Ezekiel 40 36

Ezekiel 40:36 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 40:36 nkjv

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.

Ezekiel 40:36 niv

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.

Ezekiel 40:36 esv

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.

Ezekiel 40:36 nlt

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.

Ezekiel 40 verses

Ezekiel 40 36 meaning

Ezekiel 40:36 specifies the precise architectural details of one of the temple gates, indicating that its "alcoves" (guard chambers), "side pillars" (pilasters), and "portico" (entrance hall) conform to the exact measurements previously described for other parts of the gate complex. Furthermore, the verse notes the presence of windows encompassing the entire gate structure and then details the dimensions of its portico as fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width. This level of meticulous description underscores God's absolute demand for order, divine design, and sacred precision in His dwelling place, emphasizing controlled access and a unified architectural plan for the future temple.

Ezekiel 40 36 Context

Ezekiel chapter 40 marks a significant shift in the book, initiating the detailed vision of a new, glorious temple (Ezekiel 40-48). This vision is granted to Ezekiel in the twenty-fifth year of his exile (around 573 BC), fourteen years after Jerusalem's destruction. For the exiled Jewish people, devastated by the loss of their city, temple, and homeland, this vision served as a powerful source of hope and reassurance. It promised restoration, renewal, and the future return of God's presence, which had famously departed the prior temple (Ezekiel 8-11).

Verses 40:1-4 define the setting—Ezekiel is taken by a heavenly guide to a very high mountain where he sees a city-like structure to the south. The guide, "a man whose appearance was like bronze," begins to show Ezekiel the meticulously measured complex. Chapter 40 primarily focuses on the external structure of the temple area, particularly its walls and outer gates.

Verses 5-35 describe the first three outer gates: the East gate, South gate, and North gate. They are remarkably similar in design, featuring three guardrooms on each side, a distinct threshold, and a long passage, all measured precisely with a measuring reed. Verse 36 specifically concludes the description of one of these gates (implied to be the North gate based on the flow from 40:35), reconfirming its architectural conformity and giving explicit dimensions for its prominent portico. This hyper-detailed architectural focus underscores the divine origin and perfect order of God's intended sanctuary, ensuring that nothing is left to human imperfection or compromise. The gates, in particular, serve as crucial elements controlling entry and defining the sacred space.

Ezekiel 40 36 Word analysis

• Its alcoves (תָּאיוֹ - taw-'ayv):
  • Meaning: Small chambers or guardrooms.
  • Significance: These "cells" were identical (Eze 40:7), demonstrating a systematic, orderly design for controlled access and possibly for specific ritual preparations or guard duties. They symbolize the structured nature of access to God's presence.
• its side pillars (וְאֵילָיו - wə-'êlāyw):
  • Meaning: Pilasters, doorposts, or columns.
  • Significance: Structural supports and decorative elements, emphasizing the solidity, strength, and formality of the gate's entrance. They delineate sacred space.
• and its portico (וְאֻלַמּוֹ - wə-'ulammōw):
  • Meaning: Vestibule, porch, or antechamber.
  • Significance: A prominent covered area at the front of the gate, serving as a transitional space before entering the inner court. It conveys a sense of grandeur and controlled progression towards holiness. It's often associated with a formal, important entrance.
• were of the same measurements as these (כַּמִּדּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה - kammiddōwṯ hā'elleh):
  • Meaning: Conforming precisely to the dimensions already described.
  • Significance: Highlights uniformity, precision, and divine instruction. It signals that God's plan is meticulously ordered and perfectly consistent across its components, leaving no room for human interpretation or error in construction. This emphasizes the sanctity and perfection of the divine blueprint.
• and it had windows all around (וְחַלּוֹנִים לוֹ וְאֻלַם - wəḥallōnîm lōw):
  • Meaning: There were openings for light or air surrounding the structure.
  • Significance: Windows provide functionality (light, ventilation) and observation. In sacred or fortified structures, they were often grated (cf. Eze 40:16), indicating a controlled perspective or view, ensuring security and distinguishing inner sanctity. "All around" suggests pervasive, consistent features throughout the gate complex.
• Its portico was fifty cubits long (חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה אֹרֶךְ - ḥamiššîm ʾammāh ʾōrek):
  • Meaning: Approximately 75 feet in length (using an 18-inch cubit).
  • Significance: This substantial length created a deep, impressive entry passage, suggesting a significant journey of purification or reflection before reaching more sacred areas.
• and twenty-five cubits wide (וְעֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה רֹחַב - wə'eśrîm waḥămiššâ rōḥaḇ):
  • Meaning: Approximately 37.5 feet in width.
  • Significance: A generous width, yet maintaining an elongated, purposeful design, controlling movement into the holy complex while not feeling restrictive once inside the portico. These explicit dimensions root the vision in tangible reality, affirming its divine authenticity.

Ezekiel 40 36 Bonus section

The uniformity of the gates (East, South, North) with these specific, divine measurements in Ezekiel 40 creates a pattern that emphasizes several points. Firstly, it symbolizes an equal opportunity or method of entry to the temple precincts, suggesting divine impartiality, though access further into the complex might differ. Secondly, the constant repetition of measurements across similar structures serves a mnemonic purpose for the original audience—reinforcing the exactness and comprehensive nature of God's design, making the entire vision more credible and memorable amidst the devastation of exile. The gates functioned not just as entrances but as a symbolic filter, establishing sacred boundaries and controlling who and what could enter. This rigorous control, manifested in precise dimensions and features, stood in stark contrast to any perceived casualness or desecration of the earlier temple, hinting at the future sanctity of God's restored presence.

Ezekiel 40 36 Commentary

Ezekiel 40:36 serves as a conclusive summary of the external gates' description, reiterating the divine precision central to the entire temple vision. By affirming that its components—alcoves, side pillars, and portico—shared "the same measurements," God conveys the absolute uniformity and infallible order of His future dwelling. This wasn't merely a decorative detail but a theological statement against human imperfection and deviation. The windows, consistently mentioned across the gate descriptions, offered light and ventilation, yet their typical "embrasured" (slanted or grated) nature in sacred contexts suggested regulated interaction with the outside world, preserving inner holiness. The specific dimensions of the portico—a formidable fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide—emphasized its prominence as a grand, controlled entrance, demanding a reverent approach to God's sacred space. This verse, therefore, transcends architectural minutiae; it's a testament to God's majestic sovereignty, His unwavering commitment to a pure and perfectly ordered sanctuary, and the hope of restoration for a exiled people.