Ezekiel 41 1

Ezekiel 41:1 kjv

Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.

Ezekiel 41:1 nkjv

Then he brought me into the sanctuary and measured the doorposts, six cubits wide on one side and six cubits wide on the other side?the width of the tabernacle.

Ezekiel 41:1 niv

Then the man brought me to the main hall and measured the jambs; the width of the jambs was six cubits on each side.

Ezekiel 41:1 esv

Then he brought me to the nave and measured the jambs. On each side six cubits was the breadth of the jambs.

Ezekiel 41:1 nlt

After that, the man brought me into the sanctuary of the Temple. He measured the walls on either side of its doorway, and they were 10 1?2 feet thick.

Ezekiel 41 verses

Ezekiel 41 1 Meaning

This verse introduces a detailed vision of a restored temple, the House of the Lord. It marks a transition from prophetic pronouncements of judgment and future restoration to specific architectural blueprints of that restoration. The emphasis is on divine order and presence.

Ezekiel 41 1 Context

Chapter 40 of Ezekiel sets the stage by describing Ezekiel's vision being brought to a symbolic mountaintop in Israel. He witnesses an immensely tall and wide man with a measuring rod, tasked with measuring the dimensions of a magnificent future temple. Chapter 41 immediately follows, delving into the precise measurements and detailed layout of the temple's interior rooms and corridors. Historically, this vision came during the Babylonian exile, a period when the Jerusalem Temple had been destroyed. The prophet was thus giving a message of hope and divine restoration to a despondent people. The vision functions both as a literal blueprint for a future sanctuary and symbolically for God's dwelling among His people.

Ezekiel 41 1 Word Analysis

• וְהוֹבִיא (v'hōḇî’): "And he brought me." The causative hiphil form of the verb bā' (to bring), emphasizing the divine agency in Ezekiel's movement and perception.
• אֶל־הַהֵיכָ֖ל (’el-haheikhāl): "to the temple." Heikhal refers to the inner sanctuary or main building of the temple, the most holy place. This signifies a movement towards the core of divine presence and worship.
• וַיָּ֧מָד (wayyāmôḍ): "and he measured." The waw conjunction connects this action to the preceding one. Māḍad means to measure, plot, or divide. This is the start of the detailed measurements.
• אֶת־הָאֵלַ֥מּוֹת (’eṯ-hā’ēlammōṯ): "the jambs" or "posts." Elammōṯ refers to the doorposts or the framework around an entrance.
• וַיָּ֧מֶד (wayyámeḏ): "and measured." Same verb as above, emphasizing meticulousness.
• רֹחַב (rōḵaḇ): "width." A key dimension for the jambs.
• וְשֹׁ֧מֶר (wəšōmēr): "and the threshold." Shōmer can refer to a guard or a threshold, in this context it clearly means the sill or step of a doorway.
• וַיָּ֧מֶד (wayyámeḏ): "and measured." Repeating the measurement emphasizes the completeness and accuracy of the divine blueprint.
• עוֹד (’ôḏ): "again" or "still." Continues the act of measuring.
• חֶלְקַת (ḥelqáṯ): "the portion" or "the side chambers." This begins the description of the side rooms adjacent to the main sanctuary.
• קָדִימָה (qāḏîmāh): "eastward." Indicating the direction of these chambers.

Words-group Analysis

• The repetition of "and he measured" (וַיָּ֧מָד, וַיָּ֧מֶד) establishes a pattern of precise, ordered construction, mirroring God's own orderliness.
• The phrase "to the temple, the jambs thereof..." (אֶל־הַהֵיכָ֖ל וְהָאֵלַ֥מּוֹת) signifies a progression from the general structure to its specific, detailed components, symbolizing attention to every aspect of God’s dwelling.
• The repeated focus on dimensions like "width" (רֹחַב) and "threshold" (שֹׁ֧מֶר) indicates a structured, functional, and sacred space, rather than random construction.
• "And he measured again a section eastward" (וַיָּ֧מֶד עוֹד חֶלְקַת קָדִימָה) shows the systematic exploration of the temple's periphery, implying a comprehensive understanding and depiction of the divine dwelling.

Ezekiel 41 1 Bonus Section

The elaborate dimensions and specific components detailed in Ezekiel 41 point to the perfection and holiness of God's presence. This mirrors the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle in Exodus and the construction of Solomon's Temple. The emphasis on East as the direction of entry and later of God's glory contrasts with the destruction and desecration of the former Temple. This vision serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in restoring His relationship with His people, offering a tangible hope for their future return and rebuilding. The recurring measuring motif signifies a completed, perfected structure, alluding to the ultimate fulfillment in God's presence with humanity in eternity, where the ultimate temple is the Lord Himself and the Lamb (Rev. 21:22).

Ezekiel 41 1 Commentary

Ezekiel 41:1 begins the intricate architectural vision of the new temple. The measuring man, often identified as a divine representative or the Angel of the Lord, is now systematically documenting the structure. This detailed measurement is crucial, reflecting God’s commitment to order, purity, and holiness in His dwelling place. It's not a symbolic depiction alone, but a detailed blueprint. The specific measurements, starting with the temple itself and its entryways (jambs and threshold), show the sacredness of even the entrances. The direction "eastward" is also significant, as the Glory of God later enters from the east (Ezekiel 43:2). This meticulous detailing emphasizes that the future presence of God among His people will be one of restored order and sanctity. The vision reassures the exiles that God's presence is not lost forever, but will be re-established in a glorious and perfectly designed sanctuary. This anticipates Christ, who is the true Temple, and the believer's body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.