Ezekiel 40

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 40

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.

2In 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.

3And 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.

4And 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.

6Then 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.

7And [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.

8He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.

9Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate [was] inward.

10And 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.

11And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; [and] the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.

12The 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.

13He 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.

14He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.

15And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate [were] fifty cubits.

16And [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.

17Then 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.

18And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates [was] the lower pavement.

19Then 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.

20And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.

21And 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.

22And 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.

23And 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.

24After 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.

25And [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.

26And [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.

28And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;

29And 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.

30And the arches round about [were] five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.

31And 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.

32And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.

33And 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.

34And 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.

35And he brought me to the north gate, and measured [it] according to these measures;

36The 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.

37And 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.

38And 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.

40And 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.

41Four tables [were] on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew [their sacrifices].

42And 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.

43And within [were] hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables [was] the flesh of the offering.

44And 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.

45And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect [is] toward the south, [is] for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.

46And 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.

47So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar [that was] before the house.

48And 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.

49The 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ezekiel, in the twenty-fifth year of his captivity, is brought by the hand of the LORD in visions to the land of Israel, set upon a high mountain. There, he encounters a man with the appearance of brass, holding a measuring line and reed. This divine guide instructs Ezekiel to observe carefully and declare all that he sees to the house of Israel, beginning with the meticulous measurement of the temple's outer wall and the eastern gate.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with Ezekiel's precise dating of a profound divine vision, wherein he is transported to a high mountain in Israel. A celestial being, resembling brass and equipped with measuring instruments, appears and commands Ezekiel to pay close attention to all that will be revealed, so he may report it to the Israelites. The guide then commences a detailed survey of a vast temple complex, starting with the outer wall and the elaborate eastern gate, noting its chambers, thresholds, and posts with precise cubit measurements. This process continues for the northern and southern gates of the outer court, each described with similar architectural features and dimensions, including windows and palm tree adornments. The vision then progresses to the inner court, with its gates also being measured, highlighting the systematic and comprehensive nature of the divine architectural revelation.

Long Summary

In the twenty-fifth year of his captivity, specifically on the tenth day of the first month, fourteen years after Jerusalem's destruction, Ezekiel experiences a profound vision from God. He is transported to the land of Israel and placed upon a very high mountain, where he sees what appears to be the frame of a city. There, a man whose appearance was like brass, holding a line of flax and a measuring reed, stands at the gate. This divine guide instructs Ezekiel to observe and hear all that will be shown, for the purpose of declaring it to the house of Israel. The detailed survey begins with the outer wall, measured at one reed in breadth and height. The guide then proceeds to meticulously measure the eastern gate, detailing its thresholds, three little chambers on each side, posts, entry breadth, and length, noting features like narrow windows and palm trees. He then leads Ezekiel into the outward court, describing its pavement and thirty chambers. The northern and southern gates of the outer court are subsequently measured, revealing similar designs of chambers, posts, arches, windows, and steps, with specific dimensions of fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits broad. The vision then moves to the inner court, where the southern, eastern, and northern gates are measured according to similar patterns, though some feature eight steps for ascent. Within the inner court, chambers are designated for washing burnt offerings, and tables are prepared for slaying various sacrifices. Further chambers are identified for singers and for priests, specifically designating areas for those who keep the charge of the house and the altar, with the sons of Zadok mentioned as those who minister to the LORD. The chapter concludes with the measurement of the inner court itself, a hundred cubits square, and the initial measurements of the porch of the house, including its posts and length, ascended by steps and flanked by pillars.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Vision and RevelationEzekiel is supernaturally transported to Israel in a vision by 'the hand of the LORD,' signifying a direct divine encounter and the source of the architectural revelation.
  • The Measuring ManA celestial figure, described as having the 'appearance of brass' and equipped with a measuring line and reed, serves as Ezekiel's guide and the primary agent of measurement throughout the vision.
  • Meticulous Architectural DetailThe chapter is characterized by an exhaustive and precise enumeration of measurements for walls, gates, chambers, posts, and other structural elements of the visionary temple complex.
  • Temple Gates and CourtsThe vision details the elaborate design of the outer and inner court gates, including their multiple chambers, thresholds, arches, windows, and decorative palm trees, emphasizing their structured access points.
  • Sacrificial PreparationsSpecific areas within the temple complex are designated for the preparation and slaying of burnt offerings, sin offerings, and trespass offerings, including tables of hewn stone and hooks for the sacrifices.
  • Priestly and Levitical ServiceChambers are allocated for priests, specifically the sons of Zadok, who are responsible for the 'charge of the house' and 'charge of the altar,' as well as chambers for singers, indicating the organized worship within the future temple.