Ezekiel 40:11 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Ezekiel 40:11 kjv
And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
Ezekiel 40:11 nkjv
He measured the width of the entrance to the gateway, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
Ezekiel 40:11 niv
Then he measured the width of the entrance of the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.
Ezekiel 40:11 esv
Then he measured the width of the opening of the gateway, ten cubits; and the length of the gateway, thirteen cubits.
Ezekiel 40:11 nlt
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.
Ezekiel 40 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:9 | "According to all that I show you... so you shall make it." | Divine plan for Tabernacle. |
| Ex 25:40 | "See that you make them after the pattern shown to you..." | Instructions for Moses. |
| Ex 27:9 | "You shall make the court of the tabernacle..." | Precise dimensions for holy space. |
| 1 Kgs 6:2 | "The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long..." | Solomon's Temple measurements. |
| 1 Chr 28:11-12 | "Then David gave Solomon his son the plan for the vestibule..." | David received plan by divine inspiration. |
| 1 Chr 28:19 | "All this he made clear to me in writing... from the hand of the LORD." | God's written detailed plans. |
| Zech 1:16 | "...My house shall be built in it..." | Promise of rebuilding the Temple. |
| Zech 2:2 | "...To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width..." | Measuring a city for divine order. |
| Ez 40:5 | "He measured the wall of the temple area, six cubits thick..." | The visionary guide's precise measuring. |
| Ez 41:4 | "Then he measured the nave, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide..." | Inner sanctum measurements. |
| Ez 43:10-11 | "Describe the temple to the house of Israel... its plans..." | Ezekiel's mandate to describe the temple fully. |
| Ez 44:5 | "Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears all that I tell you..." | Emphasizing careful attention to details. |
| Hab 2:2 | "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets..." | Importance of clear documentation of divine plans. |
| Ps 24:7 | "Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors!" | Gates as entry to divine presence. |
| Is 60:18 | "...your gates shall be praised." | Future glorification of Jerusalem's access. |
| Rev 21:12 | "It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates..." | Gates of New Jerusalem. |
| Rev 21:15 | "The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city..." | Measuring the heavenly city. |
| Rev 21:16 | "The city lies foursquare, its length and width are the same." | Precise geometry of God's ultimate dwelling. |
| Rev 21:17 | "He measured its wall, 144 cubits by man's measurement..." | Exact dimensions in the divine future. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." | God's nature is orderly. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "But all things should be done decently and in order." | Principle of order in sacred actions. |
| Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things..." | Earthly sanctuary reflecting heavenly reality. |
| Heb 9:11 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things..." | Christ is the ultimate reality prefigured. |
Ezekiel 40 verses
Ezekiel 40 11 meaning
Ezekiel 40:11 details precise measurements for the entrance (vestibule) of one of the visionary temple gates. It specifies that the breadth (width) of this entry was ten cubits, and its length was thirteen cubits. This verse initiates the meticulously described divine blueprint of the future temple, underscoring the exactness, order, and divine standard for all aspects of God's holy dwelling place. The measurements themselves convey a divine mandate for structure and purity.
Ezekiel 40 11 Context
Ezekiel chapter 40 marks a significant shift in the prophet's visions. After years of prophecies of judgment and destruction against Israel and surrounding nations, this chapter begins a nine-chapter segment (Ezekiel 40-48) describing a detailed vision of a future, idealized temple, its structures, worship, and the distribution of the land. This vision was given in the 25th year of Israel's exile, fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem, offering a profound message of hope, restoration, and God's faithfulness amidst despair. The historical context is one of a broken nation in captivity, longing for return and divine presence. The cultural context revolves around the centrality of the temple in Jewish life as the dwelling place of God, the site of atonement, and the symbol of their covenant relationship. Ezekiel's meticulous architectural description, beginning with the measuring of the outer gates, sets the standard for a perfectly holy, ordered sanctuary, designed precisely by God himself, contrasting starkly with the defiled temple practices that led to the exile.
Ezekiel 40 11 Word analysis
- And he measured: The "he" refers to the angelic guide (or "man") seen in Ez 40:3, holding a measuring reed and a linen line. The Hebrew word is יְמַדֶּד (yemadded), from מָדַד (mādad), meaning "to measure," "to stretch out," "to extend." This action establishes divine authority and precision; God himself (through his emissary) sets the dimensions.
- the breadth: רֹחַב (rochav), a common Hebrew term for width or breadth. In this architectural context, it denotes a horizontal dimension, critical for structural clarity.
- of the entry: פֶּתַח (petach), meaning "opening," "doorway," or "entrance." It refers to the specific access point or vestibule area of the gate. This highlights that access to God's presence, even through this visionary temple, is carefully regulated.
- of the gate: הַשַּׁעַר (hashsha'ar), meaning "the gate." Gates were more than just openings; they were fortified structures, often sites for judgment, legal proceedings, and public assembly in ancient Near Eastern cities (cf. Dt 21:19, Ru 4:1-2). Here, they define the transition between sacred and less sacred spaces within the temple complex.
- ten cubits: עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת ('eser 'ammōth). "Cubits" (אַמּוֹת - 'ammōth) is a unit of measurement based on the length of the forearm, roughly 18-21 inches. In Ezekiel's temple, a "long cubit" of six handbreadths (rather than the standard five) is indicated in Ez 40:5, making it approximately 20.67 inches. The number ten frequently symbolizes completion, divine order, or a significant total in biblical numerology (e.g., Ten Commandments). Here it signifies a definite and divinely ordained width.
- and the length: אֹרֶךְ ('ōrekh), another common Hebrew term for length, extending depth-wise. This indicates the dimensions were clearly distinct.
- of the entry: (פֶּתַח - petach) - repeated for clarity, indicating the entrance space, not the gate walls, being measured.
- thirteen cubits: שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמּוֹת (shlōsh 'esrēh 'ammōth). Thirteen cubits provide a specific, unambiguous measurement. While not carrying strong inherent symbolism like ten, it emphasizes the literal exactitude of the divine design.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate": This phrase immediately establishes that the vision involves precise, objective, and divinely sanctioned architectural design. The focus is on specific entry points, signaling their importance in the overall temple layout for controlling access and defining boundaries of sacred space.
- "ten cubits; and the length of the entry, thirteen cubits": The presentation of two distinct measurements (10 and 13 cubits) for the breadth and length of the vestibule emphasizes the three-dimensional, detailed nature of God's plans. This precision speaks to the ultimate order and holiness God demands for His dwelling place, where everything is by design, not by human estimation or improvisation. These numbers provide concrete data for the future construction, whether literal or symbolic.
Ezekiel 40 11 Bonus section
The "cubit" of measurement is a significant point in Ezekiel's vision. Ezekiel 40:5 specifies a "long cubit" of six handbreadths (approximately 20.67 inches or 52.5 cm) rather than the standard cubit of five handbreadths. This larger unit elevates all measurements of this visionary temple beyond typical human structures, adding to its distinctness and symbolic significance as an extraordinary, divinely superior blueprint. This consistent application of a distinct, larger cubit throughout the detailed descriptions suggests an entirely new, elevated standard for God's presence on earth, one that supersedes any previous temple or human construction.
Ezekiel 40 11 Commentary
Ezekiel 40:11, though appearing as a simple architectural detail, is profound in its implications within the grand vision of the new temple. It immediately introduces the divine emphasis on meticulous order and exactitude in sacred spaces. Every dimension, from the entryways to the innermost sanctuaries, is divinely prescribed, not left to human design. This communicates that access to God, His presence, and His worship must adhere to His perfect standards, emphasizing the holiness and unique character of the restored dwelling. It challenges any human tendency toward improvisation in worship or structure, affirming God's absolute authority over His sacred space and His desire for everything related to Him to be orderly and perfectly formed. The precise numbers speak not just of building a physical structure, but of a divinely ordered reality that is coming, providing hope and a standard for the returning exiles.