Ezekiel 43:17

KJV

And the settle [shall be] fourteen [cubits] long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it [shall be] half a cubit; and the bottom thereof [shall be] a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the settle {H5835} shall be fourteen {H702}{H6240} cubits long {H753} and fourteen {H702}{H6240} broad {H7341} in the four {H702} squares {H7253} thereof; and the border {H1366} about {H5439} it shall be half {H2677} a cubit {H520}; and the bottom {H2436} thereof shall be a cubit {H520} about {H5439}; and his stairs {H4609} shall look {H6437} toward the east {H6921}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The ledge measures a square twenty-four-and-a-half feet on each of its four sides; the molding around it ten-and-a-half inches [across]; and its base twenty-one inches [larger than the rest, all the way] around. Its steps face east.

Berean Standard Bible

The ledge shall also be square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide, with a rim of half a cubit and a gutter of a cubit all around it. The steps of the altar shall face east.”

American Standard Version

And the ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad in the four sides thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit round about; and the steps thereof shall look toward the east.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 43:17 provides a meticulous blueprint for the altar of burnt offering within the prophet's visionary temple, detailing the precise dimensions of its "settle" or ledge, its surrounding border, and its base. This verse culminates with the significant specification that the altar's access stairs face toward the east. These exacting architectural details underscore the divine origin and perfect order of this future worship system, emphasizing the profound holiness and intentionality associated with approaching God in His restored dwelling place.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 43:17 is an integral part of the extensive temple vision presented in Ezekiel 40-48. This grand prophetic narrative unfolds after the detailed descriptions of the temple's outer and inner courts, gates, and chambers, moving specifically into the sacred heart of the inner court—the altar of burnt offering. Chapter 43 initiates with the awe-inspiring return of God's glory to the temple from the east, a pivotal event that sets the stage for the re-establishment of pure and divinely ordained worship. This particular verse concludes the architectural specifications for the altar's tiered structure, focusing on the dimensions of its upper ledge and the crucial orientation of its access stairs. The meticulousness of these architectural details throughout the vision, including this verse, serves to emphasize the divine origin, perfect order, and absolute sanctity of this future, ideal worship system, contrasting sharply with the defiled worship that led to Jerusalem's destruction.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Ezekiel received this elaborate temple vision during the Babylonian exile (circa 597-538 BC), a period of profound national and spiritual despair for the Jewish people, who had lost their temple, their land, and their monarchy. The vision served as a powerful message of hope, restoration, and the unwavering promise of God's renewed presence among His people. In ancient Israelite worship, the altar of burnt offering was the central locus for sacrifices, symbolizing atonement, dedication, and communion with God. The "cubit," a standard unit of measurement roughly equivalent to 18-21 inches, indicates the massive scale of this visionary altar, far grander than any previous altars, signifying its ultimate and perfect purpose. The eastward orientation of the stairs held profound cultural and religious meaning; the east was traditionally associated with the rising sun, new beginnings, and, most significantly, the direction from which God's glory had departed the old temple, as lamented in [Ezekiel 10:19](/ezekiel/10-19 "Ezekiel 10:19 - God's Glory Departs the Temple"), and was now prophesied to return to the new one, as vividly described in [Ezekiel 43:2](/ezekiel/43-2 "Ezekiel 43:2 - God's Glory Returns from the East").
* **Key Themes:** This verse, embedded within the broader temple vision, contributes significantly to several overarching theological themes. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Precision and Order**, emphasizing that God's plans are not arbitrary but meticulously detailed and perfectly ordered, reflecting His holy, sovereign, and unchanging nature. The exact measurements signify that worship, when conducted according to God's design, is not left to human discretion but follows a precise divine blueprint. Secondly, the intense focus on the altar underscores the profound theme of **Holiness and Atonement**. The altar is the sacred place where sin is addressed, and reconciliation with God is made possible, signifying the profound sanctity required for approaching the Almighty. Its grand scale and precise construction point to an ideal state of worship and a complete, divinely provided means for dealing with sin. Finally, the eastward orientation reinforces the theme of **Divine Presence and Restoration**, linking the altar's access to the magnificent return of God's glory and the promise of a renewed covenant relationship with His people, culminating in a future where God fully dwells among them in perfect communion, as seen in the broader vision of [Ezekiel 43](/ezekiel/43 "Ezekiel 43 - God's Glory Returns to the Temple").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Settle (Hebrew, _ʻăzârâh'_):** This term refers to a specific ledge or platform on the altar, functioning as an "inclosure" or "border." In the context of Ezekiel's altar, it denotes a distinct, tiered architectural feature, highlighting the complex, multi-level design of this sacred structure. Its presence indicates a carefully constructed platform, possibly for the priests to stand upon or for the placement of offerings, emphasizing the structured and ordered nature of the worship prescribed by God.
* **Stairs (Hebrew, _maʻălâh'_):** Meaning "elevation," "step," or a "climbing progression," this word specifically refers to the ascending steps leading up to the altar. The presence of stairs, rather than a ramp (which was prescribed for the Tabernacle altar in [Exodus 20:26](/exodus/20-26 "Exodus 20:26 - No Steps to Altar") to prevent indecent exposure), suggests a distinct design for this visionary temple. This detail is significant as it implies a direct, perhaps more accessible, yet still reverent, ascent to the altar, symbolically representing a spiritual "climbing" or "progression" towards God's presence.
* **East (Hebrew, _qâdîym'_):** This word denotes the "fore" or "front part," referring specifically to the direction of the rising sun. Its inclusion here is profoundly symbolic. In Israelite tradition, the east was often associated with God's glory and presence. God's glory had departed the old temple from the east, as recorded in [Ezekiel 10:19](/ezekiel/10-19 "Ezekiel 10:19 - God's Glory Departs the Temple"), and Ezekiel vividly witnessed its return to the new temple from the east in [Ezekiel 43:2](/ezekiel/43-2 "Ezekiel 43:2 - God's Glory Returns to the Temple"). The eastward orientation of the altar's stairs thus signifies that access to the altar, and therefore to God's presence and atonement, is directly aligned with the very direction from which divine glory is manifested and restored.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the settle [shall be] fourteen [cubits] long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof;":** This clause precisely details the dimensions of a specific platform or ledge on the altar. The specification of "fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad" indicates a perfect square, emphasizing symmetry, completeness, and divine order in God's design. The phrase "in the four squares thereof" likely refers to the four distinct sides of this square platform, reinforcing its precise geometric form and the meticulousness of the divine blueprint for the sacred space.
* **"and the border about it [shall be] half a cubit;":** This specifies a narrow border or rim surrounding the "settle." A "half a cubit" (approximately 9-10.5 inches) indicates a distinct, perhaps slightly raised, edge. This minute detail further underscores the extreme precision of the divine design, suggesting a defined boundary or protective lip, ensuring order, preventing spillage during sacrificial rites, and maintaining the sanctity of the altar.
* **"and the bottom thereof [shall be] a cubit about;":** This refers to the base or lowest part of the altar structure, or possibly the base of the "settle" itself. The phrase "a cubit about" indicates a surrounding dimension of one cubit, again emphasizing a clear, defined boundary or stable foundation for the altar. This detail contributes to the overall impression of a well-proportioned, robust, and divinely stable structure.
* **"and his stairs shall look toward the east.":** This final clause is profoundly significant, specifying the orientation of the altar's access points. The stairs facing "toward the east" directly connects the altar's function—the place of atonement and worship—to the overarching theme of God's returning glory and presence, which Ezekiel vividly saw entering the temple from the east. This specific orientation signifies that the path to atonement, reconciliation, and intimate worship is divinely aligned with the manifestation of divine glory and the ultimate restoration of God's covenant relationship with His people.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 43:17, like the entire temple vision, is rich in **Symbolism** and characterized by profound **Precision**. The altar itself is a central symbol of atonement, reconciliation, and communion with God, representing the divinely appointed means by which humanity can approach a holy God. Its meticulously detailed dimensions—"fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad," "half a cubit," "a cubit about"—are not merely architectural specifications but powerfully symbolize divine order, perfection, and the absolute holiness required for true worship. This **Precision** reflects God's meticulous nature, His unwavering sovereignty, and the exactness of His divine plan for restoration. The eastward orientation of the stairs is a potent symbolic detail, directly linking the act of worship and access to the altar with the magnificent return of God's glory, which Ezekiel witnessed entering from the east, as recorded in [Ezekiel 43:2](/ezekiel/43-2 "Ezekiel 43:2 - God's Glory Returns"). This creates a deep sense of **Thematic Cohesion** throughout the vision, where every minute detail points to God's sovereignty, His absolute holiness, and His ultimate plan for dwelling among His people in perfect communion. The entire vision, including this verse, functions as a form of **Prophetic Allegory**, pointing beyond a literal temple to an ideal state of worship and God's presence that finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Christ and the new covenant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 43:17, with its precise architectural details of the altar, speaks profoundly to the nature of divine worship and the unblemished holiness of God. The meticulous measurements underscore that God is a God of perfect order, and His dwelling place, whether literal or symbolic, demands absolute purity and strict adherence to His divine design. This vision of a grand, perfectly proportioned altar signifies the immense importance of atonement and the serious, reverent nature of approaching a holy God. It powerfully foreshadows a time of perfect worship and complete reconciliation, where the means of drawing near to God are divinely ordained and flawlessly executed. The eastward orientation of the stairs further connects this ideal worship to the manifestation of God's glory, implying that true access to God is always aligned with His divine presence and His redemptive purposes, echoing the return of God's glory to the temple from the east in [Ezekiel 43:2](/ezekiel/43-2 "Ezekiel 43:2 - God's Glory Returns from the East").

* [Exodus 27:1-8](/exodus/27-1-8 "Exodus 27:1-8 - The Altar of Burnt Offering") - Provides the dimensions and materials for the Tabernacle altar, demonstrating a consistent divine pattern for sacrificial worship and the importance of precise adherence to God's instructions.
* [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice") - Explains how Christ's perfect, once-for-all sacrifice transcends the earthly altars and animal sacrifices, providing eternal redemption and cleansing our consciences from dead works.
* [Revelation 21:22-23](/revelation/21-22-23 "Revelation 21:22-23 - No Temple in New Jerusalem") - Describes the New Jerusalem where there is no longer a need for a physical temple, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, signifying the ultimate fulfillment of God's dwelling among His people in perfect, unmediated communion.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel's vision of the altar, with its exacting specifications and eastward orientation, serves as a powerful and enduring reminder that our approach to God should be marked by profound reverence, intentionality, and a deep understanding of His absolute holiness. While believers in Christ no longer offer animal sacrifices on a physical altar, the underlying principles of ordered, pure, and holy worship remain eternally relevant. This passage challenges us to critically examine the precision and care we bring to our spiritual lives—our prayers, our diligent study of Scripture, our fellowship with other believers, and our service to God and humanity. Do we approach God casually, or with the awe and respect due to the One who is perfectly ordered, supremely holy, and utterly sovereign? The eastward-facing stairs remind us that true access to God is always in alignment with His glory and His redemptive plan. Our worship, both personal and corporate, should be oriented towards His manifested presence, seeking His face and aligning our lives with His divine purposes. This vision encourages us to strive for excellence, purity, and intentionality in all aspects of our spiritual walk, recognizing that God desires a worship that truly reflects His own perfect and holy nature.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of Ezekiel's altar vision challenge your current understanding of God's character and His expectations for worship?**
* **In what practical ways can you bring greater intentionality, precision, and reverence to your personal and corporate worship, reflecting the "divine precision" seen in this verse?**
* **Considering the eastward orientation of the altar's stairs, how can you ensure your life and worship are consistently "looking toward the east"—that is, oriented towards God's glory, His returning presence, and His ultimate redemptive plan for humanity?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "settle" and its dimensions in Ezekiel's altar vision?**

Answer: The "settle" (Hebrew: *ʻăzârâh'*) refers to a specific ledge or platform on the altar, an integral part of its tiered construction. Its dimensions of "fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad" emphasize the altar's perfect square shape and massive scale. This precision signifies God's meticulous nature and the divine order inherent in His design for worship. It highlights that every detail of the sacred space is purposeful, pointing to the perfection and holiness required for approaching God. The large size also suggests the immense scope and efficacy of the atonement provided through this visionary altar, far exceeding any previous altars.

**Why are the stairs of the altar said to "look toward the east"?**

Answer: The eastward orientation of the altar's stairs is profoundly symbolic and deeply significant within Ezekiel's vision. In Israelite tradition, the east was often associated with the rising sun, new beginnings, and, most importantly, the manifestation of God's glory. Earlier in Ezekiel's prophecy, God's glory departed the old temple from the east, as recorded in [Ezekiel 10:19](/ezekiel/10-19 "Ezekiel 10:19 - God's Glory Departs the Temple"). Crucially, in the very same chapter (Ezekiel 43), Ezekiel witnesses God's glory returning to the new temple from the east, as described in [Ezekiel 43:2](/ezekiel/43-2 "Ezekiel 43:2 - God's Glory Returns to the Temple"). Therefore, the eastward-facing stairs signify that access to the altar, and thus to atonement and God's presence, is directly aligned with the direction from which divine glory is manifested and the promise of restoration is fulfilled. It implies that true worship is always oriented towards God's revealed presence and His redemptive purposes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel's visionary altar, with its precise dimensions and eastward-facing stairs, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament altars required repeated animal sacrifices, pointing to the ongoing need for atonement, Christ is the perfect and final sacrifice, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His single, definitive offering on the cross, as described in [Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10-14 "Hebrews 10:10-10 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice"), perfectly fulfills the purpose of all altars, providing complete and eternal redemption for all who believe. The meticulous design of Ezekiel's altar, symbolizing divine order and holiness, foreshadows the absolute perfection of Christ's sacrifice, which was not arbitrary but part of God's eternal, precise plan, "foreknown before the foundation of the world" ([1 Peter 1:18-20](/1_peter/1-18-20 "1 Peter 1:18-20 - Foreknown Before the Foundation of the World")). Moreover, the eastward orientation of the stairs, signifying access aligned with God's glory, is profoundly fulfilled in Christ, who is the very [radiance of God's glory](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory") and the only way to the Father ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life")). Through His death and resurrection, Christ has opened a new and living way for us to [draw near to God with confidence](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19 - Boldness to Enter the Holy Place"), making direct access possible without a physical temple or altar. Ultimately, the vision of the altar points to the reality that in the New Jerusalem, there will be no need for a physical temple or altar, for the [Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple](/revelation/21-22 "Revelation 21:22 - God and the Lamb are the Temple"), and His glory will be fully manifest, fulfilling the eastward orientation in its most profound and eternal sense.

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.

Cross-References

Exodus 20:26

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

Ezekiel 40:6

Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, [which was] one reed broad; and the other threshold [of the gate, which was] one reed broad.

Nehemiah 9:4

¶ Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, [and] Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

Exodus 30:3

And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.

1 Kings 6:8

The door for the middle chamber [was] in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle [chamber], and out of the middle into the third.

Ezekiel 8:16

And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

Exodus 25:25

And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.