Ezekiel 40 48

Ezekiel 40:48 kjv

And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

Ezekiel 40:48 nkjv

Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the doorposts of the vestibule, five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side; and the width of the gateway was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side.

Ezekiel 40:48 niv

He brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits and its projecting walls were three cubits wide on either side.

Ezekiel 40:48 esv

Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the jambs of the vestibule, five cubits on either side. And the breadth of the gate was fourteen cubits, and the sidewalls of the gate were three cubits on either side.

Ezekiel 40:48 nlt

Then he brought me to the entry room of the Temple. He measured the walls on either side of the opening to the entry room, and they were 8 3?4 feet thick. The entrance itself was 24 1?2 feet wide, and the walls on each side of the entrance were an additional 5 1?4 feet long.

Ezekiel 40 verses

Ezekiel 40 48 meaning

Ezekiel 40:48 describes precise architectural details of the entrance to the inner sanctuary, specifically the vestibule (or porch) of the temple proper in Ezekiel's vision. It details the dimensions of the pilasters (posts/pillars) flanking this vestibule as five cubits deep on each side, and the effective width of the main entrance door within or at the end of this vestibule as three cubits on each side, summing to a six-cubit wide gateway into the sacred building. These meticulous measurements emphasize divine order, perfect holiness, and controlled, reverent access to God's dwelling place.

Ezekiel 40 48 Context

Ezekiel 40:48 is part of the extensive and highly detailed vision of a new Temple, which spans chapters 40-48 of the Book of Ezekiel. This vision was given to Ezekiel during his Babylonian exile, some years after the destruction of Solomon's Temple and Jerusalem (around 593-573 BC). It immediately follows the detailed measurements of the outer court and its gatehouses (Ezek 40:6-27), and inner court and its gatehouses (Ezek 40:28-47). Verse 48 then shifts focus from the various gates and courts to the temple building itself, specifically describing the "ulam," or vestibule, which is the porch or antechamber leading into the holy chambers of the main sanctuary. The historical context is one of despair and physical ruin for Israel; this vision offers a meticulously planned, ideal blueprint for God's renewed presence among a restored and sanctified people, emphasizing order, purity, and divine standards after their previous failures and defilement of the earlier temple.

Ezekiel 40 48 Word analysis

• Then he brought me (וַיָּבִיא֙ אֹתִ֜י - vayyavi oti): Indicates a continuation and progression within Ezekiel's guided tour. The "he" is the celestial being or angel who functions as Ezekiel's guide throughout this extensive vision (Ezek 40:3).
• to the vestibule (אֶל־אֻלָם֩ הַבַּ֨יִת - el-ulam habbayit): Ulam (אֻלָם) specifically denotes the entrance hall or porch of the main temple structure, differentiating it from the previously described gate complexes of the courtyards. This signifies the threshold to the most sacred part of the entire complex. Habbayit refers to the main temple "house" or sanctuary.
• of the temple (הַבַּ֨יִת - habbayit): Clearly identifies the location as the entryway to the sanctuary building itself, the dwelling place of God, contrasting it with the broader court structures.
• and measured (וַיָּ֤מׇד - vayyamod): Emphasizes the ongoing act of precise quantification, a hallmark of this entire vision. Every detail of God's dwelling is perfectly ordered and according to His divine standard.
• the pilasters (אֵילֵי֙ הָֽאֻלָּ֔ם - elei ha'ulam): Elim (אֵלִים) refers to substantial doorposts or pillars, more prominent than simple doorframes. These are significant structural elements, possibly projecting from the wall, defining the entrance.
• of the vestibule (הָֽאֻלָּ֔ם - ha'ulam): Confirms these are the pillars framing the entry to this specific porch.
• five cubits (חָמֵשׁ֙ אַמּוֹת֙ - hamesh ammot): The depth or projection of these main vestibule pilasters. Given Ezek 40:5, these are "long cubits," measuring a handbreadth longer than the standard cubit, implying enhanced grandeur or divine distinctness.
• on this side and five cubits on that side (מִזֶּ֖ה וְחָמֵשׁ֙ אַמּוֹת֙ מִזֶּ֑ה - mizzeh vechamesh ammot mizzeh): Demonstrates perfect symmetry and balance in the divine blueprint, signifying order and stability.
• The width (וְרֹ֣חַב - veroḥav): Refers to the lateral dimension, specifically concerning the main gate/door into the hekal from the vestibule.
• of the gate (הַשָּׁ֑עַר - hashsha'ar): This is the actual door or gateway leading from the vestibule into the main part of the temple building (the Holy Place).
• was three cubits (שָׁלֹשׁ֙ אַמּוֹת֙ - shalosh ammot): This measurement describes the individual leaves of the door or flanking features immediately surrounding the door opening.
• on this side and three cubits on that side (מִזֶּה֙ וְשָׁלֹשׁ֙ אַמּוֹת֙ מִזֶּֽה - mizzeh veshalosh ammot mizzeh): Indicates two symmetrical parts to the gate, implying a total clear opening width of six cubits (3 + 3) into the Holy Place. This represents controlled and regulated access to God's presence.

Ezekiel 40 48 Bonus section

The dimensions given for this vestibule and its gate (especially when compared to Solomon's temple's "ulam") underscore that Ezekiel's vision is a blueprint of an ideal, not a simple copy of past structures. It functions as a prophetic lesson to Israel about the ideal standard of holiness and reverence required for God to dwell among His people. The careful attention to every architectural detail is intended to impress upon Ezekiel and his audience the meticulous nature of divine presence and the need for corresponding human precision in worship and living according to God's commands. The "narrower" gate of three cubits on each side leading into the actual sanctuary could symbolically imply restricted, reverent access, foreshadowing aspects of the "narrow way" of discipleship or highlighting the exclusive access priests had in the Old Covenant.

Ezekiel 40 48 Commentary

Ezekiel 40:48 provides crucial measurements for the vestibule of the ideal Temple, a point of transition from the inner court into the sacred building itself. The initial five-cubit measurements likely define the deep, projecting pillars framing the main facade of this entrance hall, providing an impressive and reverent approach. Subsequently, the three-cubit measurements describe the specific features or wings of the actual doorway leading into the Holy Place from within the vestibule, creating an opening that is effectively six cubits wide. The precision underscores God's perfect plan and design for His dwelling, reflecting a holy, ordered, and set-apart space. This contrasts sharply with the defilement of the historical temple, establishing an immutable standard of purity and reverence for divine worship. The detailed nature of these measurements suggests that holiness permeates every dimension and aspect of God's presence. The act of measuring implies accountability to God's standard.