Ezekiel 43:16 kjv
And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.
Ezekiel 43:16 nkjv
The altar hearth is twelve cubits long, twelve wide, square at its four corners;
Ezekiel 43:16 niv
The altar hearth is square, twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide.
Ezekiel 43:16 esv
The altar hearth shall be square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad.
Ezekiel 43:16 nlt
The top of the altar is square, measuring 21 feet by 21 feet.
Ezekiel 43 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 43:16 | The inner court shall be fourteen cubits long and twelve cubits broad. | Purity of sanctuary |
| Exodus 30:18 | "You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing. | Levitical cleansing ritual |
| Exodus 30:18 | You shall put water in it, and the priests shall wash their hands and their feet from it. | Priestly consecration |
| Leviticus 3:17 | "It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings that you shall not eat any fat or any blood." | Prohibition of fat and blood |
| Leviticus 8:11 | "He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him." | Consecration of priests |
| Leviticus 10:10 | "that you may distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean," | Distinction between holy/common |
| Numbers 3:31 | "The chief father of the clans of Merari was Abihail, son of Izhihel." | Census of Levites |
| Numbers 4:31-32 | "This was the census of the families of the sons of Merari . . . at the ordering of Aaron and his sons . . ." | Tabernacle service |
| Psalm 26:6 | "I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD," | Symbol of purity |
| Psalm 51:2 | "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" | Spiritual cleansing prayer |
| Isaiah 1:16 | "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil," | Call to repentance |
| Isaiah 4:4 | "when the Lord washes away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and cleanses the blood of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning." | Spiritual purification |
| Jeremiah 2:22 | "Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is still marked before me, declares the Lord GOD." | Inefficacy of outward cleansing |
| Jeremiah 33:8 | "I will cleanse them from all the iniquity which they have committed against me," | Divine cleansing promised |
| Matthew 27:24 | "So when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was about to occur, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”" | Symbolic washing |
| John 13:5 | "then he poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the cloth that was around him." | Act of humility/service |
| John 13:10 | "Jesus said to him, 'If you are washed, you need only to have your feet washed, but you are completely clean.'" | Spiritual and ritual cleansing |
| 1 Corinthians 6:11 | "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." | Believers' cleansing |
| Ephesians 5:26 | "that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word," | Christ's cleansing of the church |
| Titus 3:5 | "he saved us, not because of works done in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit," | New birth and renewal |
| Hebrews 9:13-14 | "For if the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are unclean consecrate a cleansing, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" | Christ's blood purifies |
| Hebrews 10:22 | "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." | Spiritual approach to God |
| Revelation 7:14 | "And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”" | Lamb's blood signifies purity |
| Revelation 22:14 | "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by its gates." | Washing for eternal life |
Ezekiel 43 verses
Ezekiel 43 16 Meaning
The verse describes a specific feature of the temple, likely a measuring line or cord associated with its construction and purity. It denotes the depth of the laver or basin within the inner court, a place crucial for priestly service. This measurement underscores the exactitude and divine design intended for God's dwelling place, signifying its sacredness and function.
Ezekiel 43 16 Context
Chapter 43 of Ezekiel deals with a vision of a new temple and its ordinances. Following descriptions of the temple's structure and boundaries, the prophet is given details about the altar of sacrifice in verses 13-17. Ezekiel sees measurements of the altar's steps and its surrounding structure, emphasizing divine order and the sacredness of the place. This specific verse, Ezekiel 43:16, provides dimensions for the "inner court" area surrounding the altar, possibly related to a large laver or basin intended for priests' purification during their service. The broader context of Ezekiel's prophecies includes the destruction of the first temple, the sin of Israel, and a promise of future restoration and a new, glorious temple where God's presence will dwell once more. This vision serves as a blueprint for that future reality, reinforcing principles of holiness and meticulous observance.
Ezekiel 43 16 Word Analysis
- Inner: (Hebrew: פְּנִימִי - pnimî) - Denotes something that is within, internal, or innermost. In this context, it refers to the innermost area of the temple complex, distinct from the outer courts.
- Court: (Hebrew: חָצֵר - châṭsêr) - A courtyard or enclosed area. It signifies a designated space within the temple precincts.
- Shall be: (Hebrew: וְהָיָה - wəhâyâ) - Future tense, indicating a prescribed characteristic or feature of the structure.
- Fourteen: (Hebrew: אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר - 'arbāʻâ ‘âśâr) - A numerical quantity, giving a precise dimension.
- Cubits: (Hebrew: אַמּוֹת - 'ammōṯ) - An ancient unit of length, approximately 18-22 inches. This indicates a specific, measurable size.
- Long: (Hebrew: אָרֹךְ - 'ârokh) - Pertaining to length.
- And: (Hebrew: וְ - wə) - A conjunction.
- Twelve: (Hebrew: שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר - šəněy ‘âśâr) - Another precise numerical dimension.
- Broad: (Hebrew: רֹחַב - roħaḇ) - Pertaining to width.
Group Analysis:
- "Inner court": Highlights a specific, highly sacred zone within the temple sanctuary, contrasting with outer or public areas. This designation points to restricted access and specialized use, likely for priestly duties.
- "Fourteen cubits long and twelve cubits broad": These specific dimensions delineate a rectangular space, likely for a large bronze basin (laver) or platform associated with it. The precision emphasizes divine meticulousness in design and execution for a place of ritual purity.
Ezekiel 43 16 Bonus Section
The specific object designated by these dimensions (14x12 cubits) is interpreted by some scholars and commentators to be the "sea" or large basin mentioned in the descriptions of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 7:23-26) and replicated in the visions of Ezekiel, though the precise dimensions vary in historical accounts versus Ezekiel's prophetic vision. Ezekiel's vision is considered a perfection or idealization of the earlier temple, perhaps symbolizing a more comprehensive purification for a future covenant era. The contrast between the bronze Sea in the previous temples and the laver described here is noted; Ezekiel's description focuses on an 'inner court' which may accommodate this large laver. The numerical symbolism of fourteen (2x7) and twelve (3x4 or 2x6) might also carry theological weight, relating to divine perfection and governmental completeness.
Ezekiel 43 16 Commentary
Ezekiel 43:16 details the dimensions of a space within the inner court of the envisioned temple, likely for a large laver. The measurement of fourteen cubits in length and twelve in breadth suggests a significant basin. This is essential for the priests to perform the ritual cleansing required before ministering at the altar of sacrifice, as stipulated in the Mosaic Law (Exodus 30:18-21). The meticulous, God-given measurements underscore the importance of holiness and order in approaching the Divine Presence. This emphasis on purification resonates throughout Scripture, from Old Testament Levitical requirements to New Testament teachings on spiritual cleansing through Christ. The ultimate fulfillment is found in the Church, cleansed by the Word and the Spirit, and in the final state of the New Jerusalem where no impurity will enter.