Ezekiel 40 10

Ezekiel 40:10 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 40:10 nkjv

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.

Ezekiel 40:10 niv

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.

Ezekiel 40:10 esv

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.

Ezekiel 40:10 nlt

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.

Ezekiel 40 verses

Ezekiel 40 10 Meaning

Ezekiel 40:10 provides a highly detailed description of the outer eastern gate within Ezekiel's visionary temple. It specifies the symmetry and precise measurements of the "guardrooms" (or chambers) and the "pilasters" (or posts/recesses) within this gate. The emphasis is on absolute uniformity, with "three on this side and three on that side," and all features being "of the same size." This verse underscores the divine order, meticulous planning, and inherent perfection that characterizes God's dwelling place, foreshadowing a future era of spiritual restoration and pure worship.

Ezekiel 40 10 Context

Ezekiel 40:10 is part of Ezekiel's extensive vision (chapters 40-48) of a meticulously detailed temple complex and a re-divided holy land, given to him in the 25th year of the Babylonian exile. Following Jerusalem's destruction and the Temple's desecration (c. 586 BC), this vision offered a powerful message of hope and future restoration to the disheartened exiles. Chapter 40 specifically begins the description of the outer court and its gates. The angelic guide methodically measures each part of the structure with precision. Verse 10 focuses on the outer eastern gate, which holds particular theological significance as the future point of reentry for God's glory into the new Temple, as described later in Ezekiel 43. This detailed blueprint, delivered in exile, served as an assurance of God's covenant faithfulness and His ultimate plan to restore His presence among His people in a perfectly ordered holy sanctuary.

Ezekiel 40 10 Word analysis

• And the guardrooms: Hebrew: וְהַלְּשָׁכוֹת (v'halleshakhot). Refers to chambers or cells within the gate complex. These were not just empty rooms but likely functioned as places for guards to maintain security, or for administrative purposes like collecting tithes or storing cultic items. Their inclusion underscores controlled access and the sanctity of the holy place.
• of the gate: Hebrew: לְשַׁעַר (l'sha'ar). A gate was a vital component of any ancient city or temple, serving not only as an entrance but also as a hub for civic life, legal proceedings, and commercial transactions. In the context of a temple, it controls access to a sacred space, signifying exclusion of the unholy and regulated entry for the holy.
• toward the east: Hebrew: הַמִּזְרָח (hammizrach). The eastern orientation is highly significant throughout Scripture. The sun rises in the east, symbolizing new beginnings. Crucially in Ezekiel, the glory of the Lord departs through the eastern gate (Eze 10:19, 11:23) and is prophesied to return through this very gate (Eze 43:1-2). This specifies a place of immense theological importance related to God's presence.
• had three on this side and three on that side: Hebrew: שָׁלוֹשׁ מִפֹּה וְשָׁלוֹשׁ מִפֹּה (shalosh mippoh v'shalosh mippoh). This emphasizes symmetry and balance. The number "three" is a significant number in the Bible often associated with divine completeness, integrity, or resurrection. Here, it describes a structural unit, indicating a perfect arrangement of these chambers within the gate's thick walls.
• the three were of the same size: Hebrew: מִדָּה אֶחָת לִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן (middah echad lishlashtan). This reiterates the precision and uniformity of the divine design. "Middah" (measure, dimension) combined with "echad" (one, same) strongly emphasizes consistency and exactness. There is no variance or imperfection in God's plan.
• and the pilasters: Hebrew: וְהַפִּלְטַאוֹת (v'happilta'ot). This term is somewhat rare and debated among scholars, variously translated as "pilasters" (architectural projections resembling columns), "doorposts," "recesses," or "porches." Regardless of the exact architectural detail, it refers to integral features of the gate structure, highlighting their architectural intricacy.
• on either side were of the same size: Hebrew: מִפֹּה וּמִפֹּה מִדָּה אֶחָת יִהְיוּ (mippoh umippoh middah echath yihyu). This further extends the principle of uniform measurement and exactitude to all elements within the gate, reinforcing the theme of absolute perfection and order in God's ideal sanctuary.

Words-group analysis

• "the guardrooms of the gate toward the east": This phrase precisely situates the chambers within the highly significant eastern gate. It identifies not merely any part of the temple but a crucial entrance point for future divine glory and regulated access for worshipers.
• "three on this side and three on that side; the three were of the same size": This detail establishes the perfect bilateral symmetry and identical dimensions of the six chambers within the gate. It visually represents divine order and perfect design, emphasizing that even seemingly minor structural components are precisely regulated by God's holy standard.
• "and the pilasters on either side were of the same size": This expands the concept of uniformity and exactitude beyond just the chambers to other architectural features within the gate. It implies a total architectural integrity where every component, major or minor, is built to the same, consistent, divine standard, highlighting the completeness and perfection of the entire temple vision.

Ezekiel 40 10 Bonus section

The precise, almost overwhelming, level of architectural detail throughout Ezekiel 40-42 often leads interpreters to understand this vision not purely as a literal construction plan but as a symbolic, ideal representation. It communicates theological truths about God's future eschatological plans for His people and the re-establishment of His manifest presence among them in an uncompromised, holy, and perfectly ordered setting. The repeated phrase מִדָּה אֶחָת (middah echad), "same size" or "one measure," acts as a pervasive leitmotif throughout Ezekiel's temple vision (e.g., Eze 40:5; 42:16, 20), emphasizing God's meticulous nature and the flawless, comprehensive order He establishes for His divine presence. This insistence on uniformity suggests that in God's restored kingdom, every part operates in perfect alignment, without deviation or disproportion, symbolizing a unified and pure spiritual order.

Ezekiel 40 10 Commentary

Ezekiel 40:10, in its meticulous detailing of the eastern gate's chambers and pilasters, serves as more than just an architectural blueprint. It unveils a profound theological truth about the character of God and the nature of His dwelling. The repetition of "same size" for both the guardrooms and the pilasters underscores God's attribute of order, precision, and consistency. There is no room for human imperfection or arbitrary design in God's holy sanctuary. This perfect uniformity reflects divine harmony and contrasts sharply with any potential human-conceived structures that might lack such exactness.

The emphasis on the "eastern gate" is crucial, for it is through this very gate that God's glory departed the previous, defiled temple and through which it is promised to return to this new, pure sanctuary. Thus, the exactness in its construction speaks to the purity and readiness required for the full restoration of God's manifest presence. The presence of "guardrooms" also signifies controlled access, highlighting the sanctity and holiness of the temple, ensuring that only those who meet divine standards can approach God. This vision, therefore, becomes a powerful symbol of restoration—not just of a physical building, but of Israel's relationship with a holy and orderly God, preparing them for an era where His presence dwells among them in unblemished glory. This ideal picture speaks to the spiritual restoration God desires for His people, bringing them into alignment with His perfect standards.