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Ezekiel 43:5

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So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.

So the spirit {H7307} took me up {H5375}, and brought {H935} me into the inner {H6442} court {H2691}; and, behold, the glory {H3519} of the LORD {H3068} filled {H4390} the house {H1004}.

Next, a spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and I saw ADONAI's glory fill the house.

Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

And the Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of Jehovah filled the house.

Commentary

Ezekiel 43:5 (KJV) marks a pivotal moment in the prophet Ezekiel's vision, signifying the glorious return of God's presence to a purified temple. This verse reads: "So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house."

Context

This verse is situated within Ezekiel's elaborate vision of a new, meticulously detailed temple (Ezekiel 40-48), given to him during the Babylonian exile. Earlier in his prophecy, Ezekiel had witnessed the tragic departure of the glory of the LORD from the Jerusalem temple due to Israel's pervasive idolatry and sin (Ezekiel 8). Therefore, the scene in Ezekiel 43:5 represents a profound reversal and a powerful message of hope and restoration. The Spirit of God, which frequently guided Ezekiel's visions (Ezekiel 3:14), transports him directly to the inner court, where he witnesses this awe-inspiring event.

Key Themes

  • The Return of Divine Presence: The central theme is the re-establishment of God's intimate presence among His people. The phrase "the glory of the LORD filled the house" is a direct echo of earlier historical moments when God's glory filled the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34) and Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 8:11) at their dedication. This signifies God's renewed covenant faithfulness and His desire to dwell with His people.
  • Restoration and Hope: For the exiled Israelites, this vision offered immense hope. It painted a picture of a future where God would not only return but also sanctify and restore His dwelling place, symbolizing the spiritual and national restoration of Israel after punishment.
  • Holiness and Purity: The return of God's glory necessitates a holy environment. The preceding chapters detail strict temple regulations, emphasizing the purity required for God's presence to abide. This highlights God's intrinsic holiness and the need for His people to live in conformity with His standards.
  • Divine Sovereignty: The Spirit's action in taking Ezekiel up underscores God's complete control over the vision and its message. It is God who initiates and directs this divine revelation, emphasizing His sovereign plan for His people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the glory of the LORD" translates the Hebrew term kavod Yahweh (כְּבוֹד יְהוָה). The word kavod literally means "weight" or "heaviness," but in a theological context, it refers to God's manifested presence, His splendor, majesty, and visible radiance. When the *kavod* "filled the house," it communicated an overwhelming, tangible manifestation of God's power and transcendent holiness, leaving no space untouched by His divine essence.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 43:5 holds profound implications for believers today. While the physical temple is no longer the primary dwelling place of God's glory, the New Testament teaches that believers themselves are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16) and that the church collectively is a spiritual house where God dwells (1 Peter 2:5). This verse reminds us:

  • God desires to dwell among His people, not just in a physical structure, but in their hearts and communities.
  • Our lives, as spiritual temples, should be prepared and purified for God's indwelling presence, reflecting His holiness.
  • The ultimate hope of God's people is His full, unhindered presence, a promise that culminates in the new heaven and new earth where God will dwell directly with humanity (Revelation 21:3).
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

  • 2 Corinthians 12:2 (5 votes)

    I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:4 (5 votes)

    How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

  • Ezekiel 11:24 (4 votes)

    Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

  • Ezekiel 8:3 (4 votes)

    And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

  • 1 Kings 8:10 (3 votes)

    And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place], that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,

  • 1 Kings 8:11 (3 votes)

    So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 37:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which [was] full of bones,