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Ezekiel 40
English Standard Version

Vision of the New Temple

40 (A)In the twenty-fifth year (B)of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, (C)in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, (D)the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me to the city.[a] 2 In (E)visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on (F)a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south. 3 When he brought me there, behold, there was (G)a man whose appearance was (H)like bronze, with (I)a linen cord and (J)a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway. 4 And the man said to me, (K)“Son of man, (L)look with your eyes, and (M)hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. (N)Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.”

The East Gate to the Outer Court

5 And behold, there was (O)a wall all around the outside of the temple area, and the length of the measuring reed in the man's hand was six long cubits, (P)each being a cubit and a handbreadth[b] in length. So he measured the thickness of the wall, one reed; and the height, one reed. 6 Then he went into (Q)the gateway facing east, (R)going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep.[c] 7 And (S)the side rooms, one reed long and one reed broad; and the space between the side rooms, five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the vestibule of the gate at the inner end, one reed. 8 Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, on the inside, one reed. 9 Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; (T)and its jambs, two cubits; and the vestibule of the gate was at the inner end. 10 And there were three side rooms on either side of the east gate. (U)The three were of the same size, and the jambs on either side were of the same size. 11 Then he measured the width of the opening of the gateway, ten cubits; and the length of the gateway, thirteen cubits. 12 There was a barrier before the side rooms, one cubit on either side. And the side rooms were six cubits on either side. 13 Then he measured the gate from the ceiling of the one side room to the ceiling of the other, a breadth of twenty-five cubits; the openings faced each other. 14 He measured also (V)the vestibule, sixty cubits. And around the vestibule of the gateway was the court.[d] 15 From the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the inner vestibule of the gate was fifty cubits. 16 And the gateway had (W)windows all around, narrowing inwards toward the side rooms and toward their (X)jambs, and likewise the vestibule had windows all around inside, and on the jambs were (Y)palm trees.

The Outer Court

17 Then he brought me into (Z)the outer court. And behold, there were (AA)chambers and a (AB)pavement, all around the court. (AC)Thirty chambers faced the pavement. 18 And the pavement ran along the side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates. This was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the distance from the inner front of the lower gate to the outer front of the inner court,[e] a hundred cubits on the east side and on the north side.[f]

The North Gate

20 As for (AD)the gate that faced toward the north, belonging to (AE)the outer court, he measured its length and its breadth. 21 Its (AF)side rooms, three on either side, and its jambs and its vestibule were of the same size as those of (AG)the first gate. Its length was (AH)fifty cubits, and its breadth (AI)twenty-five cubits. 22 And (AJ)its windows, its vestibule, and (AK)its palm trees were of the same size as those of the gate that faced toward the east. And by seven steps (AL)people would go up to it, and find its vestibule before them. 23 And opposite the gate on the north, as on the east, was a gate to (AM)the inner court. And (AN)he measured from gate to gate, a hundred cubits.

The South Gate

24 And he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a gate on the south. And (AO)he measured its jambs and its vestibule; they had the same size as the others. 25 Both it and its vestibule (AP)had windows all around, like the windows of the others. Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits. 26 And there were seven steps leading up to it, and its vestibule was before them, and it had (AQ)palm trees on its jambs, one on either side. 27 And there was a gate on the south of (AR)the inner court. And he measured from gate to gate toward the south, a hundred cubits.

The Inner Court

28 Then he brought me to (AS)the inner court through the south gate, and (AT)he measured the south gate. It was of the same size as the others. 29 Its (AU)side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as the others, and both it and its vestibule (AV)had windows all around. (AW)Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits. 30 And there were vestibules all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits broad. 31 Its vestibule faced the outer court, and (AX)palm trees were on its jambs, and (AY)its stairway had eight steps.

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and (AZ)he measured the gate. It was of the same size as the others. 33 Its side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as the others, and both it and its vestibule had windows all around. Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits. 34 (BA)Its vestibule faced the outer court, and it had palm trees on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.

35 Then he brought me to (BB)the north gate, and (BC)he measured it. It had the same size as the others. 36 Its side rooms, its jambs, and its vestibule were of the same size as the others,[g] and it had windows all around. Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits. 37 Its vestibule[h] faced the outer court, and it had palm trees on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.

38 There was (BD)a chamber with its door in the vestibule of the gate,[i] (BE)where the burnt offering was to be washed. 39 And in the vestibule of the gate were two (BF)tables on either side, on which the (BG)burnt offering and the (BH)sin offering and the (BI)guilt offering were to be slaughtered. 40 And off to the side, on the outside as one goes up to the entrance of the north gate, were two tables; and off to the other side of the vestibule of the gate were two tables. 41 (BJ)Four tables were on either side of the gate, eight tables, (BK)on which to slaughter. 42 And there were four tables (BL)of hewn stone for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high, on which the instruments were to be laid with which the (BM)burnt offerings and the sacrifices were slaughtered. 43 And hooks,[j] a handbreadth long, were fastened all around within. And on the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid.

Chambers for the Priests

44 On the outside of the inner gateway there were two (BN)chambers[k] in the (BO)inner court, one[l] at the side of the north gate facing south, the other at the side of the south[m] gate facing north. 45 And he said to me, “This chamber that faces south is for the priests (BP)who have charge of the temple, 46 and the chamber that faces north is for the priests (BQ)who have charge of the altar. These are (BR)the sons of Zadok, who alone[n] among the sons of Levi may come (BS)near to the Lord to minister to him.” 47 And he measured the court, (BT)a hundred cubits long and (BU)a hundred cubits broad, a square. And (BV)the altar was in front of the temple.

The Vestibule of the Temple

48 Then he brought me to (BW)the vestibule of the temple and measured the (BX)jambs of the vestibule, five cubits on either side. And the breadth of the gate was fourteen cubits, and the sidewalls of the gate[o] were three cubits on either side. 49 (BY)The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the breadth twelve[p] cubits, and people would go up to it by ten steps.[q] And there were pillars beside the jambs, one on either side.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:1 Hebrew brought me there
  2. Ezekiel 40:5 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters; a handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters
  3. Ezekiel 40:6 Hebrew deep, and one threshold, one reed deep
  4. Ezekiel 40:14 Text uncertain; Hebrew And he made the jambs sixty cubits, and to the jamb of the court was the gateway all around
  5. Ezekiel 40:19 Hebrew distance from before the low gate before the inner court to the outside
  6. Ezekiel 40:19 Or cubits. So far the eastern gate; now to the northern gate
  7. Ezekiel 40:36 One manuscript (compare verses 29 and 33); most manuscripts lack were of the same size as the others
  8. Ezekiel 40:37 Septuagint, Vulgate (compare verses 26, 31, 34); Hebrew jambs
  9. Ezekiel 40:38 Hebrew at the jambs, the gates
  10. Ezekiel 40:43 Or shelves
  11. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew were chambers for singers
  12. Ezekiel 40:44 Hebrew lacks one
  13. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew east
  14. Ezekiel 40:46 Hebrew lacks alone
  15. Ezekiel 40:48 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks was fourteen cubits, and the sidewalls of the gate
  16. Ezekiel 40:49 Septuagint; Hebrew eleven
  17. Ezekiel 40:49 Septuagint; Hebrew and by steps that would go up to it
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Ezekiel 40
Common English Bible

Vision of restoration

40 In the beginning of the twenty-fifth year of our exile, on the tenth day of the month, exactly fourteen years after the city was struck down, on that very day, the Lord’s power was on me, and he took me there. 2 In God’s visions, he brought me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain, where there was a city structure to the south. 3 When he brought me there, I saw a man standing in the gate. He appeared to be bronze, and he had a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. 4 The man spoke to me, “Human one, look and listen well, and take seriously everything I show you, because you were brought here so that these things could be revealed to you. Describe everything you see to the house of Israel.”

Temple compound

5 Now there was an outer wall that went all the way around the temple compound. The measuring rod in the man’s hand was ten and a half feet[a] (based on a standard eighteen inches[b] plus three inches[c]). When he measured the wall’s height and width it was ten and a half feet high and ten and a half feet wide. 6 He entered the gate facing east. He went up its steps, and he measured the plaza[d] at the gate. It was ten and a half feet wide: the plaza was ten and a half feet wide. 7 The rooms were ten and a half feet long and ten and a half feet wide, with a space of seven and a half feet between them. The plaza next to the porch at the gate opposite the temple was ten and a half feet. 8 He measured the porch of the gate opposite the temple: it was ten and a half feet. 9 Then he measured the porch of the gate: it was twelve feet,[e] and its arches were three feet. The porch of the gate was opposite the temple. 10 Inside the east gate, there were three rooms on each side. Each was the same size, and the arches on each side were the same size also. 11 Then he measured the width of the gate opening, which was fifteen feet, and the gate’s length, which was nineteen and a half feet. 12 A border running along the front of the rooms on each side was eighteen inches wide, and each of the rooms was nine feet square. 13 He measured the gate through the room openings that faced each other. From the outer ceiling edge of one room to the outer ceiling edge of the other, the gate was thirty-seven and a half feet wide. 14 Next he made out the perimeter of the hallway, defined by the arches inside the gate: it was ninety feet. 15 It was seventy-five feet from the front of the outer gate to the front of the inner porch of the gate. 16 Inside the gate, all of the rooms and their arches had closed windows; there were also niches inside the porch all the way around. The arches were decorated with palm trees.

17 Then he brought me to the outer courtyard, which consisted of chambers and a pavement all the way around. Thirty chambers came up to the pavement, 18 and the pavement came up to the facades of the gates along their entire length. That was the lower pavement. 19 When he measured the width from the inside of the lower gate to the outer edge of the inner courtyard, it was one hundred fifty feet.

After he measured the east gate, he measured the north gate, 20 the one facing north at the outer courtyard. He measured its length and width, 21 its three inner rooms on each side, its arches, and its porch. Its measurements were the same as the first gate: seventy-five feet long and thirty-seven and a half feet wide. 22 The windows, porch, and palm decorations had the same measurements as those of the east gate. Seven steps led up to the entrance, and the porch was at the other end. 23 There were also gates to the inner courtyard opposite the north and east gates. When he measured from gate to gate, it was one hundred fifty feet.

24 Then he had me walk toward the south, where there was a gate facing south. He measured its arches and porch using the same measurements. 25 Its windows and its porch all around were like the others, and the gate also was seventy-five feet long and thirty-seven and a half feet wide. 26 Its stairway had seven steps, and its porch was at the other end. On its arches, one on either side, were palm decorations. 27 There was a gate to the inner courtyard on the south. When he measured from gate to gate on the south side, it was one hundred fifty feet.

28 When he brought me to the inner courtyard by way of the south gate, he took the same measurements of the south gate. 29 Its rooms, arches, and porch, as well as its windows and porch all the way around, measured the same as the others. It was seventy-five feet long and thirty-seven and a half feet wide. 30 There were porches all around, thirty-seven and a half feet long and seven and a half feet wide. 31 Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Palms decorated its arches, and its stairway had eight steps.

32 Then he brought me to the inner courtyard on the east side, and again he took the same measurements of the gate. 33 Its rooms, arches, and porch measured the same as the others, as well as its windows and porch all the way around. It was seventy-five feet long and thirty-seven and a half feet wide. 34 Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Palm trees decorated its arches on both sides, and its stairway had eight steps. 35 Then he brought me to the north gate and took the same measurements of the 36 rooms, arches, and porch, and also its windows all around. It was seventy-five feet long and thirty-seven and a half feet wide. 37 Its porch[f] faced the outer courtyard. Palm trees decorated its arches on both sides, and its stairway had eight steps.

38 At that gate, there was a room with an entrance in the arches for washing the entirely burned offering, 39 and inside the porch on each side of the gate were two tables where the entirely burned offerings, the purification offerings, and the compensation offerings were slaughtered. 40 Outside, two pairs of tables flanked the entrance of the north gate at both ends, at the steps on one end and the porch on the other. 41 There were four tables on each side of the gate, eight tables in all, for preparing the animal offerings. 42 The four tables that were used for the entirely burned offering as well as for the communal sacrifices were made of hewn stone. Each was twenty-seven inches square and eighteen inches high. Equipment used in the ritual slaughter was set on them. 43 Hooks,[g] three inches wide, were securely fixed all the way around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.

44 Outside the inner gate there were two[h] chambers in the inner courtyard. The one beside the north gate faced south, and the one beside the east gate faced north. 45 He spoke to me: “The chamber facing south is for the priests who keep watch over the temple, 46 and the chamber facing north is for the priests who keep watch over the altar. Of all the Levites, only the Zadokites may draw near to serve the Lord.” 47 Then he measured the courtyard. It was square, one hundred fifty feet long and one hundred fifty feet wide. The altar was in front of the temple.

The temple

48 Then he brought me to the porch of the temple and measured its arches. They were seven and a half feet on each side, and the width of the gate was four and a half feet on each side. 49 The porch was thirty feet long and eighteen feet wide. Steps led up into the porch, and there were columns for the arches, one on each side.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:5 Heb shesh ammoth ba'ammah traditionally six long cubits, which is defined as six times a standard ammah of eighteen inches plus a topha (traditionally handbreadth) of three inches. So the measuring rod has six segments of twenty-one inches each, which equals ten and a half feet. It is unclear whether the measurements with the rod continue past 40:8, when standard ammah appear, though the longer ammah do continue briefly in 43:13-17 for the altar.
  2. Ezekiel 40:5 Or a standard cubit
  3. Ezekiel 40:5 Or a handbreadth
  4. Ezekiel 40:6 Or threshold; Heb architectural and decorative terminology in Ezek 40–48 is often uncertain.
  5. Ezekiel 40:9 Or eight cubits
  6. Ezekiel 40:37 LXX; MT arches
  7. Ezekiel 40:43 Heb uncertain
  8. Ezekiel 40:44 LXX; MT singing
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