Ezekiel Chapter 40

At a Glance

  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Ezekiel’s temple vision is part of a broader late exile-apocalyptic section (chapters 40–48) that reimagines Israel’s worship after the Babylonian catastrophe.
  • - Sacred space and divine presence: The temple embodies God’s dwelling with His people.
  • - Fulfillment of covenant patterns: God’s instructions emphasize obedience to His precise design.
  • - Holiness and order: The meticulous measurements convey the seriousness of approaching a holy God.

Chapter Overview

Ezekiel 40 begins a long, detailed visionary tour of a future temple complex, beginning with a precise description of time and setting: in the twenty-fifth year of captivity, the hand of the Lord brings Ezekiel to a high mountain, and he encounters a man with a measuring reed who guides him through the sacred precinct. The narrative unfolds in a methodical, architectural fashion: the dimensions and layout of gates, chambers, porches, and walls are measured in exact cubits. This chapter sets the stage for a meticulously described sanctuary, with instruction to declare all that is seen to the house of Israel. The focus is not merely on construction but on fidelity to divine pattern. The “east gate” and the surrounding structures are laid out with careful proportions, and the imagery emphasizes order, holiness, and the divine presence. The text invites readers into the drama of worship: a God who prescribes the sacred space for meeting with His people. The vision cultivates anticipation for the restored temple as the locus of God’s glory among Israel. The chapter ends with the expectation that the vision’s details will shape Israel’s imagination, worship, and practice when the time of restoration arrives. It’s a prologue to a larger theological project: God’s dwelling with His people in a purified, ordered sanctuary.

Historical & Literary Context

Ezekiel’s temple vision is part of a broader late exile-apocalyptic section (chapters 40–48) that reimagines Israel’s worship after the Babylonian catastrophe. The book’s genre blends visionary revelation with prophetic instruction, using precise measurements, symbolic structure, and liturgical significance to convey theological truths. The temple imagery echoes ancient Near Eastern sacred architecture but centers on Yahweh’s unique presence, making space for a transformed, holy community. This section contrasts with earlier chapters that denounce idolatry and predict judgment; here, the emphasis shifts toward restoration, covenant renewal, and the reconstitution of a worshiping people. The measurements function as a symbolic pedagogy, signaling fidelity to God’s pattern and the seriousness of holiness. By grounding hope in a tangible, commanded space, Ezekiel invites his audience to imagine worship as the heart of the life of faith, even in exile, with the temple as a sign of God’s intention to dwell with Israel again.

Key Themes

- Sacred space and divine presence: The temple embodies God’s dwelling with His people.

- Fulfillment of covenant patterns: God’s instructions emphasize obedience to His precise design.

- Holiness and order: The meticulous measurements convey the seriousness of approaching a holy God.

- Liturgical renewal: The vision points toward renewed worship and ceremonial life.

- Hope in exile: The temple serves as a concrete symbol of future restoration and divine faithfulness.

Modern Application

For today, Ezekiel 40 invites readers to consider how communities cultivate spaces—literal or metaphorical—where God’s presence is sought, celebrated, and central. It underscores that worship is not merely personal piety but communal formation around a holy pattern. In practical terms, churches and faith communities can reflect on the spiritual discipline of order, beauty, and reverence in worship spaces, liturgies, and practices. The chapter also offers a corrective to informal or casual approaches to God’s presence, reminding believers that approaching God rightly requires attention to reverence, humility, and communal integrity. The envisioned temple becomes a symbol for the body of Christ as a people whose life together models holiness and hospitality to the world. Additionally, the narrative fosters patient hope—restoration may be envisioned, but it unfolds through discernment, obedience, and faithful communal life, even amid hardship.

Cross-References: Suggested Related Passages

- Ezekiel 8–11 (the presence departs and later returns)

- Exodus 25–31 (the Tabernacle’s design and construction)

- Haggai 2:1–9 (temple rebuilding and divine encouragement)

- Revelation 21–22 (the heavenly temple and God’s dwelling with humanity)

Recommended Personas

- Moses: to draw out the law-like precision and sanctity of God’s dwelling place.

- Jesus: to connect temple imagery with the New Covenant and His body as the locus of God’s presence.

- Paul: to interpret the community of believers as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

- Solomon: to discuss temple dedication, worship, and divine blessing in a restorative age.

Chapter Text

1

In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.

2

In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.

3

And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

4

And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

5

And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

6

Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.

7

And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed.

8

He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.

9

Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.

10

And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.

11

And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.

12

The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.

13

He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.

14

He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.

15

And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.

16

And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.

17

Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.

18

And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.

19

Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.

20

And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.

21

And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

22

And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.

23

And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.

24

After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.

25

And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

26

And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.

27

And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.

28

And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;

29

And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

30

And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.

31

And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.

32

And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.

33

And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

34

And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

35

And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;

36

The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

37

And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

38

And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.

39

And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.

40

And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.

41

Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.

42

And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.

43

And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44

And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.

45

And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.

46

And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

47

So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.

48

And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

49

The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

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