Ezekiel 40
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In the five and twentieth year of our captivity - According to the date here given, this prophecy was delivered on Tuesday, April 20, A.M. 3430, in the twenty-fifth year of the captivity of Jeconiah, and fourteen years after the taking of Jerusalem. The temple here described by Ezekiel is, in all probability, the same which he saw before his captivity, and which had been burned by the Chaldeans fourteen years before this vision. On comparing the Books of Kings and Chronicles with this prophet, we shall find the same dimensions in the parts described by both; for instance, the temple, or place which comprehended the sanctuary, the holy place, and the vestibule or porch before the temple, is found to measure equally the same both in Ezekiel and the Kings. Compare Kg1 6:3-16, with Eze 41:2, etc. The inside ornaments of the temple are entirely the same; in both we see two courts; an inner one for the priests, and an outer one for the people. Compare Kg1 6:29-36; Ch2 4:9; and Eze 41:16, Eze 41:17, and Eze 48:7-10. So that there is room to suppose that, in all the rest, the temple of Ezekiel resembled the old one; and that God's design in retracing these ideas in the prophet's memory was to preserve the remembrance of the plan, the dimensions, the ornaments, and whole structure of this Divine edifice; and that at the return from captivity the people might more easily repair it, agreeably to this model. The prophet's applying himself to describe this edifice was a motive of hope to the Jews of seeing themselves one day delivered from captivity, the temple rebuilt, and their nation restored to its ancient inheritance. Ezekiel touches very slightly upon the description of the temple or house of the Lord, which comprehended the holy place or sanctuary, and which are so exactly de…
Open source ↗THE REMAINING CHAPTERS, THE FORTIETH THROUGH FORTY-EIGHTH, GIVE AN IDEAL PICTURE OF THE RESTORED JEWISH TEMPLE. (Eze. 40:1-49) beginning of the year--the ecclesiastical year, the first month of which was Nisan. the city . . . thither--Jerusalem, the center to which all the prophet's thoughts tended.
Open source ↗In the five and twentieth year of our captivity,.... That is, from Jeconiah's captivity, from whence this prophet begins his dates: he calls it our captivity, because he himself was then carried captive; and this was twenty years after his first vision; see Eze 1:1, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month; the Jews had two beginnings of their year, the one on civil accounts, which was in the autumnal equinox, in the month Tisri, which answers to part of our September; and if this is meant here, the tenth day of it was the day of atonement, in which the Jews were to afflict their souls; but on this day the prophet has a view of the Gospel church, which receives the atonement by the sacrifice of Christ: the other beginning of the year, which was on ecclesiastic accounts, was in the vernal equinox, the month Nisan, which answers to part of our March; and the tenth day of it was the day that the passover lamb was separated from the flock, and kept up till the fourteenth; the time between Christ's public entry into Jerusalem, and his being sacrificed as the passover for us. Some interpreters go one way, some the other: it is not easy to determine which is meant; though I think more probably the latter, since church affairs are chiefly here represented. This, according to the Talmudists (n), was the year of the jubilee: Bishop Usher (o) places it in the year of the world 3430 A.M., and before Christ 574; and makes the day to be the thirtieth of April, and the third day of the week (Tuesday); and, as to the year, Mr. Whiston (p) agrees with, him: in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten; taken, broken up, and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar; its walls demolished; its houses burnt, and inhabitants put to the sword, or carried captive. This was in t…
Open source ↗Introduction Eze 40:1. In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was smitten, on this same day the hand of Jehovah came upon me, and He brought me thither. Eze 40:2. In visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain; and upon it there was like a city-edifice toward the south. Eze 40:3. And He brought me thither, and behold there was a man, his appearance like the appearance of brass, and a flaxen cord in his hand, and the measuring-rod; and he stood by the gate. Eze 40:4. And the man spake to me: Son of man, see with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thy heart upon all that I show thee; for thou art brought hither to show it thee. Tell all that thou seest to the house of Israel. - The twofold announcement of the time when the prophet was shown the vision of the new temple and the new kingdom of God points back to Eze 1:1 and Eze 33:21, and places this divine revelation concerning the new building of the kingdom of God in a definite relation, not only to the appearance of God by which Ezekiel was called to be a prophet (Eze 1:1, Eze 1:3), but also to the vision in Ezekiel 8-11, in which he was shown the destruction of the ancient, sinful Jerusalem, together with its temple. The twenty-fifth year of the captivity, and the fourteenth year after the city was smitten, i.e., taken and reduced to ashes, are the year 575 before Christ. There is a difference of opinion as to the correct explanation of בּראשׁ השּׁנה, at the beginning of the year; but it is certainly incorrect to take the expression as denoting the beginning of the economical or so-called civil year, the seventh month (Tishri). For, in the first place, t…
Open source ↗Here is, 1. The date of this vision. It was in the twenty-fifth year of Ezekiel's captivity (Eze 40:1), which some compute to be the thirty-third year of the first captivity, and is here said to be the fourteenth year after the city was smitten. See how seasonably the clearest and fullest prospects of their deliverance were given, when they were in the depth of their distress, and an assurance of the return of the morning when they were in the midnight of their captivity: "Then the hand of the Lord was upon me and brought me thither to Jerusalem, now that it was in ruins, desolate and deserted" - a pitiable sight to the prophet. 2. The scene where it was laid. The prophet was brought, in the visions of God, to the land of Israel, Eze 40:2. And it was not the first time that he had been brought thither in vision. We had him carried to Jerusalem to see it in its iniquity and shame (Eze 8:3); here he is carried thither to have a pleasing prospect of it in its glory, though its present aspect, now that it was quite depopulated, was dismal. He was set upon a very high mountain, as Moses upon the top of Pisgah, to view this land, which was now a second time a land of promise, not yet in possession. From the top of this mountain he saw as the frame of a city, the plan and model of it; but this city was a temple as large as a city. The New Jerusalem (Rev 21:22) had no temple therein; this which we have here is all temple, which comes much to one. It is a city for men to dwell in; it is a temple for God to dwell in; for in the church on earth God dwells with men, in that in heaven men dwell with God. Both these are framed in the counsel of God, framed by infinite wisdom, and all very good. 3. The particular discoveries of this city (which he had at first a general view of) were…
Open source ↗40:1–48:35 The final section of Ezekiel focuses on the new Temple (40:1–47:12; see “Temple Architecture as Theology” Theme Note; “Temple Legislation as Theology” Theme Note) and on reallotment of the land (47:13–48:35; see “Israel’s Geography as Theology” Theme Note). The Temple at the center of the land was the capstone of God’s program of restoring and sanctifying his people so that he could once again dwell in their midst (see 37:28). This Temple, which Ezekiel saw in a vision, was never actually constructed. 40:1–46:24 The prophet’s tour of the new Temple proceeded from the outside of the Temple into its center. From the inside, he then returned outwards, ending up at the kitchens in the corners of the outer courtyard (46:19-24).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) גָּלוּת (gâlûwth, H1546) — captivity; concretely, exiles (collectively) רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… עָשׂוֹר (ʻâsôwr, H6218) — ten; by abbreviated form ten strings, and so a decachord חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to…
Open source ↗מַרְאָה (marʼâh, H4759) — a vision; also (causatively) a mirror אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נוּחַ (nûwach, H5117) — to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and… מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… גָּבֹהַּ (gâbôahh, H1364) — elevated (or elated), powerful, arrogant הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) מִבְנֶה (mibneh, H4011) — a building עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… נֶגֶב (negeb, H5045) — the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah,…
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… נְחֹשֶׁת (nᵉchôsheth, H5178) — copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as… פָּתִיל (pâthîyl, H6616) — twine פִּשְׁתֶּה (pishteh, H6593) — linen (i.e. the thread, as carded) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מִדָּה (middâh, H4060) — properly, extension, i.e. height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard);… קָנֶה (qâneh, H7070) — a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem,… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate
Open source ↗אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… אֹזֶן (ʼôzen, H241) — broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… מַעַן (maʻan, H4616) — properly, heed, i.e. purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗חוֹמָה (chôwmâh, H2346) — a wall of protection חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מִדָּה (middâh, H4060) — properly, extension, i.e. height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard);… קָנֶה (qâneh, H7070) — a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem,… שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8337) — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… טֹפַח (ṭôphach, H2948) — {a spread of the hand, i.e. a palm-breadth (not 'span' of the fingers); architecturally,… מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) בִּנְיָן (binyân, H1146) — an edifice
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb קָדִים (qâdîym, H6921) — the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… מַעֲלָה (maʻălâh, H4609) — elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought… מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… סַף (çaph, H5592) — a vestibule (as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or wine) אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first קָנֶה (qâneh, H7070) — a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem,… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗תָּא (tâʼ, H8372) — a room (as circumscribed) אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first קָנֶה (qâneh, H7070) — a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem,… אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… סַף (çaph, H5592) — a vestibule (as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or wine) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate אֵצֶל (ʼêtsel, H681) — a side; (as a preposition) near אוּלָם (ʼûwlâm, H197) — a vestibule (as bound to the building) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… אוּלָם (ʼûwlâm, H197) — a vestibule (as bound to the building) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first קָנֶה (qâneh, H7070) — a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem,…
Open source ↗מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… אוּלָם (ʼûwlâm, H197) — a vestibule (as bound to the building) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate שְׁמֹנֶה (shᵉmôneh, H8083) — a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal)… אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… אַיִל (ʼayil, H352) — properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗תָּא (tâʼ, H8372) — a room (as circumscribed) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb קָדִים (qâdîym, H6921) — the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for… שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice פֹּה (pôh, H6311) — this place (French ici), i.e. here or hence אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first מִדָּה (middâh, H4060) — properly, extension, i.e. height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard);… אַיִל (ʼayil, H352) — properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a…
Open source ↗מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… תָּא (tâʼ, H8372) — a room (as circumscribed) אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8337) — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth
Open source ↗מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate גָּג (gâg, H1406) — a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar תָּא (tâʼ, H8372) — a room (as circumscribed) רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אַיִל (ʼayil, H352) — properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a… שִׁשִּׁים (shishshîym, H8346) — sixty אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
In the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth day of the tenth month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has been taken!”
So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.
In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
In the twelfth year, on the first day of the twelfth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
And there the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He said to me, “Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak with you.”
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.
In the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah were sitting before me; and there the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me.
In the twenty-seventh year, on the first day of the first month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt.
On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,