Ezekiel — Chapter 40

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1In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month—in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been struck down—on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He took me there.

2In visions of God He took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose southern slope was a structure that resembled a city.

3So He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze. He was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.

4“Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.”

5And I saw a wall surrounding the temple area. Now the length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits (each measuring a cubit and a handbreadth), and he measured the wall to be one rod thick and one rod high.

6Then he came to the gate facing east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate to be one rod deep.

7Each 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.

8Then he measured the portico of the gateway inside;

9it was eight cubits deep, and its jambs were two cubits thick. And the portico of the gateway faced the temple.

10There were three gate chambers on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the gateposts on either side also had the same measurements.

11And he measured the width of the gateway entrance to be ten cubits, and its length was thirteen cubits.

12In front of each gate chamber was a wall one cubit high, and the gate chambers were six cubits square.

13Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one gate chamber to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits from doorway to doorway.

14Next he measured the gateposts to be sixty cubits high. The gateway extended around to the gatepost of the courtyard.

15And the distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its inner portico was fifty cubits.

16The gate chambers and their side pillars had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway. The porticos also had windows all around on the inside. Each side pillar was decorated with palm trees.

17Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement,

18which flanked the gateways and corresponded to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.

19Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubits on the east side as well as on the north.

20He also measured the length and width of the gateway of the outer court facing north.

21Its three gate chambers on each side, its side pillars, and its portico all had the same measurements as the first gate: fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

22Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.

23There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured the distance from gateway to gateway to be a hundred cubits.

24Then he led me to the south side, and I saw a gateway facing south. He measured its side pillars and portico, and they had the same measurements as the others.

25Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

26Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.

27The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured the distance from gateway to gateway toward the south to be a hundred cubits.

28Next he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements as the others.

29Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

30(The porticoes around the inner court were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits deep.)

31Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees. Eight steps led up to it.

32And he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others.

33Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

34Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

35Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others,

36as did its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

37Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

38There was a chamber with a doorway by the portico in each of the inner gateways. There the burnt offering was to be washed.

39Inside the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were to be slaughtered.

40Outside, as one goes up to the entrance of the north gateway, there were two tables on one side and two more tables on the other side of the gate’s portico.

41So there were four tables inside the gateway and four outside—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered.

42There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offering, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit high. On these were placed the utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.

43The double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.

44Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two chambers, one beside the north gate and facing south, and another beside the south gate and facing north.

45Then the man said to me: “The chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple,

46and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the only Levites who may approach the LORD to minister before Him.”

47Next he measured the court. It was square, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.

48Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the side pillars of the portico to be five cubits on each side. The width of the gateway was fourteen cubits and its sidewalls were three cubits on either side.

49The portico was twenty cubits wide and twelve cubits deep, and ten steps led up to it. There were columns by the side pillars, one on each side.

1In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.

2In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.

3And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

4And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

5And 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.

6Then 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.

7And 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.

8He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.

9Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.

10And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.

11And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.

12The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.

13He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.

14He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.

15And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.

16And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.

17Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.

18And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.

19Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.

20And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.

21And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

22And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.

23And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.

24After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.

25And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

26And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.

27And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.

28And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;

29And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

30And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.

31And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.

32And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.

33And 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.

34And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

35And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;

36The 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.

37And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

38And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.

39And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.

40And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.

41Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.

42And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.

43And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.

45And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.

46And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

47So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.

48And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

49The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

1In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day, the hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me thither.

2In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, whereon was as it were the frame of a city on the south.

3And he brought me thither; and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

4And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee; for, to the intent that I may show them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

5And, behold, a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man`s hand a measuring reed six cubits long, of a cubit and a handbreadth each: so he measured the thickness of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

6Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the steps thereof: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.

7And 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.

8He measured also the porch of the gate toward the house, one reed.

9Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was toward the house.

10And the lodges of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.

11And he measured the breadth of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits;

12and a border before the lodges, one cubit [on this side], and a border, one cubit on that side; and the lodges, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.

13And he measured the gate from the roof of the one lodge to the roof of the other, a breadth of five and twenty cubits; door against door.

14He made also posts, threescore cubits; and the court [reached] unto the posts, round about the gate.

15And [from] the forefront of the gate at the entrance unto the forefront of the inner porch of the gate were fifty cubits.

16And there were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches; and windows were round about inward; and upon [each] post were palm-trees.

17Then brought he me into the outer court; and, lo, there were chambers and a pavement, made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.

18And the pavement was by the side of the gates, answerable unto the length of the gates, even the lower pavement.

19Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, a hundred cubits, [both] on the east and on the north.

20And the gate of the outer court whose prospect is toward the north, he measured the length thereof and the breadth thereof.

21And the lodges thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

22And the windows thereof, and the arches thereof, and the palm-trees thereof, were after the measure of the gate whose prospect is toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.

23And there was a gate to the inner court over against the [other] gate, [both] on the north and on the east; and he measured from gate to gate a hundred cubits.

24And he led me toward the south; and, behold, a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.

25And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

26And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them; and it had palm-trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.

27And there was a gate to the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south a hundred cubits.

28Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;

29and the lodges thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about; it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

30And there were arches round about, five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.

31And the arches thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

32And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures;

33and the lodges thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, 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.

34And the arches thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

35And he brought me to the north gate: and he measured [it] according to these measures;

36the lodges thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof: and there were windows therein round about; the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

37And the posts thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

38And a chamber with the door thereof was by the posts at the gates; there they washed the burnt-offering.

39And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt-offering and the sin-offering and the trespass-offering.

40And on the [one] side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables.

41Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew [the sacrifices].

42And there were four tables for the burnt-offering, of hewn stone, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high; whereupon they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt-offering and the sacrifice.

43And the hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened within round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the oblation.

44And without the inner gate were chambers for the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south; one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.

45And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house;

46and the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to Jehovah to minister unto him.

47And he measured the court, a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar was before the house.

48Then he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

49The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; even by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

1In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on this very day, the hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me there.

2By divine visions he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on a very high mountain, and on it was a structure like a city, to the south.

3When he brought me there, I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring stick in his hand. He was standing in the gateway.

4The man said to me, “Son of man, watch closely, listen carefully, and pay attention to everything I show you, for you have been brought here so that I can show it to you. Tell the house of Israel everything you see.”

5I saw a wall all around the outside of the temple. In the man’s hand was a measuring stick 10½ feet long. He measured the thickness of the wall as 10½ feet and its height as 10½ feet.

6Then he went to the gate facing east. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate as 10½ feet deep.

7The alcoves were 10½ feet long and 10½ feet wide; between the alcoves were 8¾ feet. The threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate facing inward was 10½ feet.

8Then he measured the porch of the gate facing inward as 10½ feet.

9He measured the porch of the gate as 14 feet and its jambs as 3½ feet; the porch of the gate faced inward.

10There were three alcoves on each side of the east gate; the three had the same measurement, and the jambs on either side had the same measurement.

11He measured the width of the entrance of the gateway as 17½ feet and the length of the gateway as 22¾ feet.

12There was a barrier in front of the alcoves, 1¾ feet on either side; the alcoves were 10½ feet on either side.

13He measured the gateway from the roof of one alcove to the roof of the other, a width of 43¾ feet from one entrance to the opposite one.

14He measured the porch at 105 feet high; the gateway went all around to the jamb of the courtyard.

15From the front of the entrance gate to the porch of the inner gate was 87½ feet.

16There were closed windows toward the alcoves and toward their jambs within the gate all around, and likewise for the porches. There were windows all around the inside, and on each jamb were decorative palm trees.

17Then he brought me to the outer court. I saw chambers there and a pavement made for the court all around; 30 chambers faced the pavement.

18The pavement was beside the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.

19Then he measured the width from before the lower gate to the front of the exterior of the inner court as 175 feet on the east and on the north.

20He measured the length and width of the gate of the outer court that faces north.

21Its alcoves, three on each side, and its jambs and porches had the same measurement as the first gate; 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide.

22Its windows, its porches, and its decorative palm trees had the same measurement as the gate that faced east. Seven steps led up to it, and its porch was in front of them.

23Opposite the gate on the north and the east was a gate of the inner court; he measured the distance from gate to gate at 175 feet.

24Then he led me toward the south. I saw a gate on the south. He measured its jambs and its porches; they had the same dimensions as the others.

25There were windows all around it and its porches, like the windows of the others, 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide.

26There were seven steps going up to it; its porches were in front of them. It had decorative palm trees on its jambs, one on either side.

27The inner court had a gate toward the south; he measured it from gate to gate toward the south as 175 feet.

28Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate; it had the same dimensions as the others.

29Its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches had the same dimensions as the others, and there were windows all around it and its porches; its length was 87½ feet and its width 43¾ feet.

30There were porches all around, 43¾ feet long and 8¾ feet wide.

31Its porches faced the outer court, and decorative palm trees were on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.

32Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. He measured the gate; it had the same dimensions as the others.

33Its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches had the same dimensions as the others, and there were windows all around it and its porches; its length was 87½ feet and its width 43¾ feet.

34Its porches faced the outer court, it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.

35Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; it had the same dimensions as the others—

36its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches. It had windows all around it; its length was 87½ feet and its width 43¾ feet.

37Its jambs faced the outer court, and it had decorative palm trees on its jambs on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.

38There was a chamber with its door by the porch of the gate; there they washed the burnt offering.

39In the porch of the gate were two tables on either side on which to slaughter the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering.

40On the outside of the porch as one goes up at the entrance of the north gate were two tables, and on the other side of the porch of the gate were two tables.

41Four tables were on each side of the gate, eight tables on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered.

42The four tables for the burnt offering were of carved stone, 32 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 21 inches high. They would put the instruments that they used to slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice on them.

43There were hooks 3 inches long fastened in the house all around, and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44On the outside of the inner gate were chambers for the singers of the inner court, one at the side of the north gate facing south, and the other at the side of the south gate facing north.

45He said to me, “This chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple,

46and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the descendants of Zadok, from the descendants of Levi, who may approach the Lord to minister to him.”

47He measured the court as a square 175 feet long and 175 feet wide; the altar was in front of the temple.

48Then he brought me to the porch of the temple and measured the jambs of the porch as 8¾ feet on either side; the width of the gate was 24½ feet, and the sides were 5¼ feet on each side.

49The length of the porch was 35 feet and the width 19¼ feet; steps led up to it, and there were pillars beside the jambs on either side.

1In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was struck, in the same day, Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me there.

2In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, whereon was as it were the frame of a city on the south.

3He brought me there; and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

4The man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I will show you; for you have been brought here so that I may show them to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.”

5Behold, there was a wall on the outside of the house all around, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed six cubits long, of a cubit and a hand width each. So he measured the thickness of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

6Then he came to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate, one reed wide; and the other threshold, one reed wide.

7Every lodge was one reed long and one reed wide. Between the lodges was five cubits. The threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate toward the house was one reed.

8He measured also the porch of the gate toward the house, one reed.

9Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its posts, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was toward the house.

10The lodges of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side. The three of them were of one measure. The posts had one measure on this side and on that side.

11He measured the width of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits;

12and a border before the lodges, one cubit on this side, and a border, one cubit on that side; and the lodges, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.

13He measured the gate from the roof of the one lodge to the roof of the other, a width of twenty-five cubit, door against door.

14He also made posts, sixty cubits; and the court reached to the posts, around the gate.

15From the forefront of the gate at the entrance to the forefront of the inner porch of the gate were fifty cubits.

16There were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches. Windows were around inward. Palm trees were on each post.

17Then brought he me into the outer court. Behold, there were rooms and a pavement made for the court all around. Thirty rooms were on the pavement.

18The pavement was by the side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates, even the lower pavement.

19Then he measured the width from the forefront of the lower gate to the forefront of the inner court outside, one hundred cubits, both on the east and on the north.

20He measured the length and width of the gate of the outer court which faces toward the north.

21The lodges of it were three on this side and three on that side. Its posts and its arches were the same as the measure of the first gate: its length was fifty cubits, and the width twenty-five cubits.

22Its windows, its arches, and its palm trees were the same as the measure of the gate which faces toward the east. They went up to it by seven steps. Its arches were before them.

23There was a gate to the inner court facing the other gate, on the north and on the east. He measured one hundred cubits from gate to gate.

24He led me toward the south; and behold, there was a gate toward the south. He measured its posts and its arches according to these measurements.

25There were windows in it and in its arches all around, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the width twenty-five cubits.

26There were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them. It had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on its posts.

27There was a gate to the inner court toward the south. He measured one hundred cubits from gate to gate toward the south.

28Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate according to these measurements;

29with its lodges, its posts, and its arches, according to these measurements. There were windows in it and in its arches all around. It was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits wide.

30There were arches all around, twenty-five cubits long, and five cubits wide.

31Its arches were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts. The ascent to it had eight steps.

32He brought me into the inner court toward the east. He measured the gate according to these measurements;

33with its lodges, its posts, and its arches, according to these measurements. There were windows in it and in its arches all around. It was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits wide.

34Its arches were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.

35He brought me to the north gate, and he measured it according to these measurements;

36its lodges, its posts, and its arches. There were windows in it all around. The length was fifty cubits and the width twenty-five cubits.

37Its posts were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.

38A room with its door was by the posts at the gates. They washed the burnt offering there.

39In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, on which to kill the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering.

40On the one side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables.

41Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate: eight tables, on which they killed the sacrifices.

42There were four tables for the burnt offering, of cut stone, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high. They laid the instruments with which they killed the burnt offering and the sacrifice on them.

43The hooks, a hand width long, were fastened within all around. The meat of the offering was on the tables.

44Outside of the inner gate were rooms for the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate. They faced toward the south. One at the side of the east gate faced toward the north.

45He said to me, “This room, which faces toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the house.

46The room which faces toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to Yahweh to minister to him.”

47He measured the court, one hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits wide, square. The altar was before the house.

48Then he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side. The width of the gate was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side.

49The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the width eleven cubits; even by the steps by which they went up to it. There were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

In the twenty-fifth year of exile, around 573 BC, Ezekiel is transported in vision to a high mountain in Israel, where a man with a measuring rod and line reveals the dimensions of a magnificent future temple (vv. 1-4). The chapter measures the outer wall and the outer gates on the east, north, and south sides, then the outer court, and finally the inner gates leading to the inner court, laying the framework for the most detailed temple blueprint in Scripture (vv. 5-49).

Authorship & Background

Author: Ezekiel son of Buzi (see Chapter 1 notes for full details).
Classification: Prophetic Vision — Temple Architecture
Key Themes: The future temple, divine measurement and order, holiness expressed in architecture, God's intention to dwell among His people permanently, the precision of God's plans
Historical Context: The date given is "the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten" (v.1) — 573 BC, fourteen years after Jerusalem's fall in 586 BC. Solomon's temple lies in ruins. Israel is in exile. And in this darkest hour, God gives Ezekiel the most detailed architectural vision in all of Scripture: a temple that has never been built. Interpreters debate whether this temple is: (1) a literal millennial temple to be built during Christ's earthly reign, (2) a symbolic representation of the church, or (3) an idealized vision of God's perfect dwelling among His people. Regardless of interpretive framework, the theological message is clear: God plans to dwell with His people in a place of perfect holiness, exact proportion, and eternal stability.
The Date, the Mountain and the Man with the Line (vv.1-4): The date is given three ways, the five and twentieth year of our captivity, the tenth day of the month, and the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, which places it in 573 BC, twelve and a half years after the fall and twenty years after the vision by the Chebar. He is brought in the visions of God into the land of Israel and set upon a very high mountain, with what looked like the frame of a city on it. The guide is described before the tour begins, a man whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand and a measuring reed. And the prophet's role for the next nine chapters is set out in advance, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel. He watches someone else measure, and reports numbers.
The Wall, and the East Gate (vv.5-16): The survey starts at the perimeter and establishes its unit before anything else, the measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth, that is, the long cubit of roughly twenty-one inches rather than the ordinary one. Then the east gate, and it gets more detail than any other feature in the complex: the steps, the threshold, the little chambers on either side, the posts, the porch, the narrow windows and the palm trees carved on the posts. The disproportion is not accidental. The east gate is the one the glory left by in chapter 10, and it is the one it comes back through in chapter 43.
The Outer Court, and the North and South Gates (vv.17-27): The outer court has a pavement running round it with thirty chambers upon it. Then the north gate is measured and reported to be the same as the east, and the south gate is measured and reported to be the same again, with their arches, chambers, posts and palm trees, and seven steps up to each. Reading three near-identical paragraphs is what a survey feels like, and the point being made by the repetition is that the numbers agree: this is a structure with no irregularities in it.
The Inner Court Gates (vv.28-37): The same three gates are then measured on the inner side, south, east and north, and each one is recorded as being according to these measures. One number changes, and it is the one worth noticing: eight steps instead of seven. The complex rises as it moves inward, so approaching the sanctuary is physically an ascent, and the gradient is built into the architecture rather than described in a sermon.
The Tables for Slaughtering (vv.38-43): The vision includes the working equipment. Chambers and entries by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering. Eight tables whereupon they slew their sacrifices, four on one side and four on the other. And the fittings, hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about within. A description of holiness that specifies where the carcases were rinsed and what the meat was hung on is making a claim about what holiness involves.
The Chambers for the Singers, and the Porch (vv.44-49): Chambers in the inner court for the singers, and two more for the priests, one set over the charge of the house and one over the charge of the altar, and the second is identified by family, the sons of Zadok, which anticipates the reorganisation of chapter 44. The inner court is a hundred cubits square with the altar standing in front of the house. Then the porch of the house itself, with pillars by the posts and eight steps to go up. The tour has reached the door and chapter 41 goes inside.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Ezekiel 40 - Bible Study, Explanation, and Application
2BeLikeChrist

Ezekiel 40:1-43:12 | An Ideal Temple | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Ezekiel 40-42 Interpretation - Ezekiel's Temple
2BeLikeChrist

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Ezekiel -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Vision in the Rubble (vv.1-2) — Ezekiel is shown a dwelling not yet built while the real temple still lies in ruins and Israel remains captive. When your circumstances look devastated, are you asking God to show you what He is planning next?
  • Behold, Hear, Set Your Heart, Declare (v.4) — the angelic guide tells Ezekiel exactly how to receive this revelation: watch closely, listen carefully, take it to heart, then pass it on. Which of those four steps do you tend to skip when God speaks to you through Scripture?
  • A God Who Measures Exactly (v.5) — the guide begins measuring the wall with a precise reed and cubit before anything else is described, showing God's plans are never vague or approximate. If God is this exact about a building's dimensions, what does that say about His attention to the details of your life?
  • Order Before Access (vv.6-49) — gate after gate and court after court are measured before anyone reaches the temple itself, showing that drawing near to a holy God follows structure, not casual wandering. Where do you treat access to God casually instead of with the reverence these gates picture?