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

The Vision of Jerusalem

40 At the beginning of year 25 of our captivity, on the tenth day of the fourteenth year after the destruction of Jerusalem[a]—on that very day—the Lord grabbed me in his hand and took me there. God brought me in a series of visions to the land of Israel and placed me on top of a very high mountain, where to the south there was something that looked like the outline of a city. That’s where he took me. All of a sudden, there was a man whose appearance resembled glowing[b] bronze! He had a measuring reed and line in his hand as he stood in the city gate. This is what the man told me: “Son of Man, watch carefully,[c] listen closely,[d] and remember[e] everything I’m going to be showing you, because you’ve been brought here to be shown what you’re about to see. Be sure that you tell the house of Israel everything that you observe.”

Measuring the Temple Grounds

All of a sudden, we were at the exterior wall that completely surrounded the Temple. The man whom I had observed held a measuring reed that was six cubits[f] long as measured in cubits that were a cubit and a handbreadth[g] long. As he measured the thickness of the wall, he measured out one reed.[h] Its height was also one reed.[i] Then he went over to the gate that faced toward the east, ascended its steps, and measured its thresholds. One threshold measured one reed[j] and the other one measured one reed.[k] Each guardhouse[l] measured one reed[m] long and one reed[n] wide, and the distance[o] between each guardhouse was five cubits.[p] The threshold of the gate near the vestibule facing away from the Temple entrance[q] measured one reed.[r]

Next, he measured the vestibule of the gate facing away from the Temple entrance at one reed.[s] He measured the vestibule of the gate inside at eight cubits[t] and the doorjambs at two cubits.[u] (The vestibule at the gate faced away from the Temple.) 10 Gate guardhouses stood facing east, numbering three on each side,[v] each of them of equal size[w] to the door jamb; that is, having the same[x] measurement on each side.[y] 11 He measured the width of the gateway at ten cubits,[z] and the length of the gate at thirteen cubits.[aa]

12 The retaining[ab] wall in front of the guardhouses measured one cubit[ac] wide. It stood one cubit[ad] from the wall to the guardhouses, which were six cubits[ae] square.[af] 13 He measured the gate from the roof of the guardhouses to the roof of another[ag] at 25 cubits[ah] from doorway to opposite doorway. 14 Then he measured[ai] the open air porch[aj] at 60 cubits[ak] from the doorjamb of the courtyard that encompassed the gate. 15 The distance from the front entrance gate to the vestibule of the inner gate measured 50 cubits.[al] 16 Latticed windows faced the guardhouses, their side pillars within the gate all around, and also for the porches. Windows were placed all around inside, and the side pillars were engraved with palm trees.

The Outer Court

17 Next, he brought me into the outer court, where chambers and a paved area had been constructed all around the courtyard, with 30 chambers facing the pavement. 18 The pavement to the side[am] of the gates corresponded to the length of the gates. 19 He also measured the width from the front lower gate to the front of the exterior inner court at 100 cubits[an] to the east and to the north.

The North Facing Outer Court

20 Next, he measured the length and width of the outer north-facing gate to the courtyard. 21 It was equipped[ao] with three guardhouses on each side. Its side pillars and porches had measurements identical to the first gate: 50 cubits[ap] long and 25 cubits[aq] wide. 22 Its windows, porches, and palm tree ornaments had measurements identical to the east-facing gate. Reached by seven ascending[ar] steps, its porch lay[as] to the front of the steps. 23 From a gate that stood opposite the northern gate he measured 100 cubits,[at] as well as from the eastern gate.

The South Facing Gate

24 Then he led me toward the south, where there was a gate with side pillar and porch measurements identical to the others. 25 The gate and its porches contained windows all around, identical to the other windows. The length of the porch[au] was 50 cubits[av] and its width was 25 cubits.[aw] 26 Seven steps led up to it, with a porch in front of them. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars, one on each side. 27 The inner court contained a south-facing gate measuring 100 cubits[ax] from gate to gate toward the south.

The Inner Southern Court

28 Next, he brought me to the inner courtyard by way of the south-facing gate. He measured the south-facing gate as having measurements identical to the others. 29 The measurements of its guardhouses, its side pillars, and its porches were identical to the others. The gate and its porches contained windows all around. The length of the porch[ay] was 50 cubits[az] and its width was 25 cubits.[ba] 30 Porches lay all around, measuring 25 cubits[bb] long and five cubits[bc] wide, 31 leading to the outer courtyard. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars. The stairway leading to it contained eight steps.

The Inner Eastern Court

32 Then he brought me into the inner east-facing courtyard, where he measured the gate, identical to the others. 33 The measurement of its guardhouses, side pillars, and porches was identical to the others. The gate and its porches contained windows all around. The length of the porch[bd] was 50 cubits[be] and its width was 25 cubits,[bf] 34 leading to the outer courtyard. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars. The stairway leading to it contained eight steps.

The North Facing Gate

35 Next, he brought me to the north-facing gate, where he measured the gate, identical to the others. 36 The measurement of its guardhouses, side pillars, and porches was identical to the others. The gate and its porches contained windows all around. The length of the porch[bg] was 50 cubits[bh] and its width was 25 cubits,[bi] 37 leading to the outer courtyard. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars. The stairway leading to it contained eight steps. 38 There was a chamber with a doorway by the side pillars next to the gate where they prepare[bj] the burnt offerings.

39 In the porch leading in front of the gate there were two tables on either side for slaughtering burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings, 40 and on the outer side, approaching the northern gateway, there were two tables, as well as two tables on the opposite side of the porch in front of the gate. 41 In that way, there were four tables on each side in front of the gate, for a total of eight tables for use in slaughtering the offerings.[bk]

42 There were four tables carved from stone for the burnt offering, each one and a half cubits[bl] long, one and a half cubits[bm] wide, and one cubit[bn] high, on which the instruments are laid for slaughtering burnt offerings and sacrifices. 43 Double hooks, a single handbreadth[bo] in length, were installed all around in this portion of[bp] the temple area.

The Inner Gate

44 From outside leading into the inner gate there were chambers for the choir. One was beside the north gate facing the south, and another was at the south gate facing the north. 45 The angel[bq] told me, “This south-facing chamber is for the priests who maintain the Temple, 46 and the north-facing chamber is for the priests who maintain the altar. These are Zadok’s descendants, who, as descendants of Levi approach the Lord to minister directly to him.” 47 He measured the court in the form of a square at 100 cubits[br] long and 100 cubits[bs] wide. The altar stood in front of the Temple.

The Temple Porch

48 Next, he brought me to the Temple porch and measured the side pillars at five cubits[bt] on each side. The width of the gate measured three cubits[bu] on each side. 49 The porch was 20 cubits[bv] long and eleven cubits[bw] wide. The stairway by which it was ascended was equipped with columns attached to its side pillars, one on each side.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:1 Lit. of the city
  2. Ezekiel 40:3 The Heb. lacks glowing
  3. Ezekiel 40:4 Lit. watch with your own eyes
  4. Ezekiel 40:4 Lit. listen with your own ears
  5. Ezekiel 40:4 Lit. and put in your heart
  6. Ezekiel 40:5 I.e. about 10.5 feet, given the designated measurement in royal cubits, about 21 inches
  7. Ezekiel 40:5 I.e. the royal cubit, which measured about 21 inches
  8. Ezekiel 40:5 I.e. about 10.5 feet; the reed was six royal cubits
  9. Ezekiel 40:5 I.e. about 10.5 feet, ; the reed was six royal cubits
  10. Ezekiel 40:6 I.e. about 10.5 feet; the reed was six royal cubits
  11. Ezekiel 40:6 I.e. about 10.5 feet; the reed was six royal cubits
  12. Ezekiel 40:7 Or alcove; and so throughout the chapter
  13. Ezekiel 40:7 I.e. about 10.5 feet; the reed was six royal cubits
  14. Ezekiel 40:7 I.e. about 10.5 feet; the reed was six royal cubits
  15. Ezekiel 40:7 The Heb. lacks the distance
  16. Ezekiel 40:7 I.e. about 8.75 feet, given the designated measurement in royal cubits, about 21 inches
  17. Ezekiel 40:7 The Heb. lacks entrance
  18. Ezekiel 40:7 I.e. about 10.5 feet; the reed was six royal cubits
  19. Ezekiel 40:8 I.e. about 10.5 feet; the reed was six royal cubits
  20. Ezekiel 40:9 I.e. about 14 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  21. Ezekiel 40:9 I.e. about 42 inches; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  22. Ezekiel 40:10 Lit. three from here and there
  23. Ezekiel 40:10 Lit. from here one measurement
  24. Ezekiel 40:10 The Heb. lacks that is, having the same
  25. Ezekiel 40:10 Lit. measurement from here and from here
  26. Ezekiel 40:11 I.e. about 17.5 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  27. Ezekiel 40:11 I.e. about 22.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  28. Ezekiel 40:12 Lit. border; or barrier
  29. Ezekiel 40:12 I.e. about 21 inches; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  30. Ezekiel 40:12 I.e. about 21 inches; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  31. Ezekiel 40:12 I.e. about 10.5 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  32. Ezekiel 40:12 Lit. were six cubits from here and six cubits from here.
  33. Ezekiel 40:13 The Heb. lacks of another
  34. Ezekiel 40:13 I.e. about 43.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  35. Ezekiel 40:14 Lit. made
  36. Ezekiel 40:14 So LXX; MT reads the jamb
  37. Ezekiel 40:14 I.e. about 106.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  38. Ezekiel 40:15 I.e. about 87.5 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  39. Ezekiel 40:18 Or The lower pavement
  40. Ezekiel 40:19 I.e. about 175 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  41. Ezekiel 40:21 The Heb. lacks was equipped
  42. Ezekiel 40:21 I.e. about 87.5 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  43. Ezekiel 40:21 I.e. about 43.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  44. Ezekiel 40:22 The Heb. lacks ascending
  45. Ezekiel 40:22 The Heb. lacks lay
  46. Ezekiel 40:23 I.e. about 175 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  47. Ezekiel 40:25 The Heb. lacks of the porch
  48. Ezekiel 40:25 I.e. about 87.5 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  49. Ezekiel 40:25 I.e. about 43.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  50. Ezekiel 40:27 I.e. about 175 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  51. Ezekiel 40:29 The Heb. lacks of the porch
  52. Ezekiel 40:29 I.e. about 87.5 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  53. Ezekiel 40:29 I.e. about 43.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  54. Ezekiel 40:30 I.e. about 43.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  55. Ezekiel 40:30 I.e. about 8.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  56. Ezekiel 40:33 The Heb. lacks of the porch
  57. Ezekiel 40:33 I.e. about 87.5 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  58. Ezekiel 40:33 I.e. about 43.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  59. Ezekiel 40:36 The Heb. lacks of the porch
  60. Ezekiel 40:36 I.e. about 87.5 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  61. Ezekiel 40:36 I.e. about 43.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  62. Ezekiel 40:38 Lit. rinse
  63. Ezekiel 40:41 The Heb. lacks the offerings
  64. Ezekiel 40:42 I.e. about 31.5 inches; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  65. Ezekiel 40:42 I.e. about 31.5 inches; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  66. Ezekiel 40:42 I.e. about 21 inches; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  67. Ezekiel 40:43 I.e. about 3 inches
  68. Ezekiel 40:43 The Heb. lacks this portion of
  69. Ezekiel 40:45 Lit. He
  70. Ezekiel 40:47 I.e. about 175 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  71. Ezekiel 40:47 I.e. about 175 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  72. Ezekiel 40:48 I.e. about 8.75 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  73. Ezekiel 40:48 I.e. about 5.25 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  74. Ezekiel 40:49 I.e. about 35 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches
  75. Ezekiel 40:49 I.e. about 19.25 feet; the royal cubit was 21 inches

The Temple Area Restored

40 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(A)—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me(B) and he took me there. In visions(C) of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain,(D) on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze;(E) he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod(F) in his hand. The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you,(G) for that is why you have been brought here. Tell(H) the people of Israel everything you see.(I)

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,[a] each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured(J) the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.

Then he went to the east gate.(K) He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. The alcoves(L) for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits[b] thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.

Then he measured the portico of the gateway; it[c] was eight cubits[d] deep and its jambs were two cubits[e] 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 of the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.[f] 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[g] 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.[h] The measurement was up to the portico[i] facing the courtyard.[j](M) 15 The distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its portico was fifty cubits.[k] 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.(N)

The Outer Court

17 Then he brought me into the outer court.(O) There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms(P) along the pavement.(Q) 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;(R) it was a hundred cubits[l](S) on the east side as well as on the north.

The North Gate

20 Then he measured the length and width of the north gate, leading into the outer court. 21 Its alcoves(T)—three on each side—its projecting walls and its portico(U) 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(V) 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.(W) 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.(X)

The South Gate

24 Then he led me to the south side and I saw the south gate. He measured its jambs and its portico, and they had the same measurements(Y) 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.(Z) 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.(AA) 27 The inner court(AB) 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.(AC)

The Gates to the Inner Court

28 Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements(AD) as the others. 29 Its alcoves,(AE) 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.(AF) 30 (The porticoes(AG) of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep.) 31 Its portico(AH) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated its jambs, and eight steps led up to it.(AI)

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements(AJ) as the others. 33 Its alcoves,(AK) 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(AL) 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(AM) and measured it. It had the same measurements(AN) as the others, 36 as did its alcoves,(AO) 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[m](AP) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.(AQ)

The Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

38 A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings(AR) were washed. 39 In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings,(AS) sin offerings[n](AT) and guilt offerings(AU) were slaughtered.(AV) 40 By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance of 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(AW) for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high.[o] On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.(AX) 43 And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth[p] long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.

The Rooms for the Priests

44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one[q] at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south[r] gate and facing north. 45 He said to me, “The room facing south is for the priests who guard the temple,(AY) 46 and the room facing north(AZ) is for the priests who guard the altar.(BA) These are the sons of Zadok,(BB) who are the only Levites who may draw near to the Lord to minister before him.(BC)

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.(BD)

The New Temple

48 He brought me to the portico of the temple(BE) and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits[s] and its projecting walls were[t] three cubits[u] wide on either side. 49 The portico(BF) was twenty cubits[v] wide, and twelve[w] cubits[x] from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs,[y] and there were pillars(BG) on each side of the jambs.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:5 That is, about 11 feet or about 3.2 meters; also in verse 12. The long cubit of about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters is the basic unit of measurement of length throughout chapters 40–48.
  2. Ezekiel 40:7 That is, about 8 3/4 feet or about 2.7 meters; also in verse 48
  3. Ezekiel 40:9 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts gateway facing the temple; it was one rod deep. Then he measured the portico of the gateway; it
  4. Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 14 feet or about 4.2 meters
  5. Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 3 1/2 feet or about 1 meter
  6. Ezekiel 40:11 That is, about 18 feet wide and 23 feet long or about 5.3 meters wide and 6.9 meters long
  7. Ezekiel 40:13 That is, about 44 feet or about 13 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 30, 33 and 36
  8. Ezekiel 40:14 That is, about 105 feet or about 32 meters
  9. Ezekiel 40:14 Septuagint; Hebrew projecting wall
  10. Ezekiel 40:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  11. Ezekiel 40:15 That is, about 88 feet or about 27 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 33 and 36
  12. Ezekiel 40:19 That is, about 175 feet or about 53 meters; also in verses 23, 27 and 47
  13. Ezekiel 40:37 Septuagint (see also verses 31 and 34); Hebrew jambs
  14. Ezekiel 40:39 Or purification offerings
  15. Ezekiel 40:42 That is, about 2 2/3 feet long and wide and 21 inches high or about 80 centimeters long and wide and 53 centimeters high
  16. Ezekiel 40:43 That is, about 3 1/2 inches or about 9 centimeters
  17. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew were rooms for singers, which were
  18. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew east
  19. Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 25 feet or about 7.4 meters
  20. Ezekiel 40:48 Septuagint; Hebrew entrance was
  21. Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 5 1/4 feet or about 1.6 meters
  22. Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 35 feet or about 11 meters
  23. Ezekiel 40:49 Septuagint; Hebrew eleven
  24. Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 21 feet or about 6.4 meters
  25. Ezekiel 40:49 Hebrew; Septuagint Ten steps led up to it