Vision of the Man with a Measuring Rod

40 In the (A)twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the (B)city was [a]taken, on this very day the (C)hand of the Lord was upon me and He brought me there. In the (D)visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very (E)high mountain, and on it (F)to the south there was something like a (G)structure of a city. So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of (H)bronze, with a (I)thread of flax and a (J)measuring [b]rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. And the man said to me, “(K)Son of man, (L)see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and [c]pay attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. (M)Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”

Measurements Relating to the Temple

And behold, there was a (N)wall on the outside of the [d]temple all around, and in the man’s hand was a measuring rod of six [e]cubits, [f]each of which was a [g]cubit and a hand width. So he measured the thickness of the [h]wall, one rod; and the height, one rod. Then he went to the gate which faced (O)east, went up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one rod [i]in width; and the other threshold was one rod [j]in width. The (P)guardroom was one rod long and one rod wide; and there were five cubits between the guardrooms. And the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate [k]facing inward was one rod. Then he measured the porch of the gate [l]facing inward, one rod. And he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its side pillars, two cubits. And the porch of the gate was [m]faced inward. 10 The guardrooms of the gate toward the east numbered three on each side; the three of them had the same measurement. The side pillars also had the same measurement on each side. 11 And he measured the width of the [n]gateway, ten cubits, and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits. 12 There was a [o]barrier wall one cubit wide in front of the guardrooms on each side; and the guardrooms were six cubits square on each side. 13 And he measured the gate from the roof of the one guardroom to the roof of the other, a width of twenty-five cubits, from one door to the door opposite. 14 He made the side pillars sixty cubits high; the gate extended all around to the side pillar of the (Q)courtyard. 15 And from the front of the entrance gate to the front of the inner porch of the gate was fifty cubits. 16 And there were [p](R)shuttered windows looking toward the guardrooms, and toward their side pillars within the gate all around, and likewise for the porches. And there were windows all around inside; and on each side pillar were (S)palm tree decorations.

17 Then he brought me into the (T)outer courtyard, and behold, there were (U)chambers and a stone pavement made for the courtyard all around; thirty chambers [q]faced the pavement. 18 And the pavement (that is, the lower pavement) was by the [r]side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates. 19 Then he measured the width from the front of the (V)lower gate to the front of the exterior of the inner courtyard, a (W)hundred cubits on the east and on the north.

20 And as for the (X)gate of the outer courtyard which faced north, he measured its length and its width. 21 [s]It had three (Y)guardrooms on each side; and its (Z)side pillars and its porches [t]had the same measurement as the first gate. Its length was (AA)fifty cubits, and the width (AB)twenty-five cubits. 22 Its (AC)windows, its porches, and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as the (AD)gate which faced east; and [u]it was reached by seven (AE)steps, and its [v]porch was in front of them. 23 The inner courtyard had a gate opposite the gate on the north as well as the gate on the east; and he measured a (AF)hundred cubits from gate to gate.

24 Then he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a (AG)gate toward the south; and he measured its (AH)side pillars and its porches according to [w]those same measurements. 25 [x]The gate and its porches had (AI)windows all around like [y]those other windows; the length was (AJ)fifty cubits and the width, twenty-five cubits. 26 There were seven (AK)steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had (AL)palm tree decorations on its side pillars, one on each side. 27 The inner courtyard had a gate toward the (AM)south; and he measured from gate to gate toward the south, a (AN)hundred cubits.

28 Then he brought me to the inner courtyard by the south gate; and he measured the south gate (AO)according to those same measurements. 29 Its (AP)guardrooms also, its side pillars, and its (AQ)porches were according to those same measurements. And [z]the gate and its porches had (AR)windows all around; it was (AS)fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 30 There were (AT)porches all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide. 31 And its porches were toward the outer courtyard; and (AU)palm tree decorations were on its side pillars, and its stairway had eight (AV)steps.

32 Then he brought me into the (AW)inner courtyard toward the east. And he measured the gate (AX)according to those same measurements. 33 Its (AY)guardrooms also, its side pillars, and its porches were according to those same measurements. And [aa]the gate and its porches had (AZ)windows all around; it was (BA)fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its (BB)porches were toward the outer courtyard; and (BC)palm tree decorations were on its side pillars, on each side, and its stairway had eight (BD)steps.

35 Then he brought me to the (BE)north gate; and he measured it according to those same measurements, 36 with its (BF)guardrooms, its side pillars, and its (BG)porches. And [ab]the gate had (BH)windows all around; the length was (BI)fifty cubits and the width twenty-five cubits. 37 And its side pillars were toward the outer courtyard; and (BJ)palm tree decorations were on its side pillars, on each side, and its stairway had eight (BK)steps.

38 A (BL)chamber with its doorway was by the side pillars at the gates; there they (BM)rinse the burnt offering. 39 And in the porch of the gate were two (BN)tables on each side, on which to slaughter the (BO)burnt offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering. 40 On the outer [ac]side, [ad]as one went up to the [ae]gateway toward the north, were two tables; and on the other [af]side of the porch of the gate were two tables. 41 Four (BP)tables were on each side [ag]next to the gate; eight tables on which they slaughter sacrifices. 42 For the burnt offering there were four (BQ)tables of (BR)cut stone, a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high, on which they set the utensils with which they slaughter the (BS)burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 And the double [ah]hooks, [ai]one hand width in length, were installed [aj]in the house all around; and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44 From the outside to the (BT)inner gate were [ak](BU)chambers for the (BV)singers in the inner courtyard, one of which was at the [al]side of the north gate, with [am]its front toward the south, and one at the [an]side of the [ao]south gate facing north. 45 Then he said to me, “This is the (BW)chamber which faces south, intended for the priests who [ap]are (BX)responsible for the [aq]temple; 46 but the (BY)chamber which faces north is for the priests who [ar]are (BZ)responsible for the altar. They are the (CA)sons of Zadok, who from the sons of Levi (CB)come near to the Lord to serve Him.” 47 He measured the courtyard, a perfect square, a (CC)hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide; and the altar was in front of the [as]temple.

48 Then he brought me to the (CD)porch of the [at]temple and measured each side pillar of the porch, five cubits on each side; and the width of the gate was three cubits on each side. 49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the width eleven cubits; and at the (CE)stairway by which it was ascended were (CF)columns belonging to the side pillars, one on each side.

The Inner Temple

41 Then he (CG)brought me to the (CH)sanctuary, and he measured the (CI)side pillars: six [au]cubits wide on each side was the width of the [av]side pillar. The width of the entrance was ten cubits and the [aw]sides of the entrance were five cubits on each side. He also measured [ax]the length of the sanctuary, (CJ)forty cubits, and the width, (CK)twenty cubits. Then he went [ay](CL)inside and measured each (CM)side pillar of the doorway, two cubits, and the doorway, six cubits high; and the width of the doorway, seven cubits. And he measured its length, (CN)twenty cubits, and the width, twenty cubits, before the (CO)sanctuary; and he said to me, “This is the (CP)Most Holy Place.”

Then he measured the wall of the [az]temple, six cubits; and the width of the (CQ)side chambers, four cubits, all around the house on every side. (CR)The side chambers were in three stories, [ba]one above another, and [bb]thirty in each story; and [bc]the side chambers (CS)extended to the wall which stood on [bd]their inward side all around, so that they could be attached, but not be attached to the wall of the temple itself. And the side chambers surrounding the temple were wider at each successive story. Because the (CT)structure surrounding the temple went upward by stages on all sides of the temple, for that reason the width of the temple increased as it went higher; and so one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the [be]second story. I saw also that the house had a raised [bf]platform all around; the foundations of the side chambers were a full [bg]rod of (CU)six [bh]long cubits in height. The [bi]thickness of the outer wall of the side chambers was five cubits. But the (CV)free space between the side chambers belonging to the temple 10 and the outer (CW)chambers was twenty cubits in width around the temple on every side. 11 The [bj]doorways of the side [bk]chambers toward the (CX)free space consisted of one doorway toward the north, and another doorway toward the south; and the width of the (CY)free space was five cubits all around.

12 The (CZ)building that was in front of the (DA)separate area at the side toward the west was seventy cubits wide; and the wall of the building was five cubits [bl]thick all around, and its length was ninety cubits.

13 Then he measured the temple, a (DB)hundred cubits long; the (DC)separate area with the (DD)building and its walls were also a (DE)hundred cubits long. 14 Also the width of the front of the temple and that of the separate [bm]areas along the east side totaled a hundred cubits.

15 And he measured the length of the (DF)building [bn]along the front of the (DG)separate area behind it, with a [bo](DH)gallery on each side, a hundred cubits; he also measured the inner sanctuary and the porches of the courtyard. 16 The (DI)thresholds, the [bp](DJ)latticed windows, and the [bq](DK)galleries all around their (DL)three stories, opposite the threshold, were (DM)paneled with wood all around, and from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered), 17 over the entrance, and to the inner house, and on the outside, and on all the wall all around inside and outside, by measurement. 18 It was [br]carved with (DN)cherubim and (DO)palm trees; and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces: 19 a (DP)human face toward the palm tree on one side and a young (DQ)lion’s face toward the palm tree on the other side; they were [bs]carved on all the house all around. 20 From the ground to above the entrance (DR)cherubim and (DS)palm trees were [bt]carved, as well as on the wall of the sanctuary.

21 The (DT)doorposts of the (DU)sanctuary were square; as for the front of the inner [bu]sanctuary, the appearance of one doorpost was like that of the other. 22 The (DV)altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length two cubits; its corners, its [bv]base, and its [bw]sides were of wood. And he said to me, “This is the (DW)table that is before the Lord.” 23 The (DX)sanctuary and the inner [bx](DY)sanctuary each had a double (DZ)door. 24 Each of the doors had two leaves, two [by](EA)swinging leaves; two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other. 25 Also there were [bz]carved on them, on the doors of the main room, (EB)cherubim and (EC)palm trees like those [ca]carved on the walls; and there was a [cb](ED)threshold of wood on the front of the porch outside. 26 And there were [cc](EE)latticed windows and (EF)palm trees on one side and on the other, on the sides of the (EG)porch; the same were on the (EH)side chambers of the house and the [cd]thresholds.

Chambers of the Temple

42 Then he (EI)brought me out into the (EJ)outer courtyard, the way (EK)toward the north; and he brought me to the (EL)chamber which was opposite the (EM)separate area and opposite the (EN)building toward the north. Along the length, which was a (EO)hundred [ce]cubits, was the north door; the width was fifty cubits. Opposite the (EP)twenty cubits which belonged to the inner courtyard, and opposite the (EQ)stone pavement which belonged to the outer courtyard, was [cf](ER)gallery corresponding to [cg]gallery in three stories. In front of the (ES)chambers was an inner passage ten cubits wide, a way of one hundred cubits; and their openings were on the north. Now the upper chambers were [ch]smaller because the [ci](ET)galleries took more space away from them than from the lower and middle ones in the building. For they were in (EU)three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courtyards; for that reason the upper chambers were [cj]set back from the ground upward, more than the lower and middle ones. As for the (EV)outer wall by the side of the chambers, toward the outer courtyard facing the chambers, its length was fifty cubits. For the length of the chambers which were in the outer courtyard was fifty cubits; and behold, the length of those facing the main room was a (EW)hundred cubits. And below these chambers was the (EX)entrance on the east side, as one enters them from the outer courtyard.

10 In the [ck]thickness of the (EY)wall of the courtyard toward the east, facing the (EZ)separate area and facing the building, there were (FA)chambers. 11 And the (FB)way in front of them was like the appearance of the chambers which were on the north; according to their length, so was their width, and all their exits were according to their building plans and openings. 12 Corresponding to the openings of the chambers which were toward the south was an opening at the head of the way, the way in front of the (FC)wall toward the east, as one enters them.

13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the (FD)separate area, they are the (FE)holy chambers where the priests who are (FF)near to the Lord shall eat the (FG)most holy things. There they shall set the most holy things, the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; for the place is holy. 14 When the priests enter, they shall not go out into the outer courtyard from the sanctuary [cl]without (FH)laying their (FI)garments there in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they shall approach that which is for the people.”

15 Now when he had finished measuring the inner house, he brought me out by way of the (FJ)gate which faced east, and measured it all around. 16 He measured on the east side with the measuring [cm]rod: five hundred rods by the (FK)measuring rod. 17 He measured on the north side: five hundred rods by the measuring rod. 18 On the south side he measured five hundred rods with the measuring rod. 19 He turned to the west side and measured five hundred rods with the measuring rod. 20 He measured it [cn]on the four sides; it had a (FL)wall all around, the (FM)length five hundred rods and the (FN)width five hundred, to (FO)divide between the holy and the [co]common.

Vision of the Glory of God Filling the Temple

43 Then he led me to the (FP)gate, the gate facing east; and behold, the (FQ)glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the (FR)east. And His (FS)voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth (FT)shone from His glory. And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the (FU)vision which I saw when [cp]He came to (FV)destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the (FW)river Chebar; and I (FX)fell on my face. And the glory of the Lord entered the house by way of the gate facing (FY)east. And the (FZ)Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner courtyard; and behold, the (GA)glory of the Lord filled the house.

Then I heard Him speaking to me from the house, while a (GB)man was standing beside me. And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My (GC)throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will (GD)dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their prostitution and by the [cq](GE)corpses of their kings [cr]when they die, by putting their threshold by My threshold, and their door post beside My door post, with only the wall between Me and them. And they have (GF)defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have committed. So I have consumed them in My anger. Now let them (GG)remove their prostitution and the [cs]corpses of their kings far from Me, and I will (GH)dwell among them forever.

10 “As for you, son of man, (GI)inform the house of Israel of the [ct]temple, so that they will be (GJ)ashamed of their wrongdoings; and have them measure the [cu](GK)plan. 11 And if they are ashamed of everything that they have done, make known to them the plan of the house, its layout, its (GL)exits, its entrances, all its plans, all its [cv]statutes, and all its laws. And write it (GM)in their sight, so that they may observe its entire plan and all its statutes and (GN)execute them. 12 This is the [cw]law of the house: its entire [cx]area on the top of the (GO)mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the [cy]law of the house.

The Altar of Sacrifice

13 “And these are the measurements of the (GP)altar by cubits (the (GQ)cubit being a [cz]cubit and a hand width): the [da]base shall be a cubit and the width a cubit, and its border on its edge all around one span; and this shall be the height of the [db]base of the altar. 14 And from the base on the ground to the lower (GR)ledge shall be two cubits, and the width one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits, and the width [dc]one cubit. 15 The [dd]altar hearth shall be four cubits; and from the [de]altar hearth shall extend upward four (GS)horns. 16 Now the [df]altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, (GT)square in its four sides. 17 And the ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides, the border around it shall be half a cubit, and its base shall be a cubit all around; and its (GU)steps shall [dg](GV)face east.”

The Offerings

18 And He said to me, “(GW)Son of man, this is what the Lord [dh]God says: ‘These are the statutes for the altar on the day it is built, to offer (GX)burnt offerings on it and to (GY)sprinkle blood on it. 19 You shall give to the Levitical priests who are from the descendants of (GZ)Zadok, who come (HA)near to Me to serve Me,’ declares the Lord God, ‘a [di](HB)bull as a (HC)sin offering. 20 And you shall take some of its blood and put it on its four (HD)horns and on the four corners of the (HE)ledge, and on the border all around; so you shall (HF)cleanse it and make atonement for it. 21 You shall also take the bull as the sin offering, and it shall be (HG)burned in the appointed place of the house, outside the sanctuary.

22 ‘And on the second day you shall offer a (HH)male goat without blemish as a sin offering, and they shall (HI)cleanse the altar from sin as they cleansed it with the bull. 23 When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a [dj](HJ)bull without blemish and a (HK)ram without blemish from the flock. 24 You shall offer them before the Lord, and the priests shall throw (HL)salt on them, and they shall offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. 25 (HM)For seven days you shall prepare a goat as a sin offering daily; also a [dk]bull and a ram from the flock, both without blemish, shall be prepared. 26 For seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it; so shall they [dl]consecrate it. 27 When they have completed the days, it shall be that on the (HN)eighth day and onward, the priests shall [dm]offer your burnt offerings on the altar, and your (HO)peace offerings; and I will (HP)accept you,’ declares the Lord God.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:1 Lit struck
  2. Ezekiel 40:3 Lit reed, and so throughout the ch
  3. Ezekiel 40:4 Lit set your heart
  4. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit house
  5. Ezekiel 40:5 I.e., “long” cubits, see note 4
  6. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit by the cubit and
  7. Ezekiel 40:5 A cubit and hand width equals about 21 in. or 53 cm
  8. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit building
  9. Ezekiel 40:6 Or in depth
  10. Ezekiel 40:6 Or in depth
  11. Ezekiel 40:7 Lit from the house
  12. Ezekiel 40:8 Lit from the house
  13. Ezekiel 40:9 Lit from the house
  14. Ezekiel 40:11 Lit entrance of the gate
  15. Ezekiel 40:12 Lit border
  16. Ezekiel 40:16 Or beveled inwards
  17. Ezekiel 40:17 Lit to
  18. Ezekiel 40:18 Lit shoulder
  19. Ezekiel 40:21 Lit Its guardrooms were three
  20. Ezekiel 40:21 Lit were
  21. Ezekiel 40:22 Lit they were going up into it
  22. Ezekiel 40:22 Another reading is porches
  23. Ezekiel 40:24 Lit these measurements, and so throughout the ch
  24. Ezekiel 40:25 Lit It
  25. Ezekiel 40:25 Lit these windows
  26. Ezekiel 40:29 Lit it
  27. Ezekiel 40:33 Lit it
  28. Ezekiel 40:36 Lit it
  29. Ezekiel 40:40 Lit shoulder
  30. Ezekiel 40:40 Lit to the one going up
  31. Ezekiel 40:40 Lit entrance of the gate
  32. Ezekiel 40:40 Lit shoulder
  33. Ezekiel 40:41 Lit to the shoulder of
  34. Ezekiel 40:43 Or ledges
  35. Ezekiel 40:43 About 3 in. or 7.5 cm
  36. Ezekiel 40:43 Or inside
  37. Ezekiel 40:44 LXX two chambers
  38. Ezekiel 40:44 Lit shoulder
  39. Ezekiel 40:44 Lit their
  40. Ezekiel 40:44 Lit shoulder
  41. Ezekiel 40:44 As in LXX; MT east
  42. Ezekiel 40:45 Lit keep the duty of
  43. Ezekiel 40:45 Lit house
  44. Ezekiel 40:46 Lit keep the duty of
  45. Ezekiel 40:47 Lit house
  46. Ezekiel 40:48 Lit house
  47. Ezekiel 41:1 Each of these cubits equals about 21 in. or 53 cm
  48. Ezekiel 41:1 As in LXX; MT tent
  49. Ezekiel 41:2 Lit shoulders
  50. Ezekiel 41:2 Lit its length,
  51. Ezekiel 41:3 I.e., of the inner sanctuary
  52. Ezekiel 41:5 Lit house, and so throughout the ch
  53. Ezekiel 41:6 Lit chamber upon chamber
  54. Ezekiel 41:6 Lit thirty times
  55. Ezekiel 41:6 Lit they were coming
  56. Ezekiel 41:6 Lit the inside of the side chambers
  57. Ezekiel 41:7 Lit middle
  58. Ezekiel 41:8 Lit height
  59. Ezekiel 41:8 Lit reed
  60. Ezekiel 41:8 Or to the joint
  61. Ezekiel 41:9 Lit width
  62. Ezekiel 41:11 Lit doorway
  63. Ezekiel 41:11 Lit chamber
  64. Ezekiel 41:12 Lit wide
  65. Ezekiel 41:14 Lit area
  66. Ezekiel 41:15 Lit to
  67. Ezekiel 41:15 Or passageway
  68. Ezekiel 41:16 Or framed
  69. Ezekiel 41:16 Or passageways
  70. Ezekiel 41:18 Lit made
  71. Ezekiel 41:19 Lit made
  72. Ezekiel 41:20 Lit made
  73. Ezekiel 41:21 Lit holy place
  74. Ezekiel 41:22 Lit length
  75. Ezekiel 41:22 Lit walls
  76. Ezekiel 41:23 Lit holy place
  77. Ezekiel 41:24 Or turning
  78. Ezekiel 41:25 Lit made
  79. Ezekiel 41:25 Lit made
  80. Ezekiel 41:25 Or canopy of wood over
  81. Ezekiel 41:26 Or framed
  82. Ezekiel 41:26 Or canopies
  83. Ezekiel 42:2 Each of these cubits equals about 21 in. or 53 cm
  84. Ezekiel 42:3 Or passageway
  85. Ezekiel 42:3 Or passageway
  86. Ezekiel 42:5 Lit shorter
  87. Ezekiel 42:5 Or passageways
  88. Ezekiel 42:6 Or reduced
  89. Ezekiel 42:10 Lit width
  90. Ezekiel 42:14 Lit but there they shall lay
  91. Ezekiel 42:16 Lit reed, and so throughout the ch
  92. Ezekiel 42:20 Lit toward the four winds
  93. Ezekiel 42:20 Lit profane
  94. Ezekiel 43:3 As in some mss and some ancient versions; MT I
  95. Ezekiel 43:7 Or monuments as in Ugaritic
  96. Ezekiel 43:7 Lit in their death; MT on their high places
  97. Ezekiel 43:9 Or monuments as in Ugaritic
  98. Ezekiel 43:10 Lit house
  99. Ezekiel 43:10 Or perfection; or pattern
  100. Ezekiel 43:11 MT repeats and all its plans after statutes
  101. Ezekiel 43:12 Or instruction for
  102. Ezekiel 43:12 Lit border
  103. Ezekiel 43:12 Or instruction for
  104. Ezekiel 43:13 A cubit and hand width equals about 21 in. or 53 cm
  105. Ezekiel 43:13 Lit lap
  106. Ezekiel 43:13 Or back
  107. Ezekiel 43:14 Lit the
  108. Ezekiel 43:15 Or ariel shall
  109. Ezekiel 43:15 Or ariel shall
  110. Ezekiel 43:16 Heb ariel
  111. Ezekiel 43:17 Or be on the east side
  112. Ezekiel 43:18 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  113. Ezekiel 43:19 Or young bull
  114. Ezekiel 43:23 Or young bull
  115. Ezekiel 43:25 Or young bull
  116. Ezekiel 43:26 Lit fill its hands
  117. Ezekiel 43:27 Lit make

Bible Gateway Recommends