Ezekiel 40 God's Restoration and Glory

1 The New Temple Area
In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city—on that very day the hand of the Lord was upon me and he took me there.

2 In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city.

3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.

4 The man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the house of Israel everything you see.”

5 The East Gate to the Outer Court
I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.

6 Then he went to the gate facing east. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep.

7 The alcoves for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.

8 Then he measured the portico of the gateway;

9 it was eight cubits deep and its jambs were two cubits thick. The portico of the gateway faced the temple.

10 Inside the east gate were three alcoves on each side; the three had the same measurements, and the faces of the projecting walls on each side had the same measurements.

11 Then he measured the width of the entrance to the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.

12 In front of each alcove was a wall one cubit high, and the alcoves were six cubits square.

13 Then he measured the gateway from the top of the rear wall of one alcove to the top of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits from one parapet opening to the opposite one.

14 He measured along the faces of the projecting walls all around the inside of the gateway—sixty cubits. The measurement was up to the portico facing the courtyard.

15 The distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its portico was fifty cubits.

16 The alcoves and the projecting walls inside the gateway were surmounted by narrow parapet openings all around, as was the portico; the openings all around faced inward. The faces of the projecting walls were decorated with palm trees.

17 The Outer Court
Then he brought me into the outer court. There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms along the pavement.

18 It abutted the sides of the gateways and was as wide as they were long; this was the lower pavement.

19 Then he measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubits on the east side as well as on the north.

20 The North Gate
Then he measured the length and width of the gate facing north, leading into the outer court.

21 Its alcoves—three on each side—its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as those of the first gateway. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

22 Its openings, its portico and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.

23 There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured from one gate to the opposite one; it was a hundred cubits.

24 The South Gate
Then he led me to the south side and I saw a gate facing south. He measured its jambs and its portico, and they had the same measurements as the others.

25 The gateway and its portico had narrow openings all around, like the openings of the others. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

26 Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side.

27 The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side; it was a hundred cubits.

28 Gates to the Inner Court
Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements as the others.

29 Its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

30 (The porticoes of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep.)

31 Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated its jambs, and eight steps led up to it.

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others.

33 Its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

34 Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.

35 Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others,

36 as did its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico, and it had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

37 Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.

38 The Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices
A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings were washed.

39 In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings were slaughtered.

40 By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance to the north gateway were two tables, and on the other side of the steps were two tables.

41 So there were four tables on one side of the gateway and four on the other—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were slaughtered.

42 There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high. On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.

43 And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.

44 Rooms for the Priests
Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south gate and facing north.

45 He said to me, “The room facing south is for the priests who have charge of the temple,

46 and the room facing north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who are the only Levites who may draw near to the Lord to minister before him.”

47 Then he measured the court: It was square—a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.

48 The Temple
He brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits and its projecting walls were three cubits wide on either side.

49 The portico was twenty cubits wide, and twelve cubits from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs, and there were pillars on each side of the jambs.

Previous Chapter Ezekiel 39 Next Chapter Ezekiel 41

Analysis of Ezekiel Chapter 40

Ezekiel Chapter 40 marks a significant shift in the prophetic narrative of the Book of Ezekiel, introducing a vision of a restored temple. The chapter starts with a precise date in the twenty-fifth year of the exile, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down (Ezekiel 40:1). This vision is a crucial part of Ezekiel’s prophecy, symbolizing the hope and restoration for the people of Israel. This chapter is the beginning of what is known as the “Vision of the New Temple,” which extends to Chapter 48.

Verses 1-4: The Setting of the Vision

The chapter opens with a temporal and geographical setting:

“In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me to the city. In visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south.”

This introduction places the vision in a historical context, making it clear that it is during a period of exile and despair. The specific date and the mention of “the hand of the Lord” emphasize the divine origin and authority of the vision.

Verses 2-3 describe Ezekiel being transported in his vision to the land of Israel and being set on a high mountain. The high mountain is often symbolic in biblical literature of a place of revelation (e.g., Mount Sinai). The “structure like a city” refers to the temple complex Ezekiel is about to describe.

Verse 4 sets the stage for the detailed description that follows. The angelic figure (a man whose appearance was like bronze) instructs Ezekiel to observe carefully and declare everything he sees to the house of Israel.

Verses 5-16: The Outer Wall and the Eastern Gate

The text then moves into an intricate description of the temple’s architecture:

“And behold, there was a wall all around the outside of the temple area… Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep…”

The measurements given in the vision (in cubits and reeds) and the detailed architecture serve multiple purposes:

Symbolism of Precision: The detailed measurements symbolize order and divine precision, contrasting the chaos and destruction experienced during the exile.
Hope and Restoration: The vision of a restored temple with specific dimensions provides hope that there is a plan for restoration and return to worship in a purified temple.
Spiritual Significance: Each part of the temple has spiritual significance. For instance, the eastern gate, often associated with the Shekinah glory of God entering and departing the temple, symbolizes divine presence and access to God.

The variety and exactness of measurements (thresholds, gateposts, vestibules) also depict the thorough and systematic nature of God’s plan for re-establishing His dwelling place among His people.

Verses 17-23: The Outer Court and the North Gate

Moving forward, Ezekiel is led into the outer court:

“Then he brought me into the outer court, and behold, there were chambers and a pavement, all around the court.”

The outer court is described with chambers and a pavement surrounding it. These chambers are likely places for priests and Levites to carry out their duties, as well as places for the people to prepare for worship.

The north gate is described similarly to the east gate, emphasizing the repetition and symmetry in the temple’s design. The mention of palm trees as decorations on the gateposts could symbolize righteousness and beauty, often associated with prosperity and peace (see Psalm 92:12).

Verses 24-31: The South Gate

The south gate is described next, paralleling the descriptions of the east and north gates:

“He led me southward, and behold, there was a gate facing south… Its windows, its vestibule, and its palm trees were of the same size as those of the gate that faced east.”

The repetition in the description of the gates emphasizes uniformity and meticulousness in God’s design. It portrays a sense of stability and reliability, which is meant to contrast with the chaos experienced by the Israelites during the destruction of Jerusalem and their subsequent exile.

Verses 32-38: The Inner Court

Following the outer gates, Ezekiel is led to the inner court:

“Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate… So he measured the court, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits broad, a square.”

This section focuses on the inner court’s dimensions and features, highlighting the symmetrical and harmonious construction. The inner court’s precise measurements emphasize the sacredness and separation from the outer court, indicating a closer proximity to the divine presence.

The sanctity of the inner court is further underscored by the mention of the chambers for the priests, showing that only those consecrated for temple service could enter this area. This reinforces the theme of holiness and the necessity of purity in approaching God’s presence.

Verses 39-46: The Functionality of Temple Structures

These verses describe the chambers used for specific functions:

“In the vestibule of the gate were two tables on either side, on which the burnt offering and the sin offering and the guilt offering were to be slaughtered.”

The detailed description of the tables for offerings indicates the temple’s role as a center for sacrificial worship. The clear distinctions between the different types of offerings (burnt, sin, and guilt offerings) highlight the varied aspects of atonement and worship practices, underscoring the temple’s comprehensive role in the spiritual life of the Israelites.

Further, the chambers for priests and the references to specific chambers for singers and other temple workers (like those responsible for the altar) reflect the organized and systematic nature of worship, showing the importance of different roles in maintaining the sanctity and functioning of the temple.

Verses 47-49: The Inner Court and the Vestibule of the Temple

The final verses of the chapter focus on the dimensions of the inner court and the vestibule:

“And he measured the court, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits broad, a square. And the altar was in front of the temple.”

The square shape of the inner court symbolizes perfection and balance, reflecting the divine nature of the space. The altar’s central position emphasizes the focal point of worship and sacrifice, essential elements in Israelite religious practice. This central placement signifies that atonement and relationship with God were at the heart of the temple activities.

The vestibule, described at the end of the chapter, serves as a transitional space between the outer courts and the innermost part of the temple. The mention of steps leading to the vestibule symbolizes the ascent towards God’s presence, highlighting the temple as a place where worshippers draw nearer to the divine.

Overall Themes and Spiritual Significance

Several overarching themes and spiritual significances can be drawn from Ezekiel Chapter 40:

Divine Order: The meticulous measurements and detailed descriptions underscore the theme of divine order. It contrasts the chaos that had previously ensued with the destruction of Jerusalem and serves as a reminder that God is a God of order, precision, and purpose.
Restoration and Hope: This vision is a beacon of hope for the exiled Israelites. It promises restoration not only of the physical temple but also their relationship with God. It reassures the people that their worship and community life will be reinstated and revitalized.
Holiness and Sacredness: The careful delineation of sacred spaces—outer courts, inner courts, and the temple proper—emphasizes the theme of holiness. Only those who were consecrated could enter certain areas, indicating the sanctity of approaching God.
Symbolism of the High Mountain: Being set on a high mountain denotes revelation and proximity to God. It signifies that the vision has a divine origin and implicates an elevated purpose.

Ezekiel’s vision in Chapter 40 serves not merely as a blueprint for a physical structure but as a profound spiritual message to the people of Israel. It conveys God’s unwavering intent to restore, dwell among, and maintain a relationship with His people—a cornerstone of faith that would endure beyond the physical limitations of time and space.

In conclusion, Ezekiel Chapter 40, with its vision of the restored temple, is a chapter brimming with hope, divine order, and spiritual renewal. It calls the Israelites—and later audiences—to appreciate the meticulousness of God’s plans for restoration and the sanctity of His dwelling place among humanity.

Understanding the Key Messages in Ezekiel 40: Insights and Explanation

In this chapter, Ezekiel receives a vision of God's restoration and glory. The chapter begins with a reminder that the Israelites have experienced God's judgment and exile because of their disobedience. However, God promises to restore and gather his people from the nations. He will come with power and show his majestic glory to the entire world. God will bring comfort to his people, leading them back to their land and blessing them abundantly. This vision reassures the Israelites that God has not forgotten them and that their future is filled with hope and restoration.

Notes

This chapter emphasizes God's faithfulness and restoration of his people, displaying his glory and power to the nations.