Ezekiel 40:3 kjv
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.
Ezekiel 40:3 nkjv
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.
Ezekiel 40:3 niv
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.
Ezekiel 40:3 esv
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.
Ezekiel 40:3 nlt
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.
Ezekiel 40 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 1:26-27 | "Above the expanse... appearance of fire... brilliant light surrounding him." | Describes God's glory like fiery bronze. |
| Eze 8:3 | "He stretched out the form of a hand... lifted me up by a lock of my head." | God's spirit transports Ezekiel. |
| Dan 10:5-6 | "Then I lifted my eyes... there stood a certain man... His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze." | Celestial being with bronze-like appearance. |
| Rev 1:14-15 | "His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace..." | Jesus Christ's divine glory, specifically His feet of bronze. |
| Zec 2:1-2 | "Then I raised my eyes again and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, 'Where are you going?'" | Divine messenger measuring Jerusalem. |
| Rev 11:1 | "Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod... 'Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.'" | Measuring the New Testament temple. |
| Rev 21:15 | "And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall." | Measuring New Jerusalem with divine rod. |
| Exo 25:9 | "According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it." | God providing precise blueprint for sanctuary. |
| 1 Ki 6:38 | "And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul... finished... according to all its plans and according to all its arrangements. So he was seven years in building it." | Temple built according to specific plans. |
| Heb 8:5 | "who serve the copy and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle; for He said, 'See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.'" | Heavenly pattern for earthly sanctuary. |
| Psa 78:60 | "So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent where He had dwelt among men." | God's previous dwelling deserted. |
| 2 Chr 7:12 | "Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him... 'I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.'" | God choosing a holy place for Himself. |
| Isa 54:11 | "O afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires." | Future restoration with glorious architecture. |
| Hag 2:7,9 | "and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations; and I will fill this temple with glory... 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts." | Future glory of God's presence in a temple. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord." | Believers as God's spiritual temple. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" | Individual believers as God's temple. |
| Zec 6:12-13 | "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!... 'He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory.'" | Messiah as builder of the spiritual temple. |
| Isa 2:2 | "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains." | The prominence of God's house in the last days. |
| Mic 4:1-2 | "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the temple of the Lord Shall be established on the top of the mountains..." | Prophecy of God's elevated temple/house. |
| Exo 40:2 | "On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting." | Establishment of God's dwelling. |
| Neh 11:1 | "Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths to dwell in other cities." | People re-dwelling in Jerusalem after return. |
| Gen 28:17 | "He was afraid and said, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!'" | Gate as entrance to a holy place. |
Ezekiel 40 verses
Ezekiel 40 3 Meaning
Ezekiel 40:3 describes the beginning of Ezekiel's climactic vision of the new Temple. The prophet is spiritually transported to the land of Israel, where he encounters a celestial being, described as a man with a bronze-like appearance. This figure holds tools for precise measurement—a line of flax and a measuring reed—indicating an architectural and detailed purpose. The scene is set at the temple gateway, signifying the commencement of a divinely orchestrated inspection and mapping of a new, restored holy dwelling. This encounter initiates the most detailed blueprint of a future temple found anywhere in the Scriptures, pointing to God's enduring plan for holy presence among His people and the precision of His divine work of restoration.
Ezekiel 40 3 Context
Ezekiel 40:3 begins the third major section of the book of Ezekiel, shifting dramatically from messages of judgment (chapters 1-24) and prophetic oracles against nations (chapters 25-39) to the grand vision of restoration and the future temple. Ezekiel has been in Babylonian exile for 25 years (Eze 40:1), experiencing firsthand the desolation and shame of Judah's defeat and Jerusalem's destruction. The temple, once the visible symbol of God's presence among His people, lay in ruins. In this context, this elaborate vision, delivered in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem's fall (Eze 40:1), offers immense hope and assurance. It reassures a despairing Israel that God has not forgotten His covenant promises and that His divine presence will one day return to a meticulously ordered and sanctified dwelling. The specific details of measurements and the divine presence underscore the authenticity and divine origin of this future restoration, designed for a holy people who will now truly know their God. Historically, Israel had failed to maintain the purity of the first temple, which led to God's glory departing (Eze 8-11). This new temple vision underscores God's commitment to holy standards and righteous living, acting as a direct polemic against past idolatry and disobedience.
Ezekiel 40 3 Word analysis
- He brought me there: This implies divine agency. The phrase יְבִיאֵנִי (yəvi'eni), "He brought me," indicates God (or His Spirit) as the active force in transporting Ezekiel, similar to how he was transported in earlier visions (Eze 8:3, Eze 11:1). It highlights divine initiative and control over the prophetic experience.
- and behold: This is a common Hebrew interjection, וְהִנֵּה (wəhinnēh), used to introduce something new, striking, or surprising in a vision, drawing the reader's immediate attention. It signifies an important, awe-inspiring revelation.
- a man: אִישׁ (ish). While seemingly a regular man, the context of visions often implies a celestial being, an angel, or even a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, especially given his unique description. He functions as a divine guide and revealer.
- whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze: מַרְאֵה כְּמַרְאֵה נְחֹשֶׁת (mar'eh kəmar'eh nəchoshet). "Bronze" (נְחֹשֶׁת - nekhoshet) in biblical contexts often signifies strength, durability, brilliance, judgment, and holiness (e.g., brazen altar in the Tabernacle, seraphs of bronze). This imagery conveys divine majesty, purity, and potentially, the refining power of God's presence. It aligns with descriptions of divine beings or Christ in judgment/glory (Dan 10:6; Rev 1:15). It suggests an other-worldly, possibly divine, essence that is strong and shining.
- with a line of flax: פְּתִיל פִּשְׁתִּים (pəthîl pištîm). This is a measuring cord made of flax, suitable for long-distance measurements and architectural layouts. Flax was a common material for making thread or cord due to its strength and availability. It symbolizes precision and meticulousness in the divine blueprint for the temple.
- and a measuring reed: קְנֵה הַמִּדָּה (q'nēh hammiddāh). This refers to a long rod used for shorter, more precise measurements. Its standard length was six cubits (plus a handbreadth, Eze 40:5). Together with the flax line, it represents the absolute exactitude and divine planning inherent in the vision. The two tools ensure comprehensive and precise architectural rendering.
- in his hand: Signifies authority and immediate readiness to execute the task. The tools are present for their intended purpose.
- and he stood in the gateway: בַּשָּׁעַר (ba-sha'ar). The "gateway" is a significant transitional point. Gateways were places of entrance, judgment, and important community interaction. Standing in the gateway of the envisioned temple implies that this figure is guarding, defining, and introducing the entrance into the holy precinct. It is the very threshold of the new sanctuary, signaling the imminent revelation of its structure and purpose.
Words-group analysis:
- He brought me there; and behold: Emphasizes divine initiation and surprising revelation. God actively orchestrates this prophetic vision and reveals something astonishing to Ezekiel.
- a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze: Highlights the majestic and potentially divine nature of Ezekiel's guide, setting him apart as a figure of authority and significant presence, similar to how God or His angels might appear in glory.
- with a line of flax and a measuring reed in his hand: These two implements emphasize the purpose of the figure's presence: to measure, assess, and delineate. This implies an exact, divinely appointed blueprint for restoration, signifying God's precision and detailed planning. This is not a vague vision, but an architectural plan of the greatest precision.
- and he stood in the gateway: This denotes the entry point into the future Temple complex. It's the beginning of the journey through the sanctuary, implying that the focus will be on the structure, order, and access to God's presence.
Ezekiel 40 3 Bonus section
The use of measuring instruments is not merely descriptive but prescriptive. It implies a detailed divine plan that requires faithful adherence, reminiscent of Moses' instruction to build the Tabernacle "according to the pattern shown on the mountain" (Exo 25:9, 40). The very act of measuring denotes order, precision, and boundaries, crucial for establishing holiness and distinction within the future temple complex. The contrast between the desecrated and destroyed historical temple and this meticulously planned new temple is striking, indicating that God will not compromise on the purity required for His indwelling presence. The vision provides profound theological assurance that God’s plan of salvation culminates in a perfect dwelling for Himself, whether literal or eschatological, which can accommodate His complete glory. Some scholars connect the figure with bronze to the 'angel of the Lord' in the Old Testament, suggesting a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ who reveals God's plan for His ultimate dwelling. The gateway itself is a symbol of transition and access. In biblical understanding, gates are places where important decisions are made, where justice is administered, and where people pass from one sphere to another. His standing "in the gateway" implies that He is either controlling access to, or initiating the detailed revelation of, God's new dwelling place, making its boundaries and entry points clear.
Ezekiel 40 3 Commentary
Ezekiel 40:3 serves as the dramatic opening to the prophet's climactic vision, signaling a profound shift from God's judgment to His glorious plan of restoration. The appearance of the bronze-like figure immediately elevates the significance of the encounter; this is no ordinary human but a celestial messenger or even a Christophany, representing divine authority, strength, and perhaps the purifying aspect of God’s glory. His possession of measuring instruments—the line of flax and the reed—underscores God's meticulous nature and precision in all His works. This is not a loose sketch, but an exact blueprint, conveying God's commitment to ordered holiness. The placement of the figure at the "gateway" marks the initiation of a guided tour into the sacred architecture, implying access, defined boundaries, and a controlled entrance into God's presence. The overall message is one of divine meticulousness, sovereignty, and a sure promise of a future, restored habitation for God's glory, carefully ordered and made holy, contrasting with the desecrated and destroyed temple of the past. It offers concrete hope amidst the exilic despair.Examples: This divine architectural blueprint resonates with Noah's ark specifications, the Tabernacle's precise dimensions given to Moses, and the pattern shown to David for Solomon's Temple, all demonstrating God's particularity in how He desires His dwelling and worship to be ordered.