Ezekiel Chapter 43

At a Glance

  • Ezekiel 43 returns to the qualitative arrival of God’s glory into the temple.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • This chapter is a continuation of Ezekiel’s temple-prophecy, aimed at shaping the post-exilic community’s worship life.
  • - Divine presence as center: God’s glory fills the temple, signifying intimate dwelling.
  • - Holiness coupled with obedience: The law and pattern must be observed for ongoing access.

Chapter Overview

Ezekiel 43 returns to the qualitative arrival of God’s glory into the temple. The chapter opens with the mighty, overwhelming presence of the Lord coming from the east, filling the temple and entering the inner court. Ezekiel’s reaction is awe-filled; he falls on his face before the vision. The Lord speaks from the temple, reaffirming that the place of His throne and the soles of His feet will dwell among Israel forever. The vision emphasizes that the sanctuary’s purpose is to nourish an unhindered, enduring relationship with God, free from the prior profanations that had marked their idolatry. The man (the divine agent) then instructs Ezekiel to show the house to the house of Israel so that they may be ashamed of their sins and learn the proper form, goings out, and laws. The chapter unfolds with the promise that when the priests and kings align with God’s holiness, and when the people observe the laws and the patterns of this restored sanctuary, God will dwell with them forever. The text frames worship not as a ritual isolated from life but as the center of Israel’s identity and the locus of God’s intimate presence.

Historical & Literary Context

This chapter is a continuation of Ezekiel’s temple-prophecy, aimed at shaping the post-exilic community’s worship life. The genre is visionary prophecy that doubles as liturgical instruction: God’s glory fills the temple, and He instructs the people how to inhabit this sacred space rightly. The chapter reaffirms the temple’s fundamental purpose: to be the ongoing residence of God among His people, provided they adhere to holiness and obedience. It links divine presence with ethical reform, leadership integrity, and the people’s response to divine revelation. The spiritual center is restored, and the book moves toward a concrete pattern for life under God’s rule.

Key Themes

- Divine presence as center: God’s glory fills the temple, signifying intimate dwelling.

- Holiness coupled with obedience: The law and pattern must be observed for ongoing access.

- Sacred space shaping life: Worship informs ethics and social order.

- Shame for repentance: The vision prompts moral and spiritual renewal through conviction.

Modern Application

Ezekiel 43 invites believers to reflect on the interconnection between worship, holiness, and daily living. How does our setting—physical spaces, liturgical patterns, and communal routines—shape our awareness of God’s presence and our response to His holiness? The chapter encourages repentance and reform in communities where patterns may have drifted from God’s standards. It also speaks to leadership accountability and the responsibility to steward sacred spaces in ways that cultivate reverence, trust, and mercy. In personal life, the vision invites believers to cultivate a rhythm of attention to God—entering His presence with humility, and letting worship inform and transform daily choices, relationships, and priorities.

Cross-References: Suggested Related Passages

- Exodus 25–30 (Tabernacle and priestly patterns)

- Ezekiel 40–42 (temple measurements and structure)

- John 2:19–22 (Jesus and the temple’s significance)

- Hebrews 8–10 (Christ as the fulfillment of the heavenly sanctuary)

Recommended Personas

- Moses: to emphasize the sanctity and pattern of God’s dwelling.

- Jesus: to connect temple imagery with His redemptive work and fulfillment.

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

- David: to reflect on worship leadership and devotion.

Chapter Text

1

Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:

2

And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

3

And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.

4

And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.

5

So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.

6

And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.

7

And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

8

In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.

9

Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.

10

Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.

11

And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

12

This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

13

And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.

14

And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit.

15

So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.

16

And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.

17

And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.

18

And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.

19

And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering.

20

And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.

21

Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.

22

And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.

23

When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.

24

And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD.

25

Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.

26

Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.

27

And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.

Discuss This Chapter with Biblical Personas

Explore Ezekiel Chapter 43 with Biblical figures who can provide unique perspectives grounded in Scripture.

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