Ezekiel 40 8

Ezekiel 40:8 kjv

He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.

Ezekiel 40:8 nkjv

He also measured the vestibule of the inside gate, one rod.

Ezekiel 40:8 niv

Then he measured the portico of the gateway;

Ezekiel 40:8 esv

Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, on the inside, one reed.

Ezekiel 40:8 nlt

He also measured the entry room of the gateway.

Ezekiel 40 verses

Ezekiel 40 8 Meaning

The inner gate of the first archway leading eastward from the outer court to the inner court is measured to be eight cubits. The adjoining passage within it measures one cubit. This detail highlights the meticulous and precise measurements employed in the visionary temple's construction, signifying order, perfection, and perhaps a deeper spiritual significance in its dimensions.

Ezekiel 40 8 Context

Ezekiel's vision of a new temple in chapters 40-43 occurs after the destruction of Jerusalem and the first Temple. This prophetic vision was given to Ezekiel while in exile in Babylon, around 571 BCE. It serves as a message of hope and restoration to the exiled community, detailing a meticulously planned sanctuary. This particular verse (40:8) is part of the detailed architectural description of the eastern outer gate, moving into the inner court. It focuses on the immediate entryway to a more sacred space. Historically, gates were crucial for security and defined the transition between different levels of sacredness in ancient Israelite worship, like in the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple. This vision emphasizes a return to divine order and a purified worship.

Ezekiel 40 8 Word Analysis

• וְאֶל־ (v'el): "and into" or "and to". Connects this measurement to the preceding location.
• מִפְתָּ֫נֵי (miph'tane): "wicket gate" or "narrow gate." This refers to the smaller, inner opening of the gate structure, indicating a further point of entry or separation. It's a specialized term for a more contained access.
• חָצִ֫ירָה (chatzirah): "court" or "enclosure." Specifically, the "outer court" (הַחִיצוֹנָה, ha'chitzonah) is implied from the broader context of chapter 40 which starts with the measurements of the outer gate of the outer court.
• הָאֶתְקְסִיק (ha'etk't'tsiym): "the threshold" or "the sill" (of the gateway). Refers to the bottommost part of the doorway.
• פֶּ֫תַח (petach): "opening" or "gate."
• יִּשּׁוּק (yishuk): "passage" or "side chamber" or "adjunct." In this context, it likely refers to the narrow passage within the gateway, between the outer structure and the inner opening.
• הַצָּפוֹנִי (hatz'phoni): "the north," "the northward." However, the phrase "inner gate eastward" (פֶּ֫תַח הַפְּנִימִי קֶ֫דְמָה, petach hap'nimiy kedmah) clearly identifies the orientation as eastward. This could be a scribal variant or referencing a northern section of that eastward gate, but the primary directional reference is eastward for this entrance. Given the immediate context and subsequent verses that detail the eastern gate complex, the primary reading is of the gate oriented east. The structure described leads to the inner court.
• הַֽ֭קֶדְמָה (ha'kedmah): "eastward," "to the east." This indicates the direction of the gate complex being measured, aligning with the main entrance into the Temple Mount from the east.
• בָּם (bam): "in them," "within them." Referring to the wicket gate and its structures.
• יָ֫מִּ֫יוֹ (yamiy'yow): "its posts" or "its sides." This refers to the structural supports of the gate.
• וְעִמּוּדֶיהָ (v'imudeyhah): "and its posts," "and its columns." This reinforces the mention of vertical structural elements, emphasizing the sturdiness and construction detail.
• שְׁמֹנֶה (shəmonah): "eight."
• אַמּוֹת (ammoth): "cubits." A standard unit of ancient measurement.
• אַמָּה (ammah): "cubit."

Group Analysis:

The verse meticulously details the dimensions of a specific transition point: "eight cubits" for the wicket gate itself, with "two cubits" for its posts. The "one cubit" refers to the passage (yishuk) associated with this inner gate, possibly the thickness of the wall forming the passage or the width of a narrow walkway within the gate structure. This focus on narrowness and enclosure in "wicket" or "narrow" gates is consistent with the secure and compartmentalized nature of the vision's Temple. The eastern gate's primary direction aligns with the concept of dawn and the divine presence appearing from the east, as seen in other prophetic passages.

Ezekiel 40 8 Bonus Section

The concept of precise measurements in the Tabernacle and Temples throughout Scripture underscores God's nature: He is a God of order, not confusion. The careful enumeration of materials, dimensions, and spatial arrangements reflects His holiness and the careful work required to approach Him. The specific mention of a "wicket gate" or "narrow gate" can also be spiritually interpreted in light of Jesus' words, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth unto destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: But strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). While Ezekiel's vision pertains to a physical structure, its detailed order and specific passages can evoke this principle of consecrated and narrow access to God. The measuring in Ezekiel's vision prefigures the measuring of the heavenly city in Revelation, linking divine sanctuary planning across the biblical narrative.

Ezekiel 40 8 Commentary

Ezekiel 40:8 is a highly specific architectural detail within the broader vision of a restored Temple. The measurement of the wicket gate (8 cubits) and its passage (1 cubit) signifies the confined but divinely ordered access to the sacred precinct. These precise dimensions, far from being arbitrary, emphasize the sanctity and integrity of God's dwelling place. They point to a restored worship characterized by order, separation, and deliberate access, in contrast to the past disorders that led to destruction. The wicket gate, as a more restricted entrance within the larger gate complex, highlights a spiritual principle of entering into deeper fellowship with God through humble and well-defined means. This focus on structure and measure resonates throughout the vision, reflecting God's desire for a people who live by His statutes and keep His covenant.