Add parallel Print Page Options

Measurements of a New Temple

40 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month—in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day—the hand of Adonai was on me, and He brought me there. In visions God brought me to the land of Israel and set me down upon a very high mountain. On it, toward the south, was something like the construction of a city. He brought me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze.[a] He had a linen cord in his hand and a measuring rod.[b] He was standing in the gateway.

The man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, set your heart on all that I show you—for I brought you here in order to show you—and report all that you see to the house of Israel.”

Behold, an outer wall was all around the House. The measuring rod in the man’s hand was six cubits long,[c] each of which was a normal cubit and a handbreadth. When he measured the thickness of the wall structure, it was one rod, and the height was one rod.

Then he went to the gate that faced east and went up its steps. When he measured the threshold of the gate, it was one rod wide. Also the other threshold was one rod wide. Each guard chamber was one rod long and one rod wide. The space between the chambers was five cubits. The threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate, facing the House, measured one rod. When he measured the porch of the gate toward the House, it was one rod. When he measured the porch of the gate, it was eight cubits; its pillars were two cubits. The porch of the gate faced the House. 10 Now the guard chambers of the east gate were three on this side, and three on the other side—the three had the same measurement. The side pillars had the same measure on this side and on that side. 11 When he measured the width of the entrance of the gate, it was ten cubits, and the length of the gate was 13 cubits. 12 A barrier wall was in front of the guard chambers, one cubit on each side. Each chamber was six cubits on each side. 13 When he measured the gate from the roof of the one chamber to the roof of the other, the width was 25 cubits, door facing door. 14 Then he did the pillars—60 cubits. A gateway extended all around to the pillar of the courtyard. 15 Now from the front of the gate of the entrance to the front of the inner porch of the gate measured 50 cubits. 16 There were shuttered windows toward the chambers and toward their pillars within the surrounding gate, and likewise the porches had windows all around inside. On each pillar were palm trees.

17 Then he brought me to the outer court.[d] Behold, there were rooms and pavement, made for the surrounding court, with 30 rooms along the pavement. 18 The pavement was by the side of the gates, as wide as the gates were long. This was the lower pavement. 19 He measured the width from the front of the lower gate to the exterior front of the inner court—it was 100 cubits, to the east and to the north.

20 Next he measured the length and width of the gate of the outer court facing toward the north. 21 Its guard chambers were three on this side and three on that side. Its pillars and its porches had the same measurements as the first gate—50 cubits long and 25 cubits wide. 22 Its windows, porches and palm trees were the same measurements as the gate facing toward the east. Its stairway had seven steps, and its porch was in front of them. 23 A gate to the inner court was opposite the other gate, northward and eastward. He measured 100 cubits from gate to gate.

24 Then he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a gate toward the south. He measured its pillars and its porches. They had the same measurements. 25 The gate and its porch had windows all around, like the other windows, 50 cubits long and 25 cubits wide. 26 Its stairway had seven steps, and its porches were in front of them. It had palm-trees on its pillars, one on this side and another on that side. 27 There was a gate to the inner court toward the south. He measured from gate to gate toward the south—100 cubits.

28 Then he brought me to the inner court through the south gate. When he measured the south gate, it had the same measurements. 29 Its chambers, pillars and porch had the same measurements. There were windows in it and in the surrounding porch. It was 50 cubits long and 25 cubits wide. 30 There were porches all around, 25 cubits long and five cubits wide. 31 Its porch was toward the outer court. Palm-trees were on its pillars. Its stairway had eight steps.

32 Then he brought me into the inner court toward the east. He measured it with the same measurements. 33 Its chambers, pillars and porch had the same measurements. There were windows in it and in its surrounding porch. It was 50 cubits long and 25 cubits wide. 34 Its porch was toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its pillars on this side and on that side. Its stairway had eight steps.

35 He brought me to the north gate. He measured it with the same measurements: 36 its chambers, pillars and porch. There were windows in it all around. It was 50 cubits long and 25 cubits wide. 37 Its pillars were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its pillars, on this side and on that side. Its stairway had eight steps. 38 A chamber with its entry was by the pillars at the gates; there they rinse the burnt offering. 39 In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to slaughter the burnt offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering. 40 Off to the side, on the outside as one goes up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables. On the other side of the porch of the gate were two tables. 41 Four tables were on one side and four tables were on the other side, by the side of the gate—eight tables, on which they would slaughter. 42 There were four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit high. The instruments for the slaughter of the burnt offering and the sacrifice were laid on them. 43 Hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened in the House all around. The flesh of the offering was to be placed upon the tables.

44 Outside the inner gate in the inner court were chambers for the singers, one of which was at the side of the north gate, facing south. The one at the side of the east gate faced north. 45 He said to me, “This chamber that faces toward the south is for the kohanim who keep charge of the House. 46 The chamber that faces toward the north is for the kohanim who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, those from the sons of Levi who come near to Adonai to minister to Him.”

47 Then he measured the court. It was 100 cubits long and 100 cubits wide, a square. The altar was in front of the House. 48 He brought me to the porch of the House. He measured each pillar of the porch, five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side. The width of the gate was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side. 49 The length of the porch was 20 cubits and the width 11 cubits. It was ascended by way of steps, where pillars stood, one on each side.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:3 cf. Rev. 1:15.
  2. Ezekiel 40:3 Lit. reed, throughout the chapter; cf. Rev. 11:1.
  3. Ezekiel 40:5 About ten and a half feet.
  4. Ezekiel 40:17 cf. Rev. 11:2.