CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Ezekiel 40
Chapter 40 of 48
Chapter Overview
What happens in Ezekiel 40
In the twenty-fifth year of exile, God gives Ezekiel a detailed vision of a new temple. An angelic guide with a measuring rod leads Ezekiel through the temple complex, measuring gates, courtyards, and rooms with exact dimensions.
Scripture
Ezekiel 40
The Vision Begins
Study note
This vision came in the twenty-fifth year of exile (about 573 BC), fourteen years after Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed. God brought Ezekiel in a vision to a very high mountain in Israel where he saw what looked like a city. A man whose appearance was like bronze stood at the entrance with a measuring rod and a linen cord. The man told Ezekiel to pay careful attention to everything he saw and heard, because Ezekiel was brought here specifically to see it.
1 It was the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the start of the year, on the tenth day of the month. That was fourteen years after Jerusalem was destroyed. On that exact day the Lord's hand came upon me and carried me there. In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.
2 Through visions from God, he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on top of a very high mountain. On its south side I could see structures that looked like a city. In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
3 He brought me closer, and I saw a man whose skin gleamed like bronze. He stood at a gateway holding a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod. And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
4 The man told me, "Son of man, open your eyes wide and listen carefully. Pay close attention to everything I show you, because that is the whole reason you were brought here. Report everything you see to the people of Israel." And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.
The East Gate
Study note
The guide began by measuring the outer wall and the east gate. The gate had an entrance tunnel with guard rooms on each side, decorated with palm trees. Every measurement was given in a unit called a 'long cubit,' which was about 21 inches. The east gate was the main entrance, facing Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. These detailed measurements showed that God's future temple would be built according to his exact specifications.
5 I noticed a wall enclosing the entire temple complex. The measuring rod the man held was about ten and a half feet long. He measured the wall: it was one rod thick and one rod tall. And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
6 He walked to the east-facing gate, climbed its steps, and measured the gateway entrance -- one rod wide. 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.
7 Along the entrance passage were guard rooms, each one rod long and one rod wide. The dividing walls between rooms were about eight and a half feet thick. The gateway's inner threshold, near the porch facing the temple, measured one rod. And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed.
8 He measured the gateway's inner porch -- it was one rod deep. He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
9 He measured the gateway porch at about fourteen feet deep, with posts about three and a half feet thick. The porch opened toward the temple. Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.
10 The east gate had three guard rooms on each side. All six rooms were identical in size, and the dividing walls were the same thickness throughout. And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.
11 He measured the gateway opening at about seventeen and a half feet wide. The passage itself was about twenty-two and a half feet wide. And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
12 A low barrier wall about twenty-one inches high stood in front of each guard room. The rooms themselves measured about ten and a half feet on each side. The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.
13 He measured the full width of the gateway. It went from the back wall of one guard room across to the other. It was about forty-four feet from door to door. He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
14 He took measurements of the posts, which were about one hundred and five feet tall. The courtyard surrounded the gateway posts on every side. He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.
15 From the outer entrance of the gateway to the far end of the inner porch was about eighty-seven and a half feet. And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.
16 Narrow windows lined the guard rooms and the walls between them all through the gateway. Windows ran around the entire interior. The posts were decorated with carved palm trees. And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.
The Outer Courtyard
Study note
Beyond the gate was the outer courtyard with a pavement and thirty rooms along its sides. The guide measured the distance between the outer and inner courtyards. There were gates on the north and south sides as well, each matching the dimensions of the east gate. The symmetry and order of the temple showed God's perfection and holiness.
17 He led me into the outer courtyard, where I saw rooms and a stone pavement circling the courtyard. Thirty rooms opened onto the pavement. Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
18 The pavement ran alongside the gates and extended as wide as the gates were long. This was the lower pavement. And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.
19 He measured from the lower gate's front to the inner court's outer wall. It was about one hundred seventy-five feet. Both the east and north sides were the same. Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.
20 Next he measured the north gate leading into the outer courtyard, checking its length and width. And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.
21 It had three guard rooms on each side. Its posts and porch matched the dimensions of the first gate: about eighty-seven and a half feet long and about forty-four feet wide. And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
22 Its windows, porch, and palm tree decorations were identical to the east gate. Seven steps led up to it, with the porch at the inner end. And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.
23 Directly opposite this north gate was a gate into the inner courtyard, just as there was on the east side. The distance between the two gates measured about one hundred and seventy-five feet. And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.
24 He guided me to the south side, where I saw another gate facing south. He measured its posts and porch -- they matched the dimensions of the others. After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.
25 This gate and its porch had narrow windows all around, matching the other windows. It was about eighty-seven and a half feet long and about forty-four feet wide. And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
26 Seven steps led up to it, and the porch was at the inner end. Palm trees decorated its posts, one carved on each side. And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.
27 The inner courtyard also had a gate on the south side. He measured from this inner gate to the outer south gate -- about one hundred and seventy-five feet. And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.
The Inner Gates and Courts
Study note
The guide then measured the inner gates leading to the inner courtyard. These were similar to the outer gates but faced the opposite direction. Each inner gate had rooms where burnt offerings and other sacrifices would be prepared. Tables were provided for slaughtering the animals, with hooks along the walls.
28 He brought me into the inner courtyard through the south gate. He measured this south gate, and it matched the dimensions of the others. And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
29 Its guard rooms, posts, and porch were all the same size as the others. Windows lined the gate and its porch. It measured about eighty-seven and a half feet long and about forty-four feet wide. And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
30 The porches of the gates around the inner courtyard were about forty-four feet wide and about eight and a half feet deep. And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.
31 This gate's porch faced the outer courtyard. Palm trees adorned its posts. Eight steps led up to it. And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.
32 He brought me to the inner courtyard's east side and measured the gate there. It matched the dimensions of the others. And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
33 Its guard rooms, posts, and porch were identical to the others. Windows surrounded the gate and its porch. It was about eighty-seven and a half feet long and about forty-four feet wide. And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
34 Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Palm trees decorated both posts. Eight steps led up to it. And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
35 He brought me to the north gate and measured it. It too matched the others. And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
36 Its guard rooms, posts, and porch were identical, with windows all around. It was about eighty-seven and a half feet long and about forty-four feet wide. The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
37 Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Palm trees decorated both posts. Eight steps led up to it. And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
Rooms for Priests and the Temple Porch
Study note
Near the inner gates were rooms for the priests. Two rooms were specifically designated: one for priests who served at the altar and one for priests who cared for the temple. The guide confirmed that only descendants of Zadok from the tribe of Levi could approach the Lord to serve him. Finally, Ezekiel was brought to the porch of the temple itself and measured its dimensions.
38 Near the posts of each gateway was a room with a doorway. That was where the burnt offerings were washed. And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.
39 Inside the gateway porch were two tables on each side. The burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were slaughtered on these tables. And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.
40 Outside the porch, on the way up to the north gateway entrance, there were two more tables. On the other side of the porch entrance were another two tables. And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.
41 There were four tables on each side of the gateway. That made eight tables in all. These are where the animals for sacrifice were killed. Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.
42 Four additional tables of cut stone were used for preparing the burnt offerings. Each one measured about two and a half feet long, two and a half feet wide, and about twenty-one inches high. The tools used for slaughtering were kept on these tables. And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
43 Double hooks about three inches long were fastened to the walls all around. The tables were used for the meat of the offerings. And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.
44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner courtyard, were two rooms. One stood beside the north gate and faced south; the other stood beside the south gate and faced north. And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
45 He explained, "The room that faces south is for the priests who oversee the temple." And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
46 "The room facing north is for the priests who tend the altar. These are the descendants of Zadok -- the only Levites allowed to approach the Lord directly to serve him." And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
47 He measured the courtyard: a perfect square, about one hundred and seventy-five feet on each side. The altar stood in front of the temple. So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.
48 He brought me to the temple porch and measured the posts on either side: each was about eight and a half feet wide. The entrance was about twenty-four and a half feet wide, with side walls about five and a quarter feet wide on each side. And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.
49 The porch was about thirty-five feet across and about twenty-one feet deep. Steps led up to it, and a pillar stood on each side of the entrance posts. The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.
Key Themes
Themes in Ezekiel 40
The new temple visionGod's plans for restorationHoliness and worshipPrecise divine design
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Ezekiel 1-5 Revelation 11:1-2
John is given a measuring rod to measure the temple of God, echoing Ezekiel's vision of the angelic guide measuring the new temple in precise detail.
Apply This Today
Living Ezekiel 40
The detailed measurements of the new temple show that God cares about every detail of how we worship and approach Him. God's restoration plan is not vague or haphazard — it is precise and intentional. This encourages us to take our own worship and spiritual life seriously, knowing that God has a specific and beautiful design for it.
Go Deeper
Study Ezekiel in Covenant Path
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