Ezekiel 40 6

Ezekiel 40:6 kjv

Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.

Ezekiel 40:6 nkjv

Then he went to the gateway which faced east; and he went up its stairs and measured the threshold of the gateway, which was one rod wide, and the other threshold was one rod wide.

Ezekiel 40:6 niv

Then he went to the east gate. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep.

Ezekiel 40:6 esv

Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep.

Ezekiel 40:6 nlt

Then he went over to the eastern gateway. He climbed the steps and measured the threshold of the gateway; it was 10 1?2 feet front to back.

Ezekiel 40 verses

Ezekiel 40 6 Meaning

Ezekiel 40:6 describes the precise measurement taken by the divine guide, detailing the initial dimensions of the East Gate, specifically its thresholds. This exactitude underscores the holiness, order, and divine design of the visionary temple, emphasizing that every aspect of God's future habitation is perfectly appointed. The East Gate is significant as the entry and exit point for the glory of the Lord, making its measurements foundational to the entire structure.

Ezekiel 40 6 Context

Ezekiel 40 inaugurates a pivotal vision granted to the prophet during his exile in Babylon. Chapters 40-48 detail an elaborate, new temple in precise measurements, far exceeding the scale of previous temples. This vision came in the twenty-fifth year of Ezekiel's exile, a time of profound despair for the Israelites, signifying a message of hope, restoration, and the future habitation of God's glory among His people. Verse 6 specifically focuses on the initial point of entry—the East Gate—which is strategically important in the vision as the designated pathway for the return of God's glory (Ez 43:1-4). The meticulous measurements underscore divine order, purity, and the unapproachable holiness of God's dwelling, contrasting with the desecrated previous temple and providing an enduring blueprint of His sacred standards.

Ezekiel 40 6 Word analysis

• Then he went to the gate which faced east:
  • he: Refers to the "man whose appearance was like bronze" (Ez 40:3), an angelic figure, or a manifestation of God, serving as Ezekiel's guide. This figure embodies divine authority and knowledge of the temple's sacred plan.
  • gate: (Hebrew: sha'ar, שַׁעַר) A major structural element of the temple complex, serving as an entrance and exit point, and often associated with civic functions in ancient cities. Here, it denotes controlled access to the sacred space.
  • faced east: The East Gate holds immense theological significance. It was through this gate that God's glory departed from the first temple (Ez 10:19, 11:23) and is prophesied to return (Ez 43:1-4). Its orientation symbolizes the return of the divine presence and often represents a beginning or the breaking of a new day. In Jewish tradition, the East is also associated with Eden and creation.
• and went up its steps:
  • steps: (Hebrew: maʿaleh, מַעֲלֶה) Implies an elevated structure, common for temple gates to provide defense and architectural grandeur, but also symbolically signifying the ascent toward a holy place. The ascent suggests the need for reverence and deliberate approach to God's presence. Later verses confirm outer gates having seven steps (Ez 40:22).
• He measured the threshold of the gate:
  • He measured: The act of measuring by a divine being emphasizes divine authorship, precision, and the non-negotiable standards of the sanctuary. Measurement establishes boundaries, order, and holiness. It assures Ezekiel of the exactness of the divine blueprint.
  • threshold: (Hebrew: sap, סַף) The sill or entryway; a significant point separating an outer, common area from an inner, more sacred space. The emphasis on its measurement highlights the regulated access to God's presence and the holiness required even at the point of entry. It functions as a precise demarcation.
• one rod wide:
  • one rod wide: (Hebrew: 'amah echad v'qaneh echad, אֹמָה אֶחָד וְקָנֶה אֶחָד - literally, "one cubit and one rod" or "one rod in width" based on context and earlier verse where rod defined). Qaneh (קָנֶה) is the "measuring rod" introduced in Ez 40:3 and defined in Ez 40:5 as six long cubits. Each "long cubit" is one common cubit plus a handbreadth. Thus, "one rod" is equivalent to 12.3 feet (approx 3.73 meters), a very substantial width. This significant size implies grandness, controlled access, and robust construction. The large measurement underlines the immense scale of the visionary temple.
• and the other threshold, one rod wide:
  • other threshold: This refers to the inner threshold of the gate passageway, or potentially a corresponding threshold on the opposing side, or the entire depth of the gateway's threshold section, further emphasizing symmetry and the uniformity of these foundational dimensions. It shows a meticulous level of detail in the divine plan. The repetition highlights exactness.

Ezekiel 40 6 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of measurements throughout Ezekiel 40-48, beginning here in verse 6, is not redundancy but a literary and theological device emphasizing certainty, permanence, and divine exactitude. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, exact measurements in temple architecture often implied cosmic order and the presence of the divine. This precision would have been deeply reassuring to Ezekiel and his audience, exiles who had witnessed the destruction and desecration of their previous temple. The "handbreadth" extra on the cubit (Ez 40:5) for the "long cubit" implies a divine standard that exceeds common human measures, further stressing the sanctuary's set-apart nature. This gate's formidable width suggests the substantial and impressive nature of God's future work. The act of measuring the threshold points to God’s concern for access and boundaries within His holy habitation.

Ezekiel 40 6 Commentary

Ezekiel 40:6 opens the detailed architectural blueprint of the future temple by focusing on the crucial East Gate. The repeated, meticulous measurements of its thresholds, each being "one rod wide," immediately establishes a tone of divine precision and order. This is not a humanly conceived building but a divinely inspired blueprint for a sanctuary marked by holiness and glory. The use of a specific, defined "rod" (six long cubits) ensures exactness and symbolizes the objective standards of God. The East Gate's significance as the point of God's past departure and future return of His glory elevates its measured thresholds beyond mere architecture; they represent the precise boundaries through which God's unapproachable holiness interacts with the world. Every dimension, even at the entrance, underscores God's meticulous care in establishing a dwelling worthy of His presence, a beacon of hope for Israel's restoration and a pattern of how all things in God's kingdom operate with divine order and glory. It's a reminder that even the initial approaches to God's presence are precisely defined by His holy requirements.