Ezekiel 40 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Ezekiel 40 meaning explained in AI Summary

Ezekiel chapter 40 contains a detailed vision of a new temple, often interpreted as a symbol of God's restored presence and blessing for his people.

Setting: Ezekiel, still in exile in Babylon, is transported in a vision to the land of Israel.

The Man with Measuring Tools: A mysterious figure, described as "a man whose appearance was like bronze," appears with measuring rods. He instructs Ezekiel to carefully observe and record the dimensions and features of the temple complex.

Outer Courtyard: The vision begins with the outer courtyard, including its gates, chambers, and measurements. The details emphasize order, symmetry, and holiness.

Inner Courtyard: Ezekiel is then led into the inner courtyard, where he sees similar structures, including the altar for burnt offerings. Again, the measurements and descriptions highlight precision and sacredness.

The Temple Building: The vision culminates with the temple building itself. Ezekiel sees the porch, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies). While the dimensions are given, the furnishings and details are less emphasized than the overall structure and its symbolic significance.

Themes:

Restoration and Hope: The vision offers hope to the exiled Israelites, promising a future return to their land and the restoration of their relationship with God.
God's Presence: The temple represents the dwelling place of God among his people. The detailed measurements and emphasis on holiness underscore God's presence and the sacredness of the place.
Purity and Order: The precise measurements and symmetrical design symbolize the order and purity that God desires in his people and their worship.
Future Fulfillment: While the vision has immediate significance for the exiles, it also points to a future, eschatological fulfillment, often interpreted in light of the New Testament and the coming of Christ.

Interpretation:

The interpretation of Ezekiel 40 varies among different Christian traditions. Some see it as a literal blueprint for a future, physical temple. Others view it primarily as a symbolic representation of God's restored presence and the spiritual renewal of his people.

Regardless of the specific interpretation, Ezekiel 40 offers a powerful message of hope, restoration, and the centrality of God's presence in the lives of his people.

Ezekiel 40 bible study ai commentary

Ezekiel 40 ushers in the final, climactic vision of the book, transitioning from decades of judgment to a message of profound hope and restoration. It lays out a meticulous and divinely-ordered blueprint for a new temple. This is not merely an architectural plan; it is a theological statement about God's intention to return and dwell with His people in a perfectly holy and accessible way. The chapter's obsessive detail underscores God's sovereignty, His demand for purity, and the promise of a future where His presence is the secure and central reality for Israel.

Ezekiel 40 context

This vision is dated to 573 BC, twenty-five years into Ezekiel's exile and fourteen years after the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple. The original audience was a generation born in or brought to Babylon, who had never seen the temple and whose national and religious identity was shattered. This vision of a new, glorious, and perfectly ordered temple served as a tangible promise of national restoration and, more importantly, the return of God's presence, which had departed in Ezekiel 11. It provided a powerful counter-narrative to the trauma of destruction and the imposing pagan grandeur of Babylon.

Ezekiel 40:1-4

In 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 that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me there. In visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south. When he brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway. And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.”

In-depth-analysis

Verse 1: The specific date anchors the vision in history, providing reality and hope to the exiles. "At the beginning of the year" (rôsh hashshānāh) likely refers to the month of Nisan, tying this new beginning to the themes of liberation and exodus. "The hand of the LORD was upon me" signifies divine initiation and prophetic power.
Verse 2: A "very high mountain" is a common biblical setting for divine revelation, signifying closeness to God and a place of cosmic importance. This elevates the new temple above all earthly structures.
Verse 3: The guide is a celestial being, not human. His appearance "like bronze" signifies purity, strength, and glory, withstanding judgment. He holds two measuring instruments:
- Linen Cord: For longer distances, flexible.
- Measuring Reed (qāneh): For shorter, rigid, precise measurements. This introduces the central theme: God's new dwelling will be built to His exact, unchangeable standard.
Verse 4: The three-fold command to Ezekiel—look, hear, and set your heart (pay attention)—emphasizes the importance and multi-sensory nature of the revelation. The ultimate purpose is proclamation: to give this detailed vision of hope to the displaced people of Israel.

Bible references

Rev 21:10, 15: 'And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain... And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city...' (A direct parallel in the New Testament).
Dan 10:5-6: '...a man clothed in linen... His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning... and his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze.' (Similar description of a glorious angelic being).
Exo 25:9, 40: 'Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle... you must see to it that you make them according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.' (God providing a divine blueprint for His dwelling).
Isa 2:2: 'It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains...' (Prophecy of the preeminence of God's dwelling).

Cross references

Zec 2:1-5 (a man with a measuring line for Jerusalem), Eze 1:3 (the hand of the Lord), Mic 4:1 (mountain of the house of the Lord), Rev 1:15 (Christ's feet like burnished bronze), 1 Cor 2:9-10 (revelation by the Spirit).

Ezekiel 40:5-16

And behold, there was a wall all around the outside of the temple area, and the length of the measuring reed in the man's hand was six long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth in length... He measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep... Then he measured the length of the gateway, thirteen cubits, and the breadth, twenty-five cubits...

In-depth-analysis

Verse 5: The chapter begins with an outer wall, establishing a clear boundary of holiness between the sacred and the profane.
The Cubit: A "long cubit" (or royal cubit) is defined as a standard cubit plus a handbreadth (approx. 21 inches vs. 18 inches). God's measurements are on His own, larger scale; His standards are higher than man's.
Verses 6-16: These verses provide a minutely detailed measurement of the East Gate of the outer court. This is the main processional entrance.
- Guard Cells/Alcoves: The gate complex is not just a doorway but a massive structure with three guard rooms on each side. This design emphasizes security and control over who may enter God's sacred space.
- Symmetry: The measurements are perfectly symmetrical, reflecting divine order and perfection.
- Windows: The latticed windows symbolize God's watchfulness and the light of His presence radiating outward.
- Palm Trees: Engraved on the jambs, these are symbols of righteousness, victory, fruitfulness, and eternal life, reminiscent of the righteous who flourish in God's courts.

Bible references

1 Kgs 6:4: 'And he made for the house windows with recessed frames.' (Continuity of architectural elements like windows).
Ps 92:12-13: 'The righteous flourish like the palm tree... They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.' (The spiritual meaning of the palm tree decorations).
Rev 7:9: '...a great multitude... standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands...' (Palm branches as symbols of victory and worship).

Cross references

Neh 3:1 (the Sheep Gate), Ps 84:10 (a doorkeeper in God's house), Ps 118:19-20 (the gate of righteousness).

Ezekiel 40:17-27

Then he brought me into the outer court. And behold, there were chambers and a pavement, all around the court... This was the lower pavement. Then he measured the distance from the inner front of the lower gate to the outer front of the inner court, a hundred cubits on the east side and on the north side... The north gate of the outer court had a length and a breadth like the first... And the south gate... had alcoves, jambs, and a vestibule like the others.

In-depth-analysis

Outer Court: This is the first area of assembly for the people, a space for gathering and worship.
Pavement: A paved area signifies a prepared, orderly space for a holy purpose.
Thirty Chambers: Likely for the people to eat ceremonial/sacrificial meals, emphasizing community and fellowship as part of worship.
North & South Gates: Verses 20-27 detail the North and South gates, noting that they are identical in measurement to the East Gate. This repetition is not redundant; it emphatically drives home the point of divine order, perfection, and equal, standardized access to God's courts from all main directions.
No West Gate: Significantly, there is no West Gate for the outer court, distinguishing it from pagan temple designs and perhaps directing all focus eastward toward the rising sun, a symbol of hope and new beginnings.

Bible references

Rev 11:2: 'but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations...' (The concept of distinct courts with different levels of access/holiness).
Jer 35:4: '...into the chamber of the sons of Hanan... which was near the chamber of the princes, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the threshold.' (Historical precedent for chambers within the temple complex).

Cross references

Exo 27:9 (the court of the tabernacle), 2 Chr 4:9 (the great court), Neh 8:1 (gathering at the Water Gate).

Ezekiel 40:28-37

Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate... The south gate of the inner court was of the same measurement as the others... Its vestibule faced the outer court... he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gate... he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it. It had the same measurements.

In-depth-analysis

Inner Court: This is a higher level of holiness, restricted to the priests. This is physically demonstrated by the seven steps one must ascend to enter the outer court, and another eight steps to enter the inner court.
Ascending Holiness: The progression from outside the wall, to the outer court, to the inner court is a physical journey upward, symbolizing the spiritual journey into greater sanctity and proximity to God.
Identical Gates: As with the outer court, the South, East, and North gates of the inner court are identical. The divine blueprint is perfect and unchanging, reinforcing the theme of absolute order.

Bible references

1 Kgs 6:36: 'He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and one course of cedar beams.' (Direct precedent from Solomon's temple for an inner court).
Lev 10:1-3: '...and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD... and Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified...'” (The principle of greater holiness required for those who come near to God).

Cross references

2 Kgs 23:12 (altars in the two courts), 2 Chr 20:5 (the new court).

Ezekiel 40:38-43

There was a chamber with its door at the vestibule of the gate, where the burnt offering was to be washed. And in the vestibule of the gate were two tables on each side, on which the an offering, and the guilt offering were to be slaughtered. And on the outside of the vestibule... were two tables... Four tables were on each side of the gate... eight tables, on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered.

In-depth-analysis

Sacrificial Preparation: This section moves from architecture to function. Detailed provisions are made for washing and preparing the various sacrifices (burnt, sin, guilt).
Centrality of Atonement: The precise placement of these tables right at the gateway to the inner court emphasizes that access to God's inner sanctum is only possible through blood sacrifice and atonement. This continues the theological system of the Torah.
Stone Tables: The tables for butchering the animals were of "hewn stone," indicating permanence and stability for the work of atonement.

Bible references

Heb 9:22: 'Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.' (The NT explanation of the principle behind the sacrifices).
Lev 1-7: (The entire section of the Torah detailing the procedures for the burnt, sin, and guilt offerings).
Eph 5:2: 'And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.' (Christ as the fulfillment of the sacrificial system).

Cross references

2 Chr 4:19 (the tables for the bread of the Presence), Isa 53:10 (His soul as a guilt offering), Rom 3:25 (Christ as a propitiation).

Ezekiel 40:44-47

Outside the inner gate were two chambers in the inner court, one at the side of the north gate... for the priests who have charge of the temple, and the other was at the side of the east gate for the priests who have charge of the altar. He said to me, “These are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the LORD to minister to him.” And he measured the court, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits broad, a square. And the altar was in front of the temple.

In-depth-analysis

Chambers for Priests: Specific rooms are designated for the priests, separating them by function: those with charge of the temple (overall maintenance) and those with charge of the altar (sacrificial service).
Sons of Zadok: A key distinction is made. Only the Zadokite line of priests, who remained faithful when others went astray, are permitted to minister at the altar (the highest privilege). This institutes a principle of reward for faithfulness and purity in leadership.
The Altar: For the first time, the altar is mentioned. Its location is central and prominent: "in front of the temple." All worship and access is oriented around this point of sacrifice.
The Square Court: The inner court is a perfect square (100x100 cubits), symbolizing perfect stability, balance, and completeness.

Bible references

Num 18:7: 'And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar... and you shall serve.' (The charge given to the priesthood).
Eze 44:15: 'But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me.' (A later chapter confirming this distinction).
Heb 13:10: 'We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.' (The Christian altar, which is Christ's cross, contrasted with the physical one).

Cross references

1 Kgs 2:35 (Zadok appointed priest by Solomon), Mal 2:5-7 (the ideal priest), Num 3:38 (priests guarding the sanctuary).

Ezekiel 40:48-49

Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the jambs of the vestibule... And he brought me up by the steps by which they went up to it... and there were pillars by the jambs, one on each side. The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the breadth twelve cubits.

In-depth-analysis

The Temple Porch: Finally, the tour reaches the entrance to the temple building itself—the vestibule (‘ûlām).
Ascent: An additional set of steps leads up to this porch, marking the final and highest ascent in the journey toward God's immediate presence.
Two Pillars: These recall the iconic pillars of Solomon’s Temple, Jachin ("He establishes") and Boaz ("In Him is strength"). While not named here, their presence provides a powerful link of continuity to Israel's sacred history and a reminder of God's power and faithfulness.

Bible references

1 Kgs 7:15, 21: 'He cast two pillars of bronze... And he set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple. He set up the pillar on the south and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the north and called its name Boaz.' (The direct precedent and names of the original pillars).
Rev 3:12: 'The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it...' (The symbolism of pillars applied to believers in the New Covenant).

Cross references

2 Chr 3:15-17 (Solomon's pillars), Gal 2:9 (James, Cephas, and John as "pillars").

Ezekiel 40 analysis

Theological Geometry: The perfect symmetry, squares, and identical measurements are not just architectural. They represent the perfection, order, justice, and reliability of God's character and His coming kingdom, a stark polemic against the chaos and arbitrary nature of paganism.
Progressive Sanctity: The layout of the temple—wall, outer court, inner court, temple porch, and finally the Holy Place—with ascending steps at each stage, is a physical map of spiritual approach. One cannot rush into God's presence but must move through stages of increasing holiness.
The Absence of the Ark: Significantly, there is no mention of the Ark of the Covenant in this entire vision. This is a monumental omission. The Ark represented God's presence and throne on earth. Its absence suggests a future fulfillment where God's presence would not be confined to a box but would be a living reality, pointing toward Christ (Immanuel, "God with us") and the New Jerusalem, where the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple (Rev 21:22).
Multiple Interpretations: This temple has been interpreted in three primary ways:
1. Literal/Millennial: A blueprint for a physical temple that will be built in Jerusalem during a future millennial reign of Christ.
2. Symbolic/Spiritual: A symbolic picture of the Church, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, with its order representing church life and spiritual growth (1 Cor 3:16, Eph 2:19-22).
3. Apocalyptic/Eschatological: A vision that finds its ultimate, perfected fulfillment in the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21-22, which shares many features (high mountain, measuring angel, cubical shape, exclusion of the unclean). These views are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Ezekiel 40 summary

In a vision from God, Ezekiel is transported to a high mountain in Israel where an angelic being, appearing like bronze, guides him with a measuring reed. The chapter provides a meticulous, step-by-step architectural tour of a new, perfectly symmetrical temple complex. It details the dimensions of the outer wall, the East, North, and South gates of the outer court, the inner court with its identical gates, the chambers and tables for sacrificial preparations, the area for the priests, and finally, the porch of the main temple building, all signifying divine order and the path of approach into God's holy presence.

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Ezekiel chapter 40 kjv

¹ In 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.
² In 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.
³ And 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.
⁴ And 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.
⁵ 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.
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.
⁷ And 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.
⁸ He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
⁹ Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.
¹⁰ And 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.
¹¹ And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
¹² The 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.
¹³ He 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.
¹⁴ He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.
¹⁵ And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.
¹⁶ And 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.
¹⁷ Then 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.
¹⁸ And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.
¹⁹ Then 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.
²⁰ And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.
²¹ And 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.
²² And 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.
²³ And 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.
²⁴ After 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.
²⁵ And 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.
²⁶ And 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.
²⁷ And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.
²⁸ And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
²⁹ And 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.
³⁰ And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.
³¹ And 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.
³² And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
³³ And 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.
³⁴ And 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.
³⁵ And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
³⁶ The 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.
³⁷ And 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.
³⁸ And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.
³⁹ And 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.
⁴⁰ And 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.
⁴¹ Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.
⁴² And 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.
⁴³ And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.
⁴⁴ And 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.
⁴⁵ And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
⁴⁶ And 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.
⁴⁷ So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.
⁴⁸ And 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.
⁴⁹ The 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.

Ezekiel chapter 40 nkjv

¹ In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of the LORD was upon me; and He took me there.
² In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city.
³ He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.
⁴ And the man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see."
⁵ Now there was a wall all around the outside of the temple. In the man's hand was a measuring rod six cubits long, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; and he measured the width of the wall structure, one rod; and the height, one rod.
⁶ Then he went to the gateway which faced east; and he went up its stairs and measured the threshold of the gateway, which was one rod wide, and the other threshold was one rod wide.
⁷ Each gate chamber was one rod long and one rod wide; between the gate chambers was a space of five cubits; and the threshold of the gateway by the vestibule of the inside gate was one rod.
⁸ He also measured the vestibule of the inside gate, one rod.
⁹ Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; and the gateposts, two cubits. The vestibule of the gate was on the inside.
¹⁰ In the eastern gateway were three gate chambers on one side and three on the other; the three were all the same size; also the gateposts were of the same size on this side and that side.
¹¹ He measured the width of the entrance to the gateway, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
¹² There was a space in front of the gate chambers, one cubit on this side and one cubit on that side; the gate chambers were six cubits on this side and six cubits on that side.
¹³ Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one gate chamber to the roof of the other; the width was twenty-five cubits, as door faces door.
¹⁴ He measured the gateposts, sixty cubits high, and the court all around the gateway extended to the gatepost.
¹⁵ From the front of the entrance gate to the front of the vestibule of the inner gate was fifty cubits.
¹⁶ There were beveled window frames in the gate chambers and in their intervening archways on the inside of the gateway all around, and likewise in the vestibules. There were windows all around on the inside. And on each gatepost were palm trees.
¹⁷ Then he brought me into the outer court; and there were chambers and a pavement made all around the court; thirty chambers faced the pavement.
¹⁸ The pavement was by the side of the gateways, corresponding to the length of the gateways; this was the lower pavement.
¹⁹ Then he measured the width from the front of the lower gateway to the front of the inner court exterior, one hundred cubits toward the east and the north.
²⁰ On the outer court was also a gateway facing north, and he measured its length and its width.
²¹ Its gate chambers, three on this side and three on that side, its gateposts and its archways, had the same measurements as the first gate; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits.
²² Its windows and those of its archways, and also its palm trees, had the same measurements as the gateway facing east; it was ascended by seven steps, and its archway was in front of it.
²³ A gate of the inner court was opposite the northern gateway, just as the eastern gateway; and he measured from gateway to gateway, one hundred cubits.
²⁴ After that he brought me toward the south, and there a gateway was facing south; and he measured its gateposts and archways according to these same measurements.
²⁵ There were windows in it and in its archways all around like those windows; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits.
²⁶ Seven steps led up to it, and its archway was in front of them; and it had palm trees on its gateposts, one on this side and one on that side.
²⁷ There was also a gateway on the inner court, facing south; and he measured from gateway to gateway toward the south, one hundred cubits.
²⁸ Then he brought me to the inner court through the southern gateway; he measured the southern gateway according to these same measurements.
²⁹ Also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements; there were windows in it and in its archways all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
³⁰ There were archways all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide.
³¹ Its archways faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts, and going up to it were eight steps.
³² And he brought me into the inner court facing east; he measured the gateway according to these same measurements.
³³ Also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements; and there were windows in it and in its archways all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
³⁴ Its archways faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side; and going up to it were eight steps.
³⁵ Then he brought me to the north gateway and measured it according to these same measurements?
³⁶ also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways. It had windows all around; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits.
³⁷ Its gateposts faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side, and going up to it were eight steps.
³⁸ There was a chamber and its entrance by the gateposts of the gateway, where they washed the burnt offering.
³⁹ In the vestibule of the gateway were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to slay the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering.
⁴⁰ At the outer side of the vestibule, as one goes up to the entrance of the northern gateway, were two tables; and on the other side of the vestibule of the gateway were two tables.
⁴¹ Four tables were on this side and four tables on that side, by the side of the gateway, eight tables on which they slaughtered the sacrifices.
⁴² There were also four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, one cubit and a half long, one cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high; on these they laid the instruments with which they slaughtered the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
⁴³ Inside were hooks, a handbreadth wide, fastened all around; and the flesh of the sacrifices was on the tables.
⁴⁴ Outside the inner gate were the chambers for the singers in the inner court, one facing south at the side of the northern gateway, and the other facing north at the side of the southern gateway.
⁴⁵ Then he said to me, "This chamber which faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple.
⁴⁶ The chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the LORD to minister to Him."
⁴⁷ And he measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, foursquare. The altar was in front of the temple.
⁴⁸ Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the doorposts of the vestibule, five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side; and the width of the gateway was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side.
⁴⁹ The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the width eleven cubits; and by the steps which led up to it there were pillars by the doorposts, one on this side and another on that side.

Ezekiel chapter 40 niv

¹ In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city?on that very day the hand of the LORD was on me and he took me there.
² In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city.
³ 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 The man said to me, "Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see."
⁵ I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man's hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.
⁶ Then he went to the east gate. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep.
⁷ The alcoves for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.
⁸ Then he measured the portico of the gateway;
⁹ it was eight cubits deep and its jambs were two cubits thick. The portico of the gateway faced the temple.
¹⁰ Inside the east gate were three alcoves on each side; the three had the same measurements, and the faces of the projecting walls on each side had the same measurements.
¹¹ Then he measured the width of the entrance of the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.
¹² In front of each alcove was a wall one cubit high, and the alcoves were six cubits square.
¹³ Then he measured the gateway from the top of the rear wall of one alcove to the top of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits from one parapet opening to the opposite one.
¹⁴ He measured along the faces of the projecting walls all around the inside of the gateway?sixty cubits. The measurement was up to the portico facing the courtyard.
¹⁵ The distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its portico was fifty cubits.
¹⁶ The alcoves and the projecting walls inside the gateway were surmounted by narrow parapet openings all around, as was the portico; the openings all around faced inward. The faces of the projecting walls were decorated with palm trees.
¹⁷ Then he brought me into the outer court. There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms along the pavement.
¹⁸ It abutted the sides of the gateways and was as wide as they were long; this was the lower pavement.
¹⁹ Then he measured the distance from the inside 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.
²⁰ Then he measured the length and width of the north gate, leading into the outer court.
²¹ Its alcoves?three on each side?its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as those of the first gateway. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
²² Its openings, its portico and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.
²³ There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured from one gate to the opposite one; it was a hundred cubits.
²⁴ Then he led me to the south side and I saw the south gate. He measured its jambs and its portico, and they had the same measurements as the others.
²⁵ The gateway and its portico had narrow openings all around, like the openings of the others. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
²⁶ Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side.
²⁷ The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side; it was a hundred cubits.
²⁸ Then 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.
²⁹ Its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
³⁰ (The porticoes of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep.)
³¹ Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated its jambs, and eight steps led up to it.
³² Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others.
³³ Its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
³⁴ Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.
³⁵ Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others,
³⁶ as did its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico, and it had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
³⁷ Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.
³⁸ A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings were washed.
³⁹ In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings were slaughtered.
⁴⁰ By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway were two tables, and on the other side of the steps were two tables.
⁴¹ So there were four tables on one side of the gateway and four on the other?eight tables in all?on which the sacrifices were slaughtered.
⁴² There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high. On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.
⁴³ And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.
⁴⁴ Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south gate and facing north.
⁴⁵ He said to me, "The room facing south is for the priests who guard the temple,
⁴⁶ and the room facing north is for the priests who guard the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who are the only Levites who may draw near to the LORD to minister before him."
⁴⁷ Then 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.
⁴⁸ He brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits and its projecting walls were three cubits wide on either side.
⁴⁹ The portico was twenty cubits wide, and twelve cubits from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs, and there were pillars on each side of the jambs.

Ezekiel chapter 40 esv

¹ In 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 that very day, the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me to the city.
² In visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south.
³ When he brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway.
⁴ And the man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel."
⁵ And behold, there was a wall all around the outside of the temple area, and the length of the measuring reed in the man's hand was six long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth in length. So he measured the thickness of the wall, one reed; and the height, one reed.
⁶ Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep.
⁷ And the side rooms, one reed long and one reed broad; and the space between the side rooms, five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the vestibule of the gate at the inner end, one reed.
⁸ Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, on the inside, one reed.
⁹ Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; and its jambs, two cubits; and the vestibule of the gate was at the inner end.
¹⁰ And there were three side rooms on either side of the east gate. The three were of the same size, and the jambs on either side were of the same size.
¹¹ Then he measured the width of the opening of the gateway, ten cubits; and the length of the gateway, thirteen cubits.
¹² There was a barrier before the side rooms, one cubit on either side. And the side rooms were six cubits on either side.
¹³ Then he measured the gate from the ceiling of the one side room to the ceiling of the other, a breadth of twenty-five cubits; the openings faced each other.
¹⁴ He measured also the vestibule, sixty cubits. And around the vestibule of the gateway was the court.
¹⁵ From the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the inner vestibule of the gate was fifty cubits.
¹⁶ And the gateway had windows all around, narrowing inwards toward the side rooms and toward their jambs, and likewise the vestibule had windows all around inside, and on the jambs were palm trees.
¹⁷ Then he brought me into the outer court. And behold, there were chambers and a pavement, all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement.
¹⁸ And the pavement ran along the side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates. This was the lower pavement.
¹⁹ Then he measured the distance from the inner front of the lower gate to the outer front of the inner court, a hundred cubits on the east side and on the north side.
²⁰ As for the gate that faced toward the north, belonging to the outer court, he measured its length and its breadth.
²¹ Its side rooms, three on either side, and its jambs and its vestibule were of the same size as those of the first gate. Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits.
²² And its windows, its vestibule, and its palm trees were of the same size as those of the gate that faced toward the east. And by seven steps people would go up to it, and find its vestibule before them.
²³ And opposite the gate on the north, as on the east, was a gate to the inner court. And he measured from gate to gate, a hundred cubits.
²⁴ And he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a gate on the south. And he measured its jambs and its vestibule; they had the same size as the others.
²⁵ Both it and its vestibule had windows all around, like the windows of the others. Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits.
²⁶ And there were seven steps leading up to it, and its vestibule was before them, and it had palm trees on its jambs, one on either side.
²⁷ And there was a gate on the south of the inner court. And he measured from gate to gate toward the south, a hundred cubits.
²⁸ Then he brought me to the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate. It was of the same size as the others.
²⁹ Its side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as the others, and both it and its vestibule had windows all around. Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits.
³⁰ And there were vestibules all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits broad.
³¹ Its vestibule faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.
³² Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gate. It was of the same size as the others.
³³ Its side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as the others, and both it and its vestibule had windows all around. Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits.
³⁴ Its vestibule faced the outer court, and it had palm trees on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.
³⁵ Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it. It had the same size as the others.
³⁶ Its side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as the others, and it had windows all around. Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits.
³⁷ Its vestibule faced the outer court, and it had palm trees on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.
³⁸ There was a chamber with its door in the vestibule of the gate, where the burnt offering was to be washed.
³⁹ And in the vestibule of the gate were two tables on either side, on which the burnt offering and the sin offering and the guilt offering were to be slaughtered.
⁴⁰ And off to the side, on the outside as one goes up to the entrance of the north gate, were two tables; and off to the other side of the vestibule of the gate were two tables.
⁴¹ Four tables were on either side of the gate, eight tables, on which to slaughter.
⁴² And there were four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high, on which the instruments were to be laid with which the burnt offerings and the sacrifices were slaughtered.
⁴³ And hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened all around within. And on the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid.
⁴⁴ On the outside of the inner gateway there were two chambers in the inner court, one at the side of the north gate facing south, the other at the side of the south gate facing north.
⁴⁵ And he said to me, "This chamber that faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple,
⁴⁶ and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the LORD to minister to him."
⁴⁷ And he measured the court, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits broad, a square. And the altar was in front of the temple.
⁴⁸ Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the jambs of the vestibule, five cubits on either side. And the breadth of the gate was fourteen cubits, and the sidewalls of the gate were three cubits on either side.
⁴⁹ The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the breadth twelve cubits, and people would go up to it by ten steps. And there were pillars beside the jambs, one on either side.

Ezekiel chapter 40 nlt

¹ On April 28, during the twenty-fifth year of our captivity ? fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem ? the LORD took hold of me.
² In a vision from God he took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain. From there I could see toward the south what appeared to be a city.
³ As he brought me nearer, I saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance. He was holding in his hand a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod.
⁴ He said to me, "Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return to the people of Israel and tell them everything you have seen."
⁵ I could see a wall completely surrounding the Temple area. The man took a measuring rod that was 10 1?2 feet long and measured the wall, and the wall was 10 1?2 feet thick and 10 1?2 feet high.
⁶ Then he went over to the eastern gateway. He climbed the steps and measured the threshold of the gateway; it was 10 1?2 feet front to back.
⁷ There were guard alcoves on each side built into the gateway passage. Each of these alcoves was 10 1?2 feet square, with a distance between them of 8 3?4 feet along the passage wall. The gateway's inner threshold, which led to the entry room at the inner end of the gateway passage, was 10 1?2 feet front to back.
⁸ He also measured the entry room of the gateway.
⁹ It was 14 feet across, with supporting columns 3 1?2 feet thick. This entry room was at the inner end of the gateway structure, facing toward the Temple.
¹⁰ There were three guard alcoves on each side of the gateway passage. Each had the same measurements, and the dividing walls separating them were also identical.
¹¹ The man measured the gateway entrance, which was 17 1?2 feet wide at the opening and 22 3?4 feet wide in the gateway passage.
¹² In front of each of the guard alcoves was a 21-inch curb. The alcoves themselves were 10 1?2 feet on each side.
¹³ Then he measured the entire width of the gateway, measuring the distance between the back walls of facing guard alcoves; this distance was 43 3?4 feet.
¹⁴ He measured the dividing walls all along the inside of the gateway up to the entry room of the gateway; this distance was 105 feet.
¹⁵ The full length of the gateway passage was 87 1?2 feet from one end to the other.
¹⁶ There were recessed windows that narrowed inward through the walls of the guard alcoves and their dividing walls. There were also windows in the entry room. The surfaces of the dividing walls were decorated with carved palm trees.
¹⁷ Then the man brought me through the gateway into the outer courtyard of the Temple. A stone pavement ran along the walls of the courtyard, and thirty rooms were built against the walls, opening onto the pavement.
¹⁸ This pavement flanked the gates and extended out from the walls into the courtyard the same distance as the gateway entrance. This was the lower pavement.
¹⁹ Then the man measured across the Temple's outer courtyard between the outer and inner gateways; the distance was 175 feet.
²⁰ The man measured the gateway on the north just like the one on the east.
²¹ Here, too, there were three guard alcoves on each side, with dividing walls and an entry room. All the measurements matched those of the east gateway. The gateway passage was 87 1?2 feet long and 43 3?4 feet wide between the back walls of facing guard alcoves.
²² The windows, the entry room, and the palm tree decorations were identical to those in the east gateway. There were seven steps leading up to the gateway entrance, and the entry room was at the inner end of the gateway passage.
²³ Here on the north side, just as on the east, there was another gateway leading to the Temple's inner courtyard directly opposite this outer gateway. The distance between the two gateways was 175 feet.
²⁴ Then the man took me around to the south gateway and measured its various parts, and they were exactly the same as in the others.
²⁵ It had windows along the walls as the others did, and there was an entry room where the gateway passage opened into the outer courtyard. And like the others, the gateway passage was 87 1?2 feet long and 43 3?4 feet wide between the back walls of facing guard alcoves.
²⁶ This gateway also had a stairway of seven steps leading up to it, and an entry room at the inner end, and palm tree decorations along the dividing walls.
²⁷ And here again, directly opposite the outer gateway, was another gateway that led into the inner courtyard. The distance between the two gateways was 175 feet.
²⁸ Then the man took me to the south gateway leading into the inner courtyard. He measured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways.
²⁹ Its guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room were the same size as those in the others. It also had windows along its walls and in the entry room. And like the others, the gateway passage was 87 1?2 feet long and 43 3?4 feet wide.
³⁰ (The entry rooms of the gateways leading into the inner courtyard were 14 feet across and 43 3?4 feet wide.)
³¹ The entry room to the south gateway faced into the outer courtyard. It had palm tree decorations on its columns, and there were eight steps leading to its entrance.
³² Then he took me to the east gateway leading to the inner courtyard. He measured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways.
³³ Its guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room were the same size as those of the others, and there were windows along the walls and in the entry room. The gateway passage measured 87 1?2 feet long and 43 3?4 feet wide.
³⁴ Its entry room faced into the outer courtyard. It had palm tree decorations on its columns, and there were eight steps leading to its entrance.
³⁵ Then he took me around to the north gateway leading to the inner courtyard. He measured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways.
³⁶ The guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room of this gateway had the same measurements as in the others and the same window arrangements. The gateway passage measured 87 1?2 feet long and 43 3?4 feet wide.
³⁷ Its entry room faced into the outer courtyard, and it had palm tree decorations on the columns. There were eight steps leading to its entrance.
³⁸ A door led from the entry room of one of the inner gateways into a side room, where the meat for sacrifices was washed.
³⁹ On each side of this entry room were two tables, where the sacrificial animals were slaughtered for the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings.
⁴⁰ Outside the entry room, on each side of the stairs going up to the north entrance, were two more tables.
⁴¹ So there were eight tables in all ? four inside and four outside ? where the sacrifices were cut up and prepared.
⁴² There were also four tables of finished stone for preparation of the burnt offerings, each 31 1?2 inches square and 21 inches high. On these tables were placed the butchering knives and other implements for slaughtering the sacrificial animals.
⁴³ There were hooks, each 3 inches long, fastened all around the foyer walls. The sacrificial meat was laid on the tables.
⁴⁴ Inside the inner courtyard were two rooms, one beside the north gateway, facing south, and the other beside the south gateway, facing north.
⁴⁵ And the man said to me, "The room beside the north inner gate is for the priests who supervise the Temple maintenance.
⁴⁶ The room beside the south inner gate is for the priests in charge of the altar ? the descendants of Zadok ? for they alone of all the Levites may approach the LORD to minister to him."
⁴⁷ Then the man measured the inner courtyard, and it was a square, 175 feet wide and 175 feet across. The altar stood in the courtyard in front of the Temple.
⁴⁸ Then he brought me to the entry room of the Temple. He measured the walls on either side of the opening to the entry room, and they were 8 3?4 feet thick. The entrance itself was 24 1?2 feet wide, and the walls on each side of the entrance were an additional 5 1?4 feet long.
⁴⁹ The entry room was 35 feet wide and 21 feet deep. There were ten steps leading up to it, with a column on each side.