricate design, sacred spaces, and meticulous boundaries, served as a profound prefigurement of the greater reality of God's dwelling among humanity. Jesus Himself declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," explicitly referring to the temple of His body (John 2:19-21). Christ is the true and ultimate sanctuary, the perfect meeting place between a holy God and fallen humanity, where the divine presence fully resides in its complete glory. The "thickness of the wall" and the "side chambers" in Ezekiel's vision, which served to demarcate holy space and facilitate temple functions, are fulfilled in Christ who, through His sacrificial death on the cross, tore the veil of separation in the temple (Matthew 27:51) and opened a new and living way into the very presence of God (Hebrews 10:19-20). Furthermore, the church, as the spiritual body of Christ, is now the living temple where God's Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16), comprised of believers who are "living stones" being built into a spiritual house for God's habitation (1 Peter 2:5). Thus, the meticulous design and ordered spaces of Ezekiel's visionary temple ultimately point to the perfect, complete, and eternal work of Christ, who embodies God's presence, provides full access to Him, and establishes a new, living temple in His redeemed people.

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Commentary on Ezekiel 41 verses 1–11

We are still attending a prophet that is under the guidance of an angel, and therefore attend with reverence, though we are often at a loss to know both what this is and what it is to us. Observe here, 1. After the prophet had observed the courts he was at length brought to the temple, Eze 41:1. If we diligently attend to the instructions given us in the plainer parts of religion, and profit by them, we shall be led further into an acquaintance with the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Those that are willing to dwell in God's courts shall at length be brought into his temple. Ezekiel was himself a priest, but by the iniquity and calamity of the times was cut short of his birthright privilege of ministering in the temple; but God makes up the loss to him by introducing him into this prophetical, evangelical, celestial temple, and employing him to transmit a description of it to the church, in which he was dignified above all the rest of his order. 2. When our Lord Jesus spoke of the destroying of this temple, which his hearers understood of this second temple of Jerusalem, he spoke of the temple of his body (Joh 2:19, Joh 2:21); and with good reason might he speak so ambiguously when Ezekiel's vision had a joint respect to them both together, including also his mystical body the church, which is called the house of God (Ti1 3:15), and all the members of that body, which are living temples, in which the Spirit dwells. 3. The very posts of this temple, the door-posts, were as far one from the other, and consequently the door was as wide, as the whole breadth of the tabernacle of Moses (Eze 41:1), namely, twelve cubits, Exo 26:16, Exo 26:22, Exo 26:25. In comparison with what had been under the law we may say, Wide is the gate which leads into the church, the ceremonial law, that wall of partition which had so much straitened the gate, being taken down. 4. The most holy place was an exact square, twenty cubits each way, Eze 41:4. For the new Jerusalem is exactly square (Rev 21:16), denoting its stability; for we look for a city that cannot be moved. 5. The upper stories were larger than the lower, Eze 41:7. The walls of the temple were six cubits thick at the bottom, five in the middle story, and four in the highest, which gave room to enlarge the chambers the higher they went; but care was taken that the timber might have fast hold (though God builds high, he builds firmly), yet so as not to weaken one part for the strengthening of another; they had hold, but not in the wall of the house. By this spreading gradually, the side-chambers that were on the height of the house (in the uppermost story of all) were six cubits, whereas the lowest were but four; they gained a cubit every story. The higher we build up ourselves in our most holy faith the more should our hearts, those living temples, be enlarged.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–11. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Versed. 8 seqq.) 'And I saw in the house a height all around, with foundations of reed measuring six cubits, and the width along the outer wall of the side chamber, five cubits. And the inner part of the house and the space between the storehouses, twenty cubits wide all around the house. And there were doors in the side chambers toward the outer court, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south. And the width of the place for worship, five cubits all around.' And the building, which was separate and facing the road towards the sea, was seventy cubits wide. The wall of the building was five cubits wide all around, and its length was ninety cubits. After he reached the Holy of Holies, of which we spoke earlier, that venerable man measured the wall of the Holy of Holies. It had a height of six cubits because of the structure of the world and all visible creation, which was created in six days, and a width of one side of four cubits, not on one side only, but all around. But the width of the house, measured around, was four cubits, to represent the four elements from which all things are composed, especially human bodies. Against these, the holy ones fight and subject themselves to the power of the soul, so that they may deserve to enter the inner regions and know the secrets of the Lord. The sides of the house, which were around it and were separated from the walls of the temple by a space of four cubits, were joined together. So that one side touched another side, and it had a length not of thirty-three cubits, but of sixty-six, that is, sixty-six. In the book of Leviticus, it is said that after one week in the birth of a male child, the mother and the child must wait for thirty-three days in order to undergo purification (Lev. XII). However, if the child is female, the waiting period is doubled to sixty-six days. And because, in order to enter the holy of holies, we need not only the first birth, but also the second, to be born in the flesh and be reborn in the spirit: therefore, the number is not sixty-six, but twice thirty and three, so that both births are owed to God the creator and his mercy, and the two sides of the house that support the structure of the temple are enclosed by a double wall. And what follows according to the Hebrew: 'And there were certain heights that would go out through the wall of the house on the sides all around, to contain, and not touch the wall of the temple,' signifies this: that holy men, amidst the multitude of believers, burst forth through the wall of the temple, through all the sides all around, and uphold the foundations of the Church, and yet do not touch the wall of the temple: content with having seen only, and from afar, worship the indescribable mysteries. Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13) But through the circular and spiral ascent we reach the upper room of the temple, which, among all shapes, is also approved by philosophers of this age as the most beautiful: for both the sky, the sun, the moon, and the other stars, and the earth, in human bodies as well, the eyes are like other stars, and the shape of the head, which is the receptacle of all the senses, and the rounded fingers, and women, and arms, exhibit this roundness. Moreover, I think that the upper room of the temple, which we ascend from the lower to the higher, is the same one that Elijah and Elisha had, as mentioned in the book of Kings, and also Tabitha had it in the Acts of the Apostles, which means 'the gazelle' in Greek, and our damsel who had reached the highest through good works (3 Kings 17; 4 Kings 4; Acts 9; Acts 10). But the Apostle Peter, on whom the Lord established the foundations of the Church, surpasses the upper room and comes to the roof, which is more significantly called 'dorma' in Greek, that is, the solarium of the roof, and he came to know the mysteries of the Church, previously unknown to the world. The Savior also made the Pasch in the upper room, and in a large and wide upper room, and after all impurity had been cleansed and the bed prepared, and the spiritual feast prepared, where he delivered the mystery of his body and blood to his disciples, and left to us the eternal celebration of the immaculate Lamb. And he added: And from the middle to the saddest, that is, the third upper room and Thrael, it seems to me that it should be marked with a note. For why do we need to discuss doubtful and unwritten things when we should devote ourselves to the books held by the Hebrews? It follows: 'And I saw in the house a height encompassed by sides, measured by a reed, a space of six cubits; and a width by the outer wall of the side of five cubits; and between the treasuries' (which Symmachus calls 'exedrae') 'a width of twenty cubits around the house.' By these measurements it is shown that we are deserving of ascending not only into the Holy of Holies, but also into their upper room, and that we should always remember that through the six days of our earthly condition, and through the five senses, and through the twenty cubits of width, we ascend to the upper room of the temple, leaving behind earthly humility and the sense of the letter, and we pass over to the summit of the Church, and rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.' And the entrance, he says, of the side toward the north (Jer. 1:14), from which evil spreads over all the earth, and which the Lord promises to drive away from us, saying: 'And I will drive away from you him who is from the north' (Joel 2:20). And it is a beautiful place for prayer at the entrance opposite the north, so that, according to the Apostle, we may pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5), and say with Jeremiah: 'Let not the apple of my eye be silent' (Lam. 2:18), whether we desire to avoid present evils or give thanks for the past. For as long as we are in the tent of this body, we groan and say: Wretched me, who will set me free from this body of death? (Rom. VII, 24). But there was also a door to the South, which had a place of prayer nearby according to the Hebrew custom, and it extended five cubits around. For after the cold of the North, we pass through the heat of the South, and yet we still seek a place for prayer, in the door of the North, in order to escape dangers; in the South, to give thanks for the past and to have a secure possession of victory. But five cubits, and in this place they indicate divine senses, through which we ascend from earthly things to higher things. And the building, he says, which was separated and turned toward the road facing the sea, was seventy cubits wide: so that after labors and dangers, and the waves and shipwrecks of this world, and seventy years, of which Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zechariah write (Jer. 25 and 29; Dan. 9, Zech. 9); but also the legitimate sabbath of seven decades we may attain: so that we may have eternal rest, and through the width of five cubits we may come to a length of ninety cubits: in which age Sarah gave birth to a son according to the promise, who, at the age of ninety, that is, at the end of nine decades, was born to Abraham, who was one hundred years old (Gen. 21), that is, having the mystery of ten decades. The following Scripture will show what the number signifies.

(Verses 13 and following) And the house was measured in length a hundred cubits. And the separate building, and its walls, were also a hundred cubits in length. The width before the face of the house, and that which was separate against the East, was a hundred cubits. And the length of the building over against the face thereof, which was separated at the back, was also a hundred cubits. And there were chambers exceeding in height on either side a hundred cubits; and the inner temple, and the porches of the court. Doorways and slanted windows were set outward, in a perimeter on three sides against the threshold of each, and a wooden floor went all the way around. And the earth was up to the windows: and the windows were closed. Above the doors, and up to the inner house; and on the outside, through every wall on the inside; and on the outside, to the measurement. And cherubs and palm trees were carved: and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub: and each cherub had two faces: the face of a man next to the palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion next to the palm tree on the other side; carved throughout the whole house on the inside. From the ground up to the upper gates, there were carved cherubim and palm trees on the wall of the temple. The threshold was square. The sanctuary faced the shape of the wooden altar, its height being three cubits. Its length was two cubits. Its corners, length, and walls were all made of wood. Seventy: It measured against the length of the house, one hundred cubits. And the remaining and separating walls, in the length of one hundred cubits. And the width against the face of the temple, and the remaining opposite one hundred cubits. And he measured the length of the separating wall facing the back of the house, and the remaining width of one hundred cubits. And the temple and the corners, and the outer Aelam covered with wood, and three windows made like a net, for light to shine through, that one could look through them. And the house and the adjacent structures, all covered with wood around. And the floor, and from the floor to the windows. And the windows were opened threefold, so that one could look through them: both into the inner and outer house, and through every wall around inside and outside the measurement, and carved cherubim, and palm trees between cherub and cherub. Two faces of cherub: the face of a man towards the palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion towards the palm tree on the other side: the entire wall was carved all around from the floor to the rafters with cherubim and carved palm trees. And the sanctuary and the temple were opened on four corners towards the face of the saints: a vision as if the appearance of a wooden altar: its height being three cubits, and its length two cubits: and its width two cubits: and it had horns, and its bases and walls were wooden.» The word 'contra', which the LXX translated at the beginning of the testimony, where it is written: 'And he measured against the house', is not found in Hebrew, and therefore it must be marked with an obelus, in order for it to be correct and true, and he measured the house with a length of one hundred cubits, and so on. The Holy of Holies and the inner sanctuary are described, which is said to have a perfect number of ten decades, after ninety cubits, with three sides having one hundred cubits each: so that we may serve the Lord with our mind, speech, and deeds, remembering that Apostolic example in which it is said: 'That we may know the breadth, and length, and depth, and height' (Ephesians 3:18). But what is said in Hebrew, the separate structure and its walls, the Septuagint translates as separating and not clinging to the walls of the temple, but having their own nearby walls. The temple itself, as well as its corners and the porch or entrance hall (propylon), were covered with wood, a symbol of wisdom, as the Scripture records the tree of life being located in paradise (Gen. II). The windows were made in the form of a net, similar to lattice screens, so that they were not covered with stone or glass, but with wooden lattices woven with twists and turns. In Hebrew, they have diagonal windows, which were only present in three parts of the temple: on the right, on the left, and at the back, that is, to the South, North, and West. The eastern part, however, did not have windows because the entrance itself let in bright light from within, and all the interior of the temple was filled with the light of the doors, so that someone could look inside through each window and opening. And not only were the exterior areas covered with wood, but there was such an abundance of wood all around that the floor and everything up to the windows were connected with wood. The windows were opened in three ways according to the Seventy, so that when they were opened, a triple understanding of God's temple would be revealed, according to what is said elsewhere: 'But you, write down these things in three ways' (Prov. 22:20). And through them, both the interior and the exterior are seen: so that we may know the invisible things that are within, and the visible things that are without; so that one thing may show the mind, another the flesh, another the spiritual understanding, and another the simple historical account; and through all the surrounding walls, internally and externally, their measurements were consistent. For nothing is done in the temple of God without reason and measure, especially in the holy of holies made by God. The Cherubim were also carved, no doubt in wood, extending from the floor to the windows, and the carvings were so finely made that they appeared not sculpted, but applied. Cherubim are interpreted as a multitude of knowledge. Therefore, within the innermost part of the temple, after the multitude of knowledge, there are carvings and palm trees, in which the sign of victory is, as the Apostle says: But I press on to the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God, in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Which palms were between the Cherub and the Cherub, so that one Cherub was surrounded on both sides by two palms: which Cherub did not, as we read at the beginning of this prophet, have four faces, namely, of a man, a lion, a calf, and an eagle; but only two, that is, of a man and a lion, of which the first pertains to reason, and the second to fury, which is more significantly called θυμὸς in Greek. By fury, however, we mean not that which is close to disturbance and vice, but that which consolidates the softness of the mind and makes the soul of the combatant stronger. For in the beginning, we are subject to concupiscence, which pertains to the earthly works; and some are carnal, others are spiritual, of which the ultimate is attributed to eagles. But when we enter the innermost sanctuary, and possess the inner parts of the temple, we have no need for anything else except reason and strength, of which one pertains to perception and prudence, the other to the perseverance of the soul. Therefore, every wall around the temple, from the floor to the ceiling, had Cherubim and palms skillfully carved: after which the sanctuary and the temple were opened from the four corners opposite the faces of the holy ones. First, we have a multitude of knowledge, through which we achieve victory over the enemy, and then a sanctuary and temple are opened to us, which has four angles, and a very strong position, and which is inclined in no direction. For it has the nature of a square measure, so that it may stand on a stable base, and it possesses, in a mystical number that is clear to the wise reader, four elements from which all things consist, solid and everlasting. And they looked at everything opposite the face of the sanctuary: before which was the sanctuary, or in which was the image of the wooden altar three cubits high, and two cubits long, and two cubits wide, which together make seven cubits. This altar had horns; and both its bases and its walls, that is, its sides, were made of wood, in which the holy Scriptures mysteries, human speech cannot explain: how the altar, in which the fire was to be kindled, namely the incense offering, should suffer nothing from the fire, but, so to speak, becomes more pure through the fire. For just as the works of the saints, of which the Apostle writes, 'The work of each will be made manifest; for the Day will disclose it' (1 Corinthians 3:13), do not perish, but are made even more pure through fire, so too the wood of the altar, which is from the trees of paradise, is not consumed by nearby fire, but is made even more pure. It is not surprising to believe this about the sanctuary and the inner parts of the temple and the altar of incense, since even linen, which is a type of flax, or something with a similar appearance to linen, is found to be cleaner the more it is burned. Forgive, reader, the difficulty, and grant pardon to the impoverished understanding. For through slanted and net-like windows, which are always closed, we can barely allow our eye to enter into the inner chamber of our heart, so that all that we see, we see in shadow and in image, and with the Apostle, we cry out: O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways (Rom. XI, 13)! And: Who has known the mind of God (Isaiah XL, 13), except the one who is the angel of great counsel, and who has the power to reveal worthy mysteries? And in Rome, they call the projections on the walls of dining rooms 'solaria,' or 'Meniana' from the one who first invented them, which some Greeks call 'exōstras.'
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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