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The New Temple Area

40 On April 28,[a] during the twenty-fifth year of our captivity—fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem—the Lord took hold of me. In a vision from God he took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain. From there I could see toward the south what appeared to be a city. As he brought me nearer, I saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance. He was holding in his hand a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod.

He said to me, “Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return to the people of Israel and tell them everything you have seen.”

The East Gateway

I could see a wall completely surrounding the Temple area. The man took a measuring rod that was 10 1⁄2 feet[b] long and measured the wall, and the wall was 10 1⁄2 feet[c] thick and 10 1⁄2 feet high.

Then he went over to the eastern gateway. He climbed the steps and measured the threshold of the gateway; it was 10 1⁄2 feet front to back.[d] There were guard alcoves on each side built into the gateway passage. Each of these alcoves was 10 1⁄2 feet square, with a distance between them of 8 3⁄4 feet[e] along the passage wall. The gateway’s inner threshold, which led to the entry room at the inner end of the gateway passage, was 10 1⁄2 feet front to back. He also measured the entry room of the gateway.[f] It was 14 feet[g] across, with supporting columns 3 1⁄2 feet[h] thick. This entry room was at the inner end of the gateway structure, facing toward the Temple.

10 There were three guard alcoves on each side of the gateway passage. Each had the same measurements, and the dividing walls separating them were also identical. 11 The man measured the gateway entrance, which was 17 1⁄2 feet[i] wide at the opening and 22 3⁄4 feet[j] wide in the gateway passage. 12 In front of each of the guard alcoves was a 21-inch[k] curb. The alcoves themselves were 10 1⁄2 feet[l] on each side.

13 Then he measured the entire width of the gateway, measuring the distance between the back walls of facing guard alcoves; this distance was 43 3⁄4 feet.[m] 14 He measured the dividing walls all along the inside of the gateway up to the entry room of the gateway; this distance was 105 feet.[n] 15 The full length of the gateway passage was 87 1⁄2 feet[o] from one end to the other. 16 There were recessed windows that narrowed inward through the walls of the guard alcoves and their dividing walls. There were also windows in the entry room. The surfaces of the dividing walls were decorated with carved palm trees.

The Outer Courtyard

17 Then the man brought me through the gateway into the outer courtyard of the Temple. A stone pavement ran along the walls of the courtyard, and thirty rooms were built against the walls, opening onto the pavement. 18 This pavement flanked the gates and extended out from the walls into the courtyard the same distance as the gateway entrance. This was the lower pavement. 19 Then the man measured across the Temple’s outer courtyard between the outer and inner gateways; the distance was 175 feet.[p]

The North Gateway

20 The man measured the gateway on the north just like the one on the east. 21 Here, too, there were three guard alcoves on each side, with dividing walls and an entry room. All the measurements matched those of the east gateway. The gateway passage was 87 1⁄2 feet long and 43 3⁄4 feet wide between the back walls of facing guard alcoves. 22 The windows, the entry room, and the palm tree decorations were identical to those in the east gateway. There were seven steps leading up to the gateway entrance, and the entry room was at the inner end of the gateway passage. 23 Here on the north side, just as on the east, there was another gateway leading to the Temple’s inner courtyard directly opposite this outer gateway. The distance between the two gateways was 175 feet.

The South Gateway

24 Then the man took me around to the south gateway and measured its various parts, and they were exactly the same as in the others. 25 It had windows along the walls as the others did, and there was an entry room where the gateway passage opened into the outer courtyard. And like the others, the gateway passage was 87 1⁄2 feet long and 43 3⁄4 feet wide between the back walls of facing guard alcoves. 26 This gateway also had a stairway of seven steps leading up to it, and an entry room at the inner end, and palm tree decorations along the dividing walls. 27 And here again, directly opposite the outer gateway, was another gateway that led into the inner courtyard. The distance between the two gateways was 175 feet.

Gateways to the Inner Courtyard

28 Then the man took me to the south gateway leading into the inner courtyard. He measured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways. 29 Its guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room were the same size as those in the others. It also had windows along its walls and in the entry room. And like the others, the gateway passage was 87 1⁄2 feet long and 43 3⁄4 feet wide. 30 (The entry rooms of the gateways leading into the inner courtyard were 14 feet[q] across and 43 3⁄4 feet wide.) 31 The entry room to the south gateway faced into the outer courtyard. It had palm tree decorations on its columns, and there were eight steps leading to its entrance.

32 Then he took me to the east gateway leading to the inner courtyard. He measured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways. 33 Its guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room were the same size as those of the others, and there were windows along the walls and in the entry room. The gateway passage measured 87 1⁄2 feet long and 43 3⁄4 feet wide. 34 Its entry room faced into the outer courtyard. It had palm tree decorations on its columns, and there were eight steps leading to its entrance.

35 Then he took me around to the north gateway leading to the inner courtyard. He measured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways. 36 The guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room of this gateway had the same measurements as in the others and the same window arrangements. The gateway passage measured 87 1⁄2 feet long and 43 3⁄4 feet wide. 37 Its entry room[r] faced into the outer courtyard, and it had palm tree decorations on the columns. There were eight steps leading to its entrance.

Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

38 A door led from the entry room of one of the inner gateways into a side room, where the meat for sacrifices was washed. 39 On each side of this entry room were two tables, where the sacrificial animals were slaughtered for the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. 40 Outside the entry room, on each side of the stairs going up to the north entrance, were two more tables. 41 So there were eight tables in all—four inside and four outside—where the sacrifices were cut up and prepared. 42 There were also four tables of finished stone for preparation of the burnt offerings, each 31 1⁄2 inches square and 21 inches high.[s] On these tables were placed the butchering knives and other implements for slaughtering the sacrificial animals. 43 There were hooks, each 3 inches[t] long, fastened all around the foyer walls. The sacrificial meat was laid on the tables.

Rooms for the Priests

44 Inside the inner courtyard were two rooms,[u] one beside the north gateway, facing south, and the other beside the south[v] gateway, facing north. 45 And the man said to me, “The room beside the north inner gate is for the priests who supervise the Temple maintenance. 46 The room beside the south inner gate is for the priests in charge of the altar—the descendants of Zadok—for they alone of all the Levites may approach the Lord to minister to him.”

The Inner Courtyard and Temple

47 Then the man measured the inner courtyard, and it was a square, 175 feet wide and 175 feet across. The altar stood in the courtyard in front of the Temple. 48 Then he brought me to the entry room of the Temple. He measured the walls on either side of the opening to the entry room, and they were 8 3⁄4 feet thick. The entrance itself was 24 1⁄2 feet wide, and the walls on each side of the entrance were an additional 5 1⁄4 feet long.[w] 49 The entry room was 35 feet[x] wide and 21 feet[y] deep. There were ten steps[z] leading up to it, with a column on each side.

Footnotes

  1. 40:1 Hebrew At the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on April 28, 573 B.c.; also see note on 1:1.
  2. 40:5a Hebrew 6 long cubits [3.2 meters], each being a cubit [18 inches or 45 centimeters] and a handbreadth [3 inches or 8 centimeters] in length.
  3. 40:5b Hebrew 1 rod [3.2 meters]; also in 40:5c, 7.
  4. 40:6 As in Greek version, which reads 1 rod [3.2 meters] deep; Hebrew reads 1 rod deep, and 1 threshold, 1 rod deep.
  5. 40:7 Hebrew 5 cubits [2.7 meters]; also in 40:48.
  6. 40:8 As in many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac version; other Hebrew manuscripts add which faced inward toward the Temple; it was 1 rod [10.5 feet or 3.2 meters] deep. Then he measured the entry room of the gateway.
  7. 40:9a Hebrew 8 cubits [4.2 meters].
  8. 40:9b Hebrew 2 cubits [1.1 meters].
  9. 40:11a Hebrew 10 cubits [5.3 meters].
  10. 40:11b Hebrew 13 cubits [6.9 meters].
  11. 40:12a Hebrew 1 cubit [53 centimeters].
  12. 40:12b Hebrew 6 cubits [3.2 meters].
  13. 40:13 Hebrew 25 cubits [13.3 meters]; also in 40:21, 25, 29, 30, 33, 36.
  14. 40:14 Hebrew 60 cubits [31.8 meters]. Greek version reads 20 cubits [35 feet or 10.6 meters]. The meaning of the Hebrew in this verse is uncertain.
  15. 40:15 Hebrew 50 cubits [26.5 meters]; also in 40:21, 25, 29, 33, 36.
  16. 40:19 Hebrew 100 cubits [53 meters]; also in 40:23, 27, 47.
  17. 40:30 As in 40:9, which reads 8 cubits [14 feet or 4.2 meters]; here the Hebrew reads 5 cubits [8 3⁄4 feet or 2.7 meters]. Some Hebrew manuscripts and the Greek version lack this entire verse.
  18. 40:37 As in Greek version (compare parallels at 40:26, 31, 34); Hebrew reads Its dividing wall.
  19. 40:42 Hebrew 1 1⁄2 cubits [80 centimeters] long and 1 1⁄2 cubits wide and 1 cubit [53 centimeters] high.
  20. 40:43 Hebrew a handbreadth [8 centimeters].
  21. 40:44a As in Greek version; Hebrew reads rooms for singers.
  22. 40:44b As in Greek version; Hebrew reads east.
  23. 40:48 As in Greek version, which reads The entrance was 14 cubits [7.4 meters] wide, and the walls of the entrance were 3 cubits [1.6 meters] on each side; Hebrew lacks 14 cubits wide, and the walls of the entrance were.
  24. 40:49a Hebrew 20 cubits [10.6 meters].
  25. 40:49b As in Greek version, which reads 12 cubits [21 feet or 6.4 meters]; Hebrew reads 11 cubits [19 1⁄4 feet or 5.8 meters].
  26. 40:49c As in Greek version; Hebrew reads There were steps that were.

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