Ezekiel 40 13

Ezekiel 40:13 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 40:13 nkjv

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.

Ezekiel 40:13 niv

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.

Ezekiel 40:13 esv

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.

Ezekiel 40:13 nlt

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.

Ezekiel 40 verses

Ezekiel 40 13 Meaning

Ezekiel 40:13 describes a specific measurement of the New Temple gate in Ezekiel's vision. It details the internal width of the gate passage as measured from the roof of one guardroom to the roof of the opposing guardroom. The verse emphasizes precise dimensions and the symmetrical alignment of the gate's structure, signaling the order, exactness, and divine blueprint of the restored sanctuary.

Ezekiel 40 13 Context

Ezekiel 40 begins a lengthy vision, chapters 40-48, detailing a magnificent new Temple. This vision occurs during Ezekiel's exile in Babylon, offering hope of restoration and a future, perfect dwelling place for God among His people. Chapter 40 specifically describes the external features of this visionary temple, beginning with its gates, walls, and courts. The detailed measurements throughout this chapter emphasize divine precision and perfect order, signaling the meticulous care God takes in His holy presence. This context highlights God's future plan for restoration and the re-establishment of His glory, in stark contrast to the destruction of the first Temple witnessed by Ezekiel and the spiritual corruption that led to Israel's exile. The detailed blueprint provides reassurance that God remains committed to His covenant and will ultimately dwell in glory among a sanctified people.

Ezekiel 40 13 Word analysis

• He measured: Hebrew "וַיָּמׇד" (vayyāmod), derived from the root "מָדַד" (madad), meaning "to measure, mete out, survey." This verb frequently appears in this chapter (and Revelation 21) to emphasize divine accuracy and authority in the architectural plan. It signifies that these dimensions are divinely revealed, not humanly contrived, underlining their importance and spiritual significance as God's specific design for His dwelling.
• the gate: Hebrew "אֶת־הַשַּׁעַר" (et-hashsha'ar). A gate ("שַׁעַר", sha'ar) in ancient times was a crucial and complex structure. It served not only as an entrance but also as a place of judgment, business, and public gathering (e.g., Ruth 4:1; Am 5:15). In the context of the temple, the gate strictly controls access, separating the holy from the common and emphasizing the sanctity of God's presence within.
• from the roof of the one guardroom: Hebrew "מִגַּג הַתָּא הָאֶחָד" (mig-gağ hattā ha'eḥāḏ).
  • Roof: Hebrew "גַּג" (gag), typically refers to a flat rooftop. In this context, it marks the uppermost horizontal point from which the width measurement is taken, signifying a specific and clear internal space.
  • Guardroom: Hebrew "תָּא" (tāʼ), refers to a chamber or cell. These "guardrooms" (or side chambers) flank the gateway passage, likely for priests or Levites overseeing entry, storing instruments, or for resting. Their presence implies controlled, supervised access into the sacred courts.
• to the roof of the other: Hebrew "עַד־גַּג הָאַחֵר" (ʿaḏ-gağ hā'aḥēr). This phrase completes the boundary of the internal measurement. The reference to the "roofs" specifies a clear and consistent high-point for measuring the breadth, ensuring an unhindered passage between the structural components.
• twenty-five cubits wide: Hebrew "רֹחַב חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה בָאַמָּה" (roḥab ḥamēš ʿeśrēh bā'ammāh).
  • Twenty-five cubits: A significant point of textual variant and scholarly discussion. The Masoretic Text (MT), the basis for most Hebrew Bibles, reads "חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה" (ḥamēš ʿeśrēh), meaning fifteen cubits. However, the Septuagint (LXX), an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, and many English translations derived from it or reconciling different measurements in Ezekiel's overall gate descriptions, often translate it as "twenty-five cubits." If "fifteen cubits," it likely refers specifically to the unobstructed internal passage width between the innermost points of the guardrooms. If "twenty-five cubits," it could encompass a wider dimension, perhaps the full breadth of the gate chamber including the depth of the guardrooms themselves or the entire structure from outer wall to outer wall of the gateway complex. For the exact phrase "from roof... to roof," "fifteen cubits" seems to represent the direct inner pathway width more accurately based on the MT.
  • Wide: Hebrew "רֹחַב" (roḥab), refers to breadth or width. It indicates the lateral dimension being measured.
  • Cubits: Hebrew "בָּאַמָּה" (bāʾammāh), meaning "by the cubit." A cubit was an ancient unit of measurement, approximately the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18-21 inches (45-53 cm). Ezekiel's vision specifies a "long cubit" of 20.6 inches or seven handbreadths (Ez 40:5), ensuring uniformity and precision throughout the visionary temple's construction. This unit emphasizes the specific and material reality of the vision, despite its spiritual significance.
• gate against gate: Hebrew "וְשַׁעַר נֶגֶד שָׁעַר" (weša'ar neğed šā'ar). The word "נֶגֶד" (neğed) means "opposite," "in front of," or "corresponding to." This phrase denotes the symmetrical design of the gate complex, indicating that the chambers or structures within the gate (such as guardrooms) face each other in precise alignment across the central passage. It stresses the architectural order, balance, and methodical arrangement of the divine temple, perhaps symbolizing the consistent and unvarying nature of divine standards.

Ezekiel 40 13 Bonus section

The profound detail of the measurements in Ezekiel 40, exemplified by verse 13, reflects the Jewish rabbinic principle of Midah K'neged Midah, or "measure for measure," often applied to divine justice but here also to divine precision. This divine architecture implies divine perfection and the impossibility of human architects duplicating it without supernatural revelation. It also poses the hermeneutical challenge of interpreting Ezekiel's temple vision. Some understand it as a literal temple to be built in the future, while others view it symbolically, representing the glorious church or heavenly realities. Regardless of interpretation, the precise measurements, like those of the gate, communicate the truth of a perfectly ordered, holy dwelling for God. These details stand as a contrast to the fragmented and defiled temples or spiritual structures built by human hands and emphasize that access to God's ultimate dwelling place is only according to His strict, unchangeable, and glorious standards.

Ezekiel 40 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 40:13 offers a minute but significant detail within Ezekiel's grand temple vision. The verse highlights the meticulous exactness of God's design for His future dwelling. The measurement "from the roof of one guardroom to the roof of the other" precisely defines an internal passageway, emphasizing not merely external appearance but the functional and dimensional integrity of the sacred space. The precise number of "fifteen cubits" (as found in the Masoretic Text) for this width points to an exact blueprint from God, revealing His ordered character and the sanctity required for entry into His presence. The phrase "gate against gate" further reinforces the symmetry and structural integrity of the visionary complex.

This precision speaks to several key themes. Firstly, it underscores the divine authorship of the temple plan. God leaves no room for human approximations in the construction of His dwelling, paralleling the precise instructions given for the Tabernacle (Ex 25-30) and Solomon's Temple (1 Ki 6-7; 1 Chr 28:19). Secondly, it illustrates the order and holiness intrinsic to God's nature. Every detail serves a purpose, creating a defined space set apart for sacred activity. The gate, as a controlled access point, reflects the divine principle that only the sanctified can draw near to God. Lastly, for the exilic audience, such intricate details provided assurance that God had a specific and glorious plan for restoration, far surpassing the former temple. While the immediate historical fulfillment is debated, the spiritual reality points to Christ as the ultimate gate and to the New Jerusalem, where every measurement is divinely ordered and leads to God's glorious presence (Rev 21).