Ezekiel 40 47

Ezekiel 40:47 kjv

So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.

Ezekiel 40:47 nkjv

And he measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, foursquare. The altar was in front of the temple.

Ezekiel 40:47 niv

Then he measured the court: It was square?a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.

Ezekiel 40:47 esv

And he measured the court, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits broad, a square. And the altar was in front of the temple.

Ezekiel 40:47 nlt

Then the man measured the inner courtyard, and it was a square, 175 feet wide and 175 feet across. The altar stood in the courtyard in front of the Temple.

Ezekiel 40 verses

Ezekiel 40 47 meaning

Ezekiel 40:47 describes the precise dimensions of the inner court within Ezekiel's visionary temple and the crucial placement of the altar. The inner court is presented as perfectly square, 100 cubits by 100 cubits, emphasizing order, symmetry, and divine planning. The verse highlights that the altar was positioned directly "before the house," meaning the sanctuary itself, signaling its paramount importance as the central focus of worship and access to God within the entire temple complex.

Ezekiel 40 47 Context

Ezekiel 40 inaugurates a vast and detailed vision of a future temple complex, given to Ezekiel in the 25th year of his Babylonian exile (Ezek 40:1). This chapter focuses on the outer and inner courts, gates, and chambers, meticulously described by a divine guide using a measuring rod and line. The precision in measurement throughout the chapter emphasizes the divine origin and perfect order of this restoration vision. Verse 47 specifically concludes the description of the inner court, after detailing its gate-lodges and chambers (Ezek 40:38-46), leading up to the final summation of its dimensions and the placement of its most crucial element—the altar. Historically and culturally, a "foursquare" design conveyed completeness and perfection in ancient Near Eastern thought. The consistent and symmetrical measurements are a stark contrast to any chaotic or incomplete worship spaces of pagan deities, implicitly making a polemical statement about God's order and design. The prominent placement of the altar signified the continuing necessity of atonement and sacrifice for relationship with a holy God, even in this idealized future.

Ezekiel 40 47 Word analysis

• So he measured (וַיָּמֹד – vayyāmōḏ): This indicates the continued action of the angelic guide from verse 3. The use of "he" maintains the narrative flow, highlighting that these measurements are divinely revealed, not human conjecture. It signifies accuracy and divine authority.

• the court (אֶת־הֶחָצֵר – et-heḥātsēr): Referring specifically to the "inner court" (implied by the altar's position), distinguished from the outer court mentioned earlier in the chapter. This inner court is a sanctified space closer to the Temple proper.

• an hundred cubits long (מֵאָה אַמָּה אֹרֶךְ – mêʾâ ʾammâ ʾōreḵ): A large, precise dimension. A "cubit" (ammah) varied but was roughly 18-21 inches. This represents significant size, order, and generous space for divine interaction. It shows provision.

• and an hundred cubits broad (וּמֵאָה אַמָּה רֹחַב – ūmêʾâ ʾammâ rōḥaḇ): Identical to the length. This emphasizes perfect symmetry and an exact, unwavering design, reflecting divine wisdom and order.

• foursquare (רָבוּעַ – rāḇûaʿ): This term explicitly means "squared" or "four-cornered." Symbolically, "foursquare" represents perfection, completeness, stability, and ideal holiness in biblical architecture and vision (e.g., the Most Holy Place, New Jerusalem). It is antithetical to any pagan imprecision or imbalance.

• and the altar (וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ – wəhammiḏbêaḥ): This is the altar, the central focus of sacrificial worship. Its prominent mention here signals its functional supremacy in the entire visionary temple. It is the place of atonement, reconciliation, and communion.

• was before the house (הָיָה לִפְנֵי הַבָּיִת – hãyâ lipnê habbayit): "The house" refers to the sanctuary building itself. "Before" (lifney) means directly in front of, emphasizing its pre-eminent position as the initial and essential point of access for worshipers approaching God's dwelling, underscoring its indispensable role.

• "an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare": This phrase group signifies absolute precision and geometric perfection. It establishes the court as a holy space marked by divine order, balance, and completeness. The square shape is echoed in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple, and ultimately in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:16), suggesting archetypal perfection for dwelling places of God.

• "the altar was before the house": This short, declarative sentence immediately highlights the altar's prime location. It underscores that while the "house" (Temple) is where God dwells, access to it, and thus to God's presence, is mediated through the altar's sacrificial function. It maintains the foundational principle of atonement in Israel's worship.

Ezekiel 40 47 Bonus section

The "foursquare" motif (rabuʿa) is deeply symbolic throughout biblical texts concerning sacred space. The Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple were perfect cubes (Exod 26:2, 1 Kgs 6:20), indicating the highest degree of holiness and divine perfection where God's presence dwelled. The altar itself was also square. The New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 is also described as a perfect cube. This consistency implies that divinely ordered spaces for God's presence are characterized by complete balance and totality. In a broader sense, this detailed description emphasizes the orderly and precise nature of God Himself. He is a God of precision, purpose, and perfect design, where every detail has a reason and significance, even down to the architectural measurements.

Ezekiel 40 47 Commentary

Ezekiel 40:47, while concise, carries profound theological weight by summarizing the architectural perfection and cultic focus of the visionary temple. The precise, "foursquare" dimensions of the inner court symbolize God's meticulous design, order, and the holy boundaries required for worship. This divinely prescribed symmetry contrasts sharply with human imperfection and the chaotic nature often associated with pagan worship, making a subtle yet powerful statement about the nature of the God of Israel. Most critically, the immediate mention of "the altar" positioned directly "before the house" reasserts its non-negotiable centrality. It is not merely a component, but the pivotal point—the designated place where atonement for sin must occur to enable the worshiper to draw near to God's presence in the sanctuary. Even in a restored, idealized temple, the necessity of sacrifice and forgiveness remains fundamental for communion with a holy God. This foreshadows the ultimate perfect sacrifice of Christ, who, like this altar, stands before the "house" of God as the sole means of access.