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] 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. 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. 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

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. 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] 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. Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, on the inside, one reed. 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

The New Temple

40 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 Jerusalem had been captured,(A) on that very day the Lord’s hand was on me,(B) and He brought me there. In visions of God(C) He took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain.(D) On its southern slope was a structure resembling a city. He brought me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze,(E) with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.(F) He was standing by the gate. He spoke to me: “Son of man, look with your eyes, listen with your ears,(G) and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for you have been brought here so that I might show it to you. Report everything you see to the house of Israel.”(H)

The Wall and Outer Gates

Now there was a wall surrounding the outside of the temple.(I) The measuring rod in the man’s hand was six units of 21 inches;[a] each unit was the standard length plus three inches.[b] He measured the thickness of the wall structure; it was about 10 feet,[c] and its height was the same.[d] Then he came to the gate that faced east and climbed its steps.(J) He measured the threshold of the gate; it was 10 feet deep—the first threshold was 10 feet deep. Each recess was about 10 feet[e] long and 10 feet[f] deep, and there was a space of 8¾ feet[g] between the recesses. The inner threshold of the gate on the temple side next to the gate’s portico was about 10 feet.[h] Next he measured the portico of the gate; it[i] was 14 feet,[j] and its pilasters were 3½ feet.[k] The portico of the gate was on the temple side.

10 There were three recesses on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the pilasters on either side also had the same measurements. 11 Then he measured the width of the gate’s entrance; it was 17½ feet,[l] while the width[m] of the gateway was 22¾ feet.[n] 12 There was a barrier of 21 inches[o] in front of the recesses on both sides, and the recesses on each side were 10½ feet[p] square. 13 Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one recess to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was 43¾ feet.[q] The openings of the recesses faced each other. 14 Next, he measured the pilasters—105 feet.[r] The gate extended around to the pilaster of the court.[s] 15 The distance from the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the gate’s portico on the inside was 87½ feet.[t] 16 The recesses and their pilasters had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway.(K) The porticoes also had windows all around on the inside. Each pilaster was decorated with palm trees.(L)

17 Then he brought me into the outer court,(M) and there were chambers and a paved surface laid out all around the court.(N) Thirty chambers faced the pavement, 18 which flanked the gates and corresponded to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the exterior front of the inner court; it was 175 feet.[u] This was the east; next the north is described.

20 He measured the gate of the outer court facing north, both its length and width. 21 Its three recesses on each side, its pilasters, and its portico had the same measurements as the first gate: 87½ feet[v] long and 43¾ feet[w] wide. 22 Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate that faced east. Seven steps led up to the gate, and its portico was ahead of them. 23 The inner court had a gate facing the north gate, like the one on the east. He measured the distance from gate to gate; it was 175 feet.[x]

24 He brought me to the south side, and there was also a gate on the south. He measured its pilasters and portico; they had the same measurements as the others. 25 Both the gate and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was 87½ feet[y] long and 43¾ feet[z] wide. 26 Its stairway had seven steps, and its portico was ahead of them. It had palm trees on its pilasters, one on each side. 27 The inner court had a gate on the south. He measured from gate to gate on the south; it was 175 feet.[aa]

The Inner Gates

28 Then he brought me to the inner court through the south gate. When he measured the south gate, it had the same measurements as the others. 29 Its recesses, pilasters, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87½ feet[ab] long and 43¾ feet[ac] wide. 30 (There were porticoes all around, 43¾ feet long and 8¾ feet[ad] wide.[ae]) 31 Its portico faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees. Its stairway had eight steps.

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. When he measured the gate, it had the same measurements as the others. 33 Its recesses, pilasters, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87½ feet[af] long and 43¾ feet[ag] wide. 34 Its portico faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees on each side. Its stairway had eight steps.

35 Then he brought me to the north gate.(O) When he measured it, it had the same measurements as the others, 36 as did its recesses, pilasters, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was 87½ feet[ah] long and 43¾ feet[ai] wide. 37 Its portico[aj] faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees on each side. Its stairway had eight steps.

Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

38 There was a chamber whose door opened into the portico of the gate.[ak] The burnt offering was to be washed there.(P) 39 Inside the portico of the gate there were two tables on each side, on which to slaughter the burnt offering, sin offering,(Q) and restitution offering.(R) 40 Outside, as one approaches the entrance of the north gate, there were two tables on one side and two more tables on the other side of the gate’s portico. 41 So there were four tables inside the gate and four outside, eight tables in all on which the slaughtering was to be done. 42 There were also four tables of cut stone for the burnt offering,(S) each 31½ inches[al] long, 31½ inches wide, and 21 inches[am] high. The utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices were placed on them. 43 There were three-inch[an] hooks[ao] fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be laid on the tables.

Rooms for Singers and Priests

44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, there were chambers for the singers:[ap](T) one[aq] beside the north gate, facing south, and another beside the south[ar] gate, facing north. 45 Then the man said to me: “This chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple.(U) 46 The chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok,(V) the ones from the sons of Levi who may approach the Lord to serve Him.”(W) 47 Next he measured the court. It was square, 175 feet[as] long and 175 feet wide. The altar(X) was in front of the temple.

48 Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the pilasters of the portico; they were 8¾ feet[at] thick on each side. The width of the gateway was 24½ feet,[au] and the side walls of the gate were[av] 5¼ feet[aw] wide on each side. 49 The portico was 35 feet[ax] across and 21[ay] feet[az] deep, and 10 steps led[ba] up to it.(Y) There were pillars by the pilasters, one on each side.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:5 = a long cubit
  2. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit six cubits by the cubit and a handbreadth
  3. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit was one rod
  4. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit was one rod
  5. Ezekiel 40:7 Lit was one rod
  6. Ezekiel 40:7 Lit and one rod
  7. Ezekiel 40:7 Lit five cubits
  8. Ezekiel 40:7 Lit was one rod
  9. Ezekiel 40:9 Some Hb mss, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read gate facing the temple side; it was one rod. Then he measured the portico of the gate; it
  10. Ezekiel 40:9 Lit eight cubits
  11. Ezekiel 40:9 Lit two cubits
  12. Ezekiel 40:11 Lit 10 cubits
  13. Ezekiel 40:11 Lit length
  14. Ezekiel 40:11 Lit 13 cubits
  15. Ezekiel 40:12 Lit one cubit
  16. Ezekiel 40:12 Lit six cubits
  17. Ezekiel 40:13 Lit 25 cubits
  18. Ezekiel 40:14 Lit 60 cubits
  19. Ezekiel 40:14 Hb obscure
  20. Ezekiel 40:15 Lit 50 cubits
  21. Ezekiel 40:19 Lit 100 cubits
  22. Ezekiel 40:21 Lit 50 cubits
  23. Ezekiel 40:21 Lit 25 cubits
  24. Ezekiel 40:23 Lit 100 cubits
  25. Ezekiel 40:25 Lit 50 cubits
  26. Ezekiel 40:25 Lit 25 cubits
  27. Ezekiel 40:27 Lit 100 cubits
  28. Ezekiel 40:29 Lit 50 cubits
  29. Ezekiel 40:29 Lit 25 cubits
  30. Ezekiel 40:30 Lit five cubits
  31. Ezekiel 40:30 Some Hb mss, LXX omit v. 30
  32. Ezekiel 40:33 Lit 50 cubits
  33. Ezekiel 40:33 Lit 25 cubits
  34. Ezekiel 40:36 Lit 50 cubits
  35. Ezekiel 40:36 Lit 25 cubits
  36. Ezekiel 40:37 LXX; MT reads pilasters
  37. Ezekiel 40:38 Text emended; MT reads door was by the pilasters, at the gates
  38. Ezekiel 40:42 Lit one and a half cubits
  39. Ezekiel 40:42 Lit one cubit
  40. Ezekiel 40:43 Lit one handbreadth
  41. Ezekiel 40:43 Or ledges
  42. Ezekiel 40:44 LXX reads were two chambers
  43. Ezekiel 40:44 LXX; MT reads singers, which was
  44. Ezekiel 40:44 LXX; MT reads east
  45. Ezekiel 40:47 Lit 100 cubits
  46. Ezekiel 40:48 Lit five cubits
  47. Ezekiel 40:48 Lit 14 cubits
  48. Ezekiel 40:48 LXX; MT omits 24½ feet, and the side walls of the gate were
  49. Ezekiel 40:48 Lit three cubits
  50. Ezekiel 40:49 Lit 20 cubits
  51. Ezekiel 40:49 LXX; MT reads 19¼
  52. Ezekiel 40:49 Lit 12 cubits
  53. Ezekiel 40:49 MT reads and it was on steps that they would go