Ezekiel 40
40
The Shining Measuring Man
1 # 40:1 Ezekiel 40–42 constitutes panel C1 in the chiastic structure of the book. These chapters contain the visionary plans for the ideal temple, providing the perfect environment for Israel’s godly leaders in the new covenant age. These chapters then serve as a striking contrasting parallel with chs. 12–14 (panel C—specifically, 12:1–14:11), which deal with the corruption of Israel’s leaders and their condemnation and judgment. There is also here the implied desecration and destruction of the Jerusalem temple, along with the promised destruction of all cities and towns in the land (see 12:20). The final nine chapters are truly the culmination of the entire book. They detail the final restoration of Israel and the restored temple that brings blessing and life to the nations. To read Ezekiel without these last chapters is to miss the overarching message of hope, not judgment. Chapters 40–42 give us the details of the new temple and its courtyards. Chapter 43 shows God returning to dwell within his new temple, in the same way he left the old temple in ch. 11. Ezekiel begins and ends with a vision of God’s glory. For more on Ezekiel’s Temple, see “Interpreting Ezekiel’s Temple” in the introduction. In the first month of the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, on the tenth day of the month, and nearly fourteen years after the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, # 40:1 The date of this chapter is probably September–October 573 BC. Some Jewish scholars believe that this was a Jubilee year (see Lev. 25), when the enslaved were given freedom and debts were canceled. Perhaps as it was “the tenth day of the month” this was also the Day of Atonement (see Lev. 16). on that day Yahweh overpowered me # 40:1 Or “the hand of Yahweh was upon me,” a figure of speech for the overwhelming power of God coming upon Ezekiel. and carried me away to Jerusalem. 2In an ecstatic vision from God, he carried me away to the land of Israel and put me down on a very high mountain. As I looked toward the south, there was a group of buildings that seemed to be a city. 3And when he brought me closer to the buildings, behold, I saw a man standing in the gateway. His appearance was shining and glistening like polished bronze. He held a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. # 40:3 This was possibly a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Measuring Man, who brings all into the full dimensions of his likeness (see Eph. 4:13). Bronze is a frequent biblical symbol for judgment, while linen (flax) is a symbol of righteousness. Jesus is coming to measure his temple. The measurements of his temple are exact (to show that the promise is certain), equal (to denote unity and harmony), and vast (to speak of majesty and grandeur). 4The shining man said to me, “Son of man, look closely and listen carefully. Pay close attention to everything I show you, for I have brought you here to reveal these things to you. You must tell the people of Israel everything you see.”
The Outer Wall
5Behold, I saw an outer wall surrounding the whole area where the temple stood. And the shining man was holding a measuring reed, and its length was six long cubits, each cubit a forearm and a handbreadth. # 40:5 The word cubit finds its origin in the Latin word cubitus, the word for the lower arm. A long cubit begins at the elbow and extends to the tip of the longest finger. The Hebrew word for cubit is ’ammah and literally means “mother of the arm.” These closing chapters of Ezekiel pose numerous difficulties including discrepancies and contradictions to the law found in the Pentateuch. The Rabbis of the Talmud (Menahot 45a) have stated that only Elijah himself would be able to decipher these difficulties when he comes. Additionally, it is difficult to be precise in the length of a cubit. Generally, a standard cubit is believed to be about 17.5 inches or 0.44 meters. A long cubit was a cubit plus a handbreadth (3.5 inches or 90 millimeters); in total about 21 inches or 0.53 meters. Unless otherwise noted, conversions from cubits to modern units in this translation will be calculated using the long cubit measurement. Based on this, the length of the measuring reed would be about 10.5 feet (3.2 meters). He measured the wall with the reed, and it was one reed high and one reed thick.
The East Gate
6He went into the opening of the gateway facing east, climbed the steps, # 40:6 Apparently, there were seven steps (see vv. 22, 26). and measured its threshold as one reed deep. # 40:6 About 10.5 feet (3.2 meters). The Hebrew is literally “deep, and one threshold, one reed deep.”
7Beyond the threshold was a corridor, which had rooms on each side for the guards. Each of the side rooms was square and measured one reed on each side. The space between the side rooms was five cubits. # 40:7 About 8.75 feet (2.65 meters). Also vv. 30, 48. And the inside threshold of the gate leading to the portico facing the temple was one reed deep.
8Then he measured the porch of the gate on the inside. 9It was eight cubits # 40:9 About 14 feet (4.26 meters). deep, flanked by pillars # 40:9 Or “jambs”—either for windows or doors. Also vv. 21, 24, 26. two cubits # 40:9 About 3.5 feet (1.06 meters). thick. The porch opened onto the temple courtyard. 10On each side of the east gate there were three guardrooms, all three the same size, and the walls that separated them were the same size. 11He measured the width of the entrance as ten cubits # 40:11 About 17.5 feet (5.3 meters). and its length, thirteen cubits. # 40:11 About 22.75 feet (6.9 meters). 12And there was a low wall one cubit high in front of the guardrooms. Each of the guardrooms was six cubits # 40:12 About 10.5 feet (3.2 meters). square.
13Then he measured the width of the gate from the top back wall of one guardroom to the top back wall of the opposite one. It was twenty-five cubits # 40:13 About 43.75 feet (13.3 meters). Also vv. 21, 25, 33, 36. straight across. 14He calculated the height of the porch, which led out to a courtyard, as sixty cubits high. # 40:14 About 105 feet (32 meters). There are details here that may suggest an internal linear measurement, rather than a height dimension. However, these details are difficult to translate with precision, and there is common agreement that the Hebrew text of this verse is uncertain. 15From the outside wall of the gate to the far side of the porch, he measured as fifty cubits. # 40:15 About 87.5 feet (26.5 meters). Also vv. 21, 25, 30, 33, 36.
16On all the inside walls of the gateway were windows with narrow recesses all around. The walls of the guardrooms, the walls between them, and the walls of the porch likewise had windows all around. And there were palm trees # 40:16 The palm tree is a symbol of praise and victory. They waved palm branches before King Jesus as he entered Jerusalem (see Matt. 21:1–11), and the overcoming saints in glory also celebrate with palm branches (see Rev. 7:9–17). carved on the inner walls of the corridor and on the doorways.
The Temple’s Outer Courtyard
17Then the shining man brought me into the outer court, # 40:17 In Talmudic literature, this was known as the “Courtyard of the Women,” or the outer courtyard, where all could assemble. and behold, there was a spacious terrace paved with stones, and thirty chambers were built against the outer wall. # 40:17 See Jer. 35:2–4. 18This paved terrace, or Lower Terrace, # 40:18 The lower level of the courtyard had steps going up to the inner (upper) courtyard, which surrounded the temple proper (sanctuary). was as wide as the gateways were long and extended throughout the courtyard. 19Then he measured the width of the courtyard, from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was one hundred cubits # 40:19 About 175 feet (53 meters). Also vv. 23, 27, 47. on the east side. Then he went to measure the north side.
The North Gate
20Behold, there was a gate in the outer courtyard that faced to the north. He measured its length and width. 21The length of the gateway was fifty cubits, and its width was twenty-five cubits. Its pillars and porch were of the same size as those of the first gate. It also had three guardrooms on each side. 22Its windows, its porch, and its palm trees were of the same measurement as those of the east gate. There were also seven steps leading up to it, # 40:22 These seven steps leading up into the outer courtyard point to a progressive ascent into God’s presence. Additionally, there were eight more steps going from the outer courtyard up to the inner courtyard (see v. 31). The total of fifteen steps to ascend into God’s presence is seen in the Songs of Ascent (see Pss. 120–134 and first footnote on Ps. 120). and its porch was at the end facing the courtyard. 23In the inner court across from the north gate there was another gateway leading into the inner courtyard, just as there was opposite the east gate. He measured the distance from one gate to the other, and it was one hundred cubits.
The South Gate
24Next, the shining man took me to the south side, and behold, there was another gate. He measured its pillars and porch; they were of the same dimensions as the others. 25The gateway, as well as its porch, had narrow windows all around, like the windows of the others; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five wide 26and had seven steps leading up to it. Its porch was at the inner end and had palm trees carved on its pillars, one on either side. 27There was also a lower gate on the south side of the inner court. He measured the distance southward from one gate to the other as one hundred cubits.
The Inner Courtyard
28He then took me into the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate, and its dimensions were the same as the others. 29Its guardrooms, pillars, and porch were also the same size as the others. 30There were porches # 40:30 Or “vestibules,” which are narrow verandas or covered walkways on the inside of the wall of the inner courtyard. all around the gateway and each porch was fifty cubits long and five cubits wide. # 40:30 A number of translations omit this verse as it is not found in the Septuagint and some Hebrew manuscripts. 31The porches all faced the outer court with eight steps leading up to them. And palm trees were carved on the pillars of the corridor.
The East Gate
32Then he took me into the inner court on the east side and measured the gateway. It was identical in size to the others. 33Its guardrooms, pillars, and porches were of the same dimensions as the others. The gateway, as well as its porch, had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34Its porch faced the outer court with eight steps leading up to it, and there were palm trees carved on its pillars.
The North Gate
35Then the shining man brought me to the north gate and measured it, and it had the same dimensions as the others. 36Its guardrooms, pillars, and porches were of the same dimension as the others. The gateway had narrow windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 37Its porch # 40:37 The term “porch” (Hb. ’elammaw) comes from the Septuagint (LXX) and is the preferred reading. The Hebrew (MT) has the related term ’elaw, which means “jamb”—an apparent scribal error, as “jamb” makes little sense in the context. faced the outer court, and there were eight steps leading up to it, and there were palm trees carved on its pillars on either side.
Buildings near the Inner Gates
38In each of the inner gateways there was a chamber with a doorway by the porch, where they washed the burnt offerings. # 40:38 See Lev. 1:9. 39And inside the porches of the gates there were two tables placed on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were slaughtered. 40Outside the north gate, near the steps to the entrance, two tables were placed against both outside walls of the porches—41four tables inside and four tables outside, eight tables in all # 40:41 These eight tables represent our feast at the Lord’s Table and speak of the new covenant made by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Eight is the number of a new beginning. for slaughtering the animals for sacrifice. 42There were also four slabs of hewn stone used for the burnt offerings that were each a cubit and a half long, # 40:42 About 2.63 feet (0.8 meters). a cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high. The instruments used for slaughtering the burnt offerings and sacrificial animals were placed on these slabs. 43And four-inch-long # 40:43 About 10 centimeters. double-pronged hooks were fastened to the wall all around # 40:43 Or possibly “ledges [shelves] a handbreadth long were attached to the wall all around.” the stone tables. And the carcasses of the sacrificial animals were prepared on the tables.
44Then he brought me # 40:44 As translated from the Septuagint. into the inner courtyard just outside the north gate. Behold, I saw chambers for the singers # 40:44 Although a reference to temple singers seems out of place, these “singers” were likely a choir of Levites (priests) who sang and provided musical accompaniment during the times of prayer and offering of sacrifices. of the inner court, one on the side of the north gate, facing south, the other on the side of the south gate, # 40:44 As translated from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is “east gate.” facing north. 45The shining man told me, “The chamber facing south is for the priests responsible for the service of the temple. 46And the chamber facing north is for the priests responsible for the sacrifices of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, # 40:46 Zadok was the faithful priest of David (see 2 Sam. 8:16–18), who separated himself from King Saul (a picture of the traditions of an old order that God has left) and was the high priest when Solomon’s Temple was built (see 1 Kings 1:38–39; 2:35). Zadok means “righteous” or “justified.” The name Zadok can also be found in the name Melchizedek (Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”). His lineage can be traced back to Phineas, a descendant of Eleazar, the son of Aaron (see 1 Chron. 24:3). God entered into a covenant with Phineas and promised him that he would have an everlasting priesthood (see Num. 25:13). All the priests had a ministry, but only the Zadokite priesthood could enter the Holy Place. Zadok’s descendants were the high priests in Jerusalem until the Babylonians destroyed the city and the temple during the days of Ezekiel. for only the sons of Levi are permitted to go into Yahweh’s presence to serve him.”
The Inner Court
47Then he measured the inner courtyard. It was one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, a square with the altar standing in front of the temple.
48Then he brought me to the entrance porch of the temple building, and he measured the gateposts of the porch. They were five cubits thick on either side, and the width of the gate was fourteen cubits. # 40:48 About 24.5 feet (7.42 meters). The Hebrew (MT) omits the words “the width of the gate was fourteen cubits,” most likely by the occurrence of homoeoteleuton—a scribal error (homoeoteleuton occurs when two separate phrases or lines have identical endings, and the eye of the scribe slips from one to the other and omits the words in between). This reading is preserved in the Septuagint (LXX). The sidewalls of the gate were three cubits # 40:48 About 5.25 feet (1.6 meters). on either side. 49The entrance porch itself was twenty cubits # 40:49 About 35 feet (10.6 meters). long # 40:49 See 1 Kings 6:3. and twelve cubits # 40:49 About 21 feet (6.36 meters). wide. There were ten steps leading up to it, and there were pillars by the gateposts, one on either side. # 40:49 See 1 Kings 7:15–22.
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Ezekiel 40: TPT
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