Ezekiel 41 22

Ezekiel 41:22 kjv

The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the LORD.

Ezekiel 41:22 nkjv

The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length two cubits. Its corners, its length, and its sides were of wood; and he said to me, "This is the table that is before the LORD."

Ezekiel 41:22 niv

There was a wooden altar three cubits high and two cubits square; its corners, its base and its sides were of wood. The man said to me, "This is the table that is before the LORD."

Ezekiel 41:22 esv

an altar of wood, three cubits high, two cubits long, and two cubits broad. Its corners, its base, and its walls were of wood. He said to me, "This is the table that is before the LORD."

Ezekiel 41:22 nlt

There was an altar made of wood, 5 1?4 feet high and 3 1?2 feet across. Its corners, base, and sides were all made of wood. "This," the man told me, "is the table that stands in the LORD's presence."

Ezekiel 41 verses

Ezekiel 41 22 meaning

Ezekiel 41:22 describes a specific furnishing within Ezekiel's visionary temple. Initially called an "altar of wood" and detailed by its dimensions, the verse concludes with a divine revelation identifying it as "the table that is before the LORD." This suggests a sacred piece of furniture dedicated to divine sustenance and fellowship, distinct from a sacrificial altar, emphasizing the presence of God in the sanctuary and the worship that surrounds Him. It represents communion and fellowship with the Lord, symbolized by offerings placed upon it.

Ezekiel 41 22 Context

Ezekiel chapter 41 is part of a much larger visionary sequence (Ezek 40-48) detailing a new, magnificent temple and its precincts. This vision was given to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, after the destruction of Solomon's Temple. The primary purpose was to provide hope and assure the exiled Israelites of God's continued presence and eventual restoration of His people and worship. The entire description is highly symbolic, providing an ideal template for future worship, which many scholars interpret eschatologically, pointing towards the Messianic age.

Within chapter 41, Ezekiel is shown the interior details of this temple. The verse immediately precedes descriptions of the temple's decorative elements, such as cherubim and palm trees (Ezek 41:18-20), and then details of the temple chambers. The specific mention of "the altar of wood" and its reclassification as "the table that is before the LORD" is crucial. This occurs within the context of the inner sanctuary, likely the Holy Place, and provides a pivotal shift in the understanding of worship, from a system centered on blood sacrifice to one emphasizing God's immediate presence and sacred communion. It subtly counteracts any perception that the future worship would involve a return to the corrupted practices associated with physical altars prior to the exile, emphasizing purification and the right relationship with Yahweh.

Ezekiel 41 22 Word analysis

• The altar (הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - ha-mizbeach): The Hebrew word mizbeach universally refers to an altar for sacrifices. Its initial use here sets up an expectation of a sacrificial object. This immediate designation as an "altar" in Ezekiel's temple vision carries immense theological weight, given the destruction of the Jerusalem temple and the cessation of its sacrificial system. Yet, it's quickly redefined.
• of wood (עֵץ - etz): Specifies the material. In the Mosaic Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple, altars (e.g., Altar of Incense) and the Table of Showbread were typically made of acacia wood overlaid with gold or bronze (Ex 25:23-30, Ex 30:1). The pure "wood" without overlay here suggests a potential spiritual purity, simplicity, or a different order of sacredness, potentially distinguishing it from past temple furnishings or emphasizing an inherent purity over external ornamentation.
• was three cubits high (גָּבְהוֹ שָׁלוֹשׁ אַמּוֹת - govho shalosh ammot): Ammot (cubits) are ancient units of measurement (approx. 18-21 inches). The specified height of three cubits is significant. For comparison, the Table of Showbread in the Tabernacle was 1.5 cubits high (Ex 25:23), and the Altar of Incense was 2 cubits high (Ex 30:2). This means the visionary object is taller than both. These new dimensions make it a unique item within God's restored plan.
• and its length two cubits (וְאָרְכּוֹ שְׁתַּיִם אַמּוֹת - ve-arkho shtayim ammot): Its length of two cubits. This matches the length of the Tabernacle's Table of Showbread (Ex 25:23) but differs from the Altar of Incense (1 cubit long).
• its corners were square (פִנֹּתָיו מְרֻבָּעוֹת - pinnottav meruba'ot): This means it was uniformly constructed, with right-angled corners. Square objects signify stability and fixed purpose. Both the Tabernacle's Altar of Incense and Table of Showbread were described as square or having square dimensions. This detail maintains consistency with previous holy furniture's construction principles.
• and its surface (וְקִירֹתָיו - ve-kirotav): This refers to its face or sides, indicating its entire visible area. In some translations "surface" can imply the top, but the original often extends to the visible 'walls' or 'faces' of the object.
• was of wood (עֵץ - etz): This reiterates that the material throughout was wood, reinforcing the idea of the chosen material being pure wood, without the expected gold or bronze overlay found on Tabernacle furnishings.
• And he said to me (וַיְדַבֵּר אֵלַי - vaydabber elay): This indicates a divine pronouncement or clarification. The speaker is the angelic guide showing Ezekiel the temple. This direct statement from a heavenly guide emphasizes the importance of the re-identification.
• "This is the table (זֶה הַשֻּׁלְחָן - zeh ha-shulchan): Here is the crucial re-designation. Shulchan distinctly means "table," typically for eating, presenting offerings, or general utility. The sudden switch from mizbeach (altar) to shulchan (table) implies a fundamental re-conceptualization of the object's function within the new temple worship, moving from primary focus on sacrifice to one of communion and provision.
• that is before the LORD" (אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - asher lifnei YHWH): "Before the LORD" (lifnei YHWH) signifies a position of honor and direct access in God's presence (cf. Lev 24:6). This phrase explicitly identifies its sacred purpose and its function within the divine presence, much like the Table of Showbread which was continuously before God. It emphasizes divine intimacy and perpetual access.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The altar of wood... was of wood": The repetition and specification of "wood" is significant. It underlines the material purity or distinction. Unlike the golden table of showbread or bronze/golden altars of the past, this object's entire nature is of wood, suggesting a simpler, more internal spiritual truth, or perhaps an embodiment of humanity, ready to be presented before God. It’s also notable that this is explicitly described before it’s named a table, highlighting the transformation of purpose.
• "three cubits high, and its length two cubits": These dimensions create a unique object. They do not precisely match the dimensions of either the Table of Showbread (shorter, less wide) or the Altar of Incense (different length/width/height) from the Mosaic Tabernacle. This means Ezekiel's vision isn't just a copy; it's a divinely inspired, re-imagined furnishing with its own significance, perfectly suited for the renewed worship in the visionary temple.
• "And he said to me, 'This is the table that is before the LORD'": This divine interpretation clarifies the object's ultimate identity and function. The initial perception as an "altar" gives way to a revelatory designation as a "table." This change fundamentally shifts its purpose from where a covenant may be established by sacrifice to where a covenant is enjoyed through communion and provision. It implies an intimate spiritual feast, an offering of sustenance rather than only atonement. This 'table' represents the living relationship God seeks with His people, nourished by His presence.

Ezekiel 41 22 Bonus section

The ambiguity between "altar" (mizbeach) and "table" (shulchan) in this verse is a deliberate theological device. Some rabbinic traditions already associated the Table of Showbread with an "altar" because offerings were placed upon it and it occupied a holy position. The Talmud (Menachot 97a) refers to the showbread table as a mizbeach because it effects atonement through the loaves. By explicitly naming it an "altar" and then defining it as a "table," Ezekiel's vision validates this double role but foregrounds the "table" aspect—shifting the primary function in the eschatological temple. This suggests a post-sacrificial system, where atonement is achieved, and now the focus is on sustenance, celebration, and fellowship directly in God's holy presence. The prophetic vision, therefore, bridges past understanding with a new emphasis on the presence and communion made possible through the ultimate work of the Messiah. It anticipates the shift from the Old Covenant sacrificial system to the New Covenant's emphasis on direct fellowship and spiritual nourishment in Christ.

Ezekiel 41 22 Commentary

Ezekiel 41:22 presents a pivotal symbolic object in the visionary temple. It begins by calling it an "altar of wood," immediately inviting comparisons with the sacrificial altars of previous temples. However, its dimensions (three cubits high, two cubits long) do not perfectly align with any specific item from the Tabernacle or Solomon's Temple, marking it as unique to this prophetic vision. The consistent mention of "wood" for its material, contrasting with the gold overlay of the Tabernacle's Table of Showbread or Altar of Incense, could symbolize purity, humility, or a focus on internal, natural devotion over external grandeur.

The verse reaches its interpretive climax when the divine guide clarifies: "This is the table that is before the LORD." This re-designation is profound. By calling an object initially identified as an "altar" a "table," the focus of this sacred space shifts from sin offerings and atonement (typical of an altar) to communion, fellowship, and divine provision (typical of a table). This "table before the LORD" immediately evokes the Table of Showbread in the Holy Place, which perpetually bore twelve loaves, symbolizing the continuous presence and sustenance God offered to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Therefore, this item signifies a future worship characterized not primarily by the continuous blood sacrifices for sin, but by the ongoing fellowship and intimate communion with God, sustained by His divine provision. It speaks to a Messianic age where the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) has already made the ultimate sacrifice, allowing for unhindered access and shared sustenance in God's presence. It prefigures the spiritual sustenance provided by Christ (the Bread of Life) and the intimate communion Christians experience at the Lord's Table. The emphasis moves from propitiation to intimate participation and shared life in the very presence of Yahweh.

Practically, this verse reminds believers that our worship and relationship with God are about more than appeasement; they are about an invitation to an ongoing feast, an intimate fellowship where God provides spiritual nourishment and desires to share His presence. It calls us to approach Him not with fear of sacrifice but with gratitude for His provision, engaging in deep, life-sustaining communion.