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Ezekiel 42:20

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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.

He measured {H4058} it by the four {H702} sides {H7307}: it had a wall {H2346} round about {H5439}, five {H2568} hundred {H3967} reeds long {H753}, and five {H2568} hundred {H3967} broad {H7341}, to make a separation {H914} between the sanctuary {H6944} and the profane place {H2455}.

He measured its four sides; it had a wall around it; and it was 875 [feet] long and 875 [feet] wide. Thus a division was made between what was holy and what was common.

So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common.

He measured it on the four sides: it had a wall round about, the length five hundred, and the breadth five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common.

Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 42:20

Ezekiel 42:20 concludes the detailed description of the outer boundary of the visionary temple in Jerusalem, as revealed to the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. Chapters 40-48 of Ezekiel present an elaborate and highly symbolic vision of a new temple, its courts, and the surrounding sacred precincts. This divine blueprint served as a source of hope and a promise of God's future dwelling among His people, emphasizing His glory and the purity required for His presence. The precise measurements throughout this section, including the 500-reed square, underscore the divine origin and meticulous planning behind this sacred space.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Holiness and Separation: The primary purpose of the substantial wall mentioned in this verse is "to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place." This highlights God's absolute holiness and the necessity of a clear distinction between what is consecrated to Him and what is common or unholy. It underscores that God's presence demands purity and reverence.
  • Divine Order and Precision: The exact dimensions ("five hundred [reeds] long, and five hundred broad") signify God's meticulous design and control. The precise measurements convey the perfection and divine order of the future temple, contrasting with the desecrated temple that led to the exile.
  • God's Presence and Dwelling: The entire temple vision points to God's desire to dwell among His people. The wall ensures that the space where His glory resides is protected from defilement, creating an environment suitable for His holy presence, a theme echoed in Revelation 21:3 concerning the New Jerusalem.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Reed": The term "[reeds]" refers to a specific unit of measurement, approximately 10.5 feet (or 6 cubits). A dimension of 500 reeds translates to a very large square, emphasizing the grand scale of God's design and the vastness of the sacred space. This unit of measure is consistent throughout the temple vision in Ezekiel.
  • "Sanctuary" (Hebrew: qodesh): This word denotes that which is "holy" or "set apart" for God. It refers to the sacred space dedicated exclusively to divine worship and presence.
  • "Profane place" (Hebrew: chol): This term signifies that which is common, ordinary, or unholy. The wall served as a clear demarcation, illustrating the stark difference between the sacred and the common, reinforcing the principle that God's holiness cannot tolerate unholiness in His immediate presence.

Practical Application

While Ezekiel's temple vision has various interpretations (literal future temple, symbolic blueprint for the church, or prophetic depiction of heavenly realities), the principle of separation remains profoundly relevant for believers today. Just as the physical wall separated the holy from the profane, Christians are called to live lives of spiritual separation and holiness.

  • Personal Holiness: Believers are now considered the "temple of the Holy Ghost" (1 Corinthians 6:19). This verse reminds us that our bodies and lives should be set apart for God's glory, maintaining a distinction between what honors Him and what aligns with worldly values.
  • Spiritual Separation: The call to "come out from among them, and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6:17) echoes the function of this wall. It's a call to discern and distance ourselves from influences, attitudes, and practices that are contrary to God's character and Word.
  • Reverence for God's Presence: The wall teaches us that God's presence is sacred and demands reverence. Whether in corporate worship or personal devotion, we are to approach Him with humility and a desire for purity, recognizing the holiness of His being.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 45:2 (6 votes)

    Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred [in length], with five hundred [in breadth], square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.

  • Ezekiel 40:5 (5 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Ezekiel 22:26 (5 votes)

    Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed [difference] between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

  • Ezekiel 48:15 (4 votes)

    And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane [place] for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.

  • Ezekiel 44:23 (4 votes)

    And they shall teach my people [the difference] between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

  • Zechariah 2:5 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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.