Ezekiel 41
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
To the temple - He had first described the courts and the porch. See chap. 40.
Open source ↗THE CHAMBERS AND ORNAMENTS OF THE TEMPLE. (Eze. 41:1-26) tabernacle--As in the measurement of the outer porch he had pointed to Solomon's temple, so here in the edifice itself, he points to the old tabernacle, which being eight boards in breadth (each one and a half cubits broad) would make in all twelve cubits, as here. On the interior it was only ten cubits.
Open source ↗Afterward he brought me to the temple,.... Having measured the porch into it, its posts, and gate. This is the body of the building, which was the "frame" of a city first shown, the principal fabric; for hitherto he had been only measuring the outward and inner courts, and their gates, and what were in them; but now he is come to the house itself, called a temple; by which not only particular Gospel churches are called, Co1 3:16, but the Gospel church state in general, Zac 6:12, and especially as in the latter day; so the Philadelphian church state, which represents the spiritual reign of Christ, or the glory of the latter day, is called the temple of my God, Rev 3:12, which will be a holy temple to the Lord where he will dwell in a gracious manner, and be worshipped in spirit and in truth; and here his glory will be seen; it will be built up of precious and costly stones, even living and lively ones; a spiritual house to offer up the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise: and, as in the material temple or holy place stood the candlestick and table of shewbread; here the light of the Gospel will burn clearly; and Christ the bread of life be held forth in the ordinance of the supper; where, as at a table, saints shall have intimate fellowship with him: and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side these were the posts of the door of the temple, and stood on each side of it, on the north and south; and this was the thickness, six cubits or a reed each, three yards and a half; this was the frontispiece of the door of the palace of the King of kings: which was the breadth of the tabernacle; the tabernacle of Moses; that is, these posts, or this frontispiece, were as broad as the whole tabernacle of Moses was; which had…
Open source ↗The Inner Space of the Temple (see Plate III B and C) Eze 41:1. And he led me into the temple, and measured the pillars, six cubits breadth on this side and six cubits breadth on that side, with regard to the breadth of the tent. Eze 41:2. And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the shoulders of the door, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that: and he measured its length, forty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits. Eze 41:3. And he went within the measured the pillar of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. Eze 41:4. And he measured its length, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, toward the temple; and said to me, This is the holy of holies. - Eze 41:1 and Eze 41:2 give the measurements of the holy place. היכל is used here in the more restricted sense for the nave of the temple, the holy place (B), without the porch and the holy of holies (cf. Kg1 6:17). The measuring commences with the front (eastern) wall, in which there was the entrance door. This wall had pillars (e e) of six cubits breadth on either side (on the right hand and the left), and between the pillars a door (d) ten cubits broad, with door-shoulders (e e) of five cubits on this side and that (Eze 41:2). These measurements (6 + 6 + 10 + 5 + 5) yield for the front wall a total breadth of thirty-two cubits. This agrees with the measurements which follow: twenty cubits, the (internal) breadth of the holy place, and six cubits the thickness of the wall (e) on either side (Eze 41:5). The only remaining difficulty is in the very obscure words appended, רחב האהל, in which Ewald and Hitzig propose to alter האהל into האיל otni האהל re, because the lxx have substituted τοῦ αἰλάμ, but without making any improvement, as האיל is sti…
Open source ↗We are still attending a prophet that is under the guidance of an angel, and therefore attend with reverence, though we are often at a loss to know both what this is and what it is to us. Observe here, 1. After the prophet had observed the courts he was at length brought to the temple, Eze 41:1. If we diligently attend to the instructions given us in the plainer parts of religion, and profit by them, we shall be led further into an acquaintance with the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Those that are willing to dwell in God's courts shall at length be brought into his temple. Ezekiel was himself a priest, but by the iniquity and calamity of the times was cut short of his birthright privilege of ministering in the temple; but God makes up the loss to him by introducing him into this prophetical, evangelical, celestial temple, and employing him to transmit a description of it to the church, in which he was dignified above all the rest of his order. 2. When our Lord Jesus spoke of the destroying of this temple, which his hearers understood of this second temple of Jerusalem, he spoke of the temple of his body (Joh 2:19, Joh 2:21); and with good reason might he speak so ambiguously when Ezekiel's vision had a joint respect to them both together, including also his mystical body the church, which is called the house of God (Ti1 3:15), and all the members of that body, which are living temples, in which the Spirit dwells. 3. The very posts of this temple, the door-posts, were as far one from the other, and consequently the door was as wide, as the whole breadth of the tabernacle of Moses (Eze 41:1), namely, twelve cubits, Exo 26:16, Exo 26:22, Exo 26:25. In comparison with what had been under the law we may say, Wide is the gate which leads into the church, the ceremonial…
Open source ↗41:1-2 The Temple walls were 10½ feet thick, but here the gates could be replaced by a doorway because only the priests would have access to the surrounding inner court. The sanctuary was the most important space in the new Temple, so it is described in the most detail and with the most precise measurements.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) הֵיכָל (hêykâl, H1964) — a large public building, such as a palace or temple מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… אַיִל (ʼayil, H352) — properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a… 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… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) פֹּה (pôh, H6311) — this place (French ici), i.e. here or hence אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
Open source ↗רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way 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… כָּתֵף (kâthêph, H3802) — the shoulder (proper, i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments… חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length אַרְבָּעִים (ʼarbâʻîym, H705) — forty עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) פְּנִימָה (pᵉnîymâh, H6441) — faceward, i.e. indoors מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… אַיִל (ʼayil, H352) — properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a… פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold 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 רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;…
Open source ↗מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length 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… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… הֵיכָל (hêykâl, H1964) — a large public building, such as a palace or temple אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
Open source ↗מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… קִיר (qîyr, H7023) — a wall (as built in a trench) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) 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… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) צֵלָע (tsêlâʻ, H6763) — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence,… אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗צֵלָע (tsêlâʻ, H6763) — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence,… שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice שְׁלוֹשִׁים (shᵉlôwshîym, H7970) — thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth פַּעַם (paʻam, H6471) — a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) קִיר (qîyr, H7023) — a wall (as built in a trench) 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… אָחַז (ʼâchaz, H270) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
Open source ↗רָחַב (râchab, H7337) — to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative) סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively מַעַל (maʻal, H4605) — properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from… צֵלָע (tsêlâʻ, H6763) — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence,… מוּסָב (mûwçâb, H4141) — a turn, i.e. circuit (of a building) 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… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… תַּחְתּוֹן (tachtôwn, H8481) — bottommost עֶלְיוֹן (ʻelyôwn, H5945) — an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme תִּיכוֹן (tîykôwn, H8484) — central
Open source ↗רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… גֹּבַהּ (gôbahh, H1363) — elation, grandeur, arrogance 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… מְיֻסָּדָה (mᵉyuççâdâh, H4328) — something founded, i.e. a foundation צֵלָע (tsêlâʻ, H6763) — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence,… מְלֹא (mᵉlôʼ, H4393) — fulness (literally or figuratively) 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 אַצִּיל (ʼatstsîyl, H679) — a joint of the hand (i.e. knuckle); also (according to some) a party-wall (Ezekiel 41:8) אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a…
Open source ↗רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) קִיר (qîyr, H7023) — a wall (as built in a trench) צֵלָע (tsêlâʻ, H6763) — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence,… חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors 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… יָנַח (yânach, H3240) — to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) 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… סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way צֵלָע (tsêlâʻ, H6763) — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence,… יָנַח (yânach, H3240) — to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) דָּרוֹם (dârôwm, H1864) — the south; poet. the south wind רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… 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… סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗בִּנְיָן (binyân, H1146) — an edifice פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… גִּזְרָה (gizrâh, H1508) — the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated) פֵּאָה (pêʼâh, H6285) — properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e. direction, region, extremity דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… שִׁבְעִים (shibʻîym, H7657) — seventy אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) קִיר (qîyr, H7023) — a wall (as built in a trench) חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length תִּשְׁעִים (tishʻîym, H8673) — ninety
Open source ↗מָדַד (mâdad, H4058) — properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line);… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction 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 גִּזְרָה (gizrâh, H1508) — the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated) בִּנְיָה (binyâh, H1140) — a structure קִיר (qîyr, H7023) — a wall (as built in a trench)
Open source ↗רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) גִּזְרָה (gizrâh, H1508) — the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated) קָדִים (qâdîym, H6921) — the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for… מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Both the outer sanctuary and the inner sanctuary had double doors,
Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement,
The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.
The outer sanctuary had a rectangular doorframe, and the doorframe of the sanctuary was similar.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls.
it was eight cubits deep, and its jambs were two cubits thick. And the portico of the gateway faced the temple.
The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
And he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance to be two cubits wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide.