Add parallel Print Page Options

Now there was a wall all around the outside of the temple area. The length of the measuring reed in the man’s hand was six long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth in length, so he measured the thickness of the wall, one reed, and the height, one reed. Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep.[a] There were(A) recesses, and each recess was one reed wide and one reed deep, and the space between the recesses, five cubits, and the threshold of the gate by the vestibule of the gate at the inner end was one reed deep.(B) Then he measured the inner vestibule of the gateway, one reed. Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits, and its posts, two cubits, and the vestibule of the gate was at the inner end. 10 There were three recesses on either side of the east gate; the three were of the same size, and the posts on either side were of the same size.(C) 11 Then he measured the width of the opening of the gateway, ten cubits, and the width of the gateway, thirteen cubits. 12 There was a barrier before the recesses, one cubit on either side, and each recess was six cubits square. 13 Then he measured the gate from the back[b] of the one recess to the back[c] of the other, a width of twenty-five cubits from wall to wall.[d] 14 He measured[e] the vestibule (sixty cubits) and the gate next to the post on every side of the court.[f](D) 15 From the front of the gate at the entrance to the end of the inner vestibule of the gate was fifty cubits. 16 The recesses and their posts had windows, with shutters[g] on the inside of the gateway all around, and the vestibules also had windows on the inside all around, and on the posts were palm trees.(E)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 40.6 Heb deep, and one threshold, one reed deep
  2. 40.13 Gk: Heb roof
  3. 40.13 Gk: Heb roof
  4. 40.13 Heb opening facing opening
  5. 40.14 Heb made
  6. 40.14 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  7. 40.16 Meaning of Heb uncertain

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[a] long and measured the wall, and the wall was 10 1⁄2 feet[b] 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.[c] 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[d] 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.[e] It was 14 feet[f] across, with supporting columns 3 1⁄2 feet[g] 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[h] wide at the opening and 22 3⁄4 feet[i] wide in the gateway passage. 12 In front of each of the guard alcoves was a 21-inch[j] curb. The alcoves themselves were 10 1⁄2 feet[k] 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.[l] 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.[m] 15 The full length of the gateway passage was 87 1⁄2 feet[n] 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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. 40:5b Hebrew 1 rod [3.2 meters]; also in 40:5c, 7.
  3. 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.
  4. 40:7 Hebrew 5 cubits [2.7 meters]; also in 40:48.
  5. 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.
  6. 40:9a Hebrew 8 cubits [4.2 meters].
  7. 40:9b Hebrew 2 cubits [1.1 meters].
  8. 40:11a Hebrew 10 cubits [5.3 meters].
  9. 40:11b Hebrew 13 cubits [6.9 meters].
  10. 40:12a Hebrew 1 cubit [53 centimeters].
  11. 40:12b Hebrew 6 cubits [3.2 meters].
  12. 40:13 Hebrew 25 cubits [13.3 meters]; also in 40:21, 25, 29, 30, 33, 36.
  13. 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.
  14. 40:15 Hebrew 50 cubits [26.5 meters]; also in 40:21, 25, 29, 33, 36.