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Ezekiel 40
New Catholic Bible
Ezekiel 40
New Catholic Bible
The New Israel[a]
The Future Temple
Chapter 40
The Man with a Measuring Rod. 1 During the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, fourteen years after the fall of the city, on that very day the hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me there. 2 In divine visions, he brought me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain, to the south of which a city seemed to have been built.
3 When he had brought me there, I beheld a man whose appearance was like that of bronze. He had a linen cord[b] and a measuring rod in his hand, and he was standing in the gateway. 4 The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen attentively, and pay close attention to all that I will show you. That is the reason why you were brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything that you see.”
5 Then I beheld an outer wall that surrounded the temple on all sides. The length of the measuring rod that the man was holding was six cubits long, each cubit[c] being a cubit and a handbreadth in length. He measured the thickness and the height of the wall; each was one rod.
The East Gate. 6 Then he went to the gate which faced eastward, mounted its steps, and measured the gate’s threshold; it was one rod deep. 7 Each cell was one rod long and one rod wide, and the walls between the cells measured five cubits. The threshold of the gate adjoining the vestibule of the gate at the inner end measured one rod.
8 Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, 9 which was eight cubits, and its pilasters, which were two cubits. The vestibule of the gate was at the inner end. 10 Inside the east gate were three cells on each side. All of them were identical in size, and the pilasters on either side were also of equal size.
11 After this, he measured the width of the entrance of the gateway, which was ten cubits, while its length was thirteen cubits. 12 There was a wall, one cubit high, in front of each cell, and the cells were six cubits square. 13 He then measured the width of the gate from the back wall of one cell to the back of the cell on the opposite side. The width was twenty-five cubits from wall to wall. 14 After this, he measured the vestibule, which was twenty cubits, and also the pilasters adjoining the court on either side, which were six cubits.
15 From the front of the entrance gate to the far end of its portico, the distance was fifty cubits. 16 Both the guardrooms and their pilasters had windows on the inside of the gateway, and the vestibules also had windows all around; the pilasters were decorated with palm trees.
17 The Outer Court. Then he brought me to the outer court, where there were rooms and a paved terrace all around the court. There was a total of thirty rooms. 18 The pavement was laid along the side of the gates, its width equaling the length of the gates. This was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the width of the court, from the front of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; there were one hundred cubits between them.
20 The North Gate. Then he measured the length and breadth of the gate leading into the outer court that faced north. 21 Its cells, three on either side, and its pilasters and its vestibules were of the same size as those of the first gate. Its depth was fifty cubits, and its width was twenty-five cubits.
22 Its windows, its vestibule, and its palm trees were identical in size to those of the gate that faced toward the east. Seven steps led up to it, and its vestibule was at the inner end. 23 Opposite the north gate there was a gate that led to the inner court, exactly like the one opposite the east gate. He measured one hundred cubits from one gate to the other.
24 The South Gate. Then he led me to the south side, and I saw a gate facing south. He measured its cells, its pilasters, and its vestibule; they all had the same dimensions as the others. 25 The gate and its vestibule had windows all around. Each window was fifty cubits in depth and twenty-five cubits in width.
26 There were seven steps leading up to it. Its vestibule was on the inside, and palm trees decorated its pilasters, one on either side. 27 The inner court had a gate facing south. He measured the distance from this gate to the outer gate on the south—one hundred cubits.
28 The Inner Court Gates. Then he brought me into the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate, which had the same dimensions as the others. 29 Its cells, its pilasters, and its vestibule were the same size as those of the others. The gate and its vestibule had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
30 The vestibules of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep. 31 However, the major vestibule faced the outer court. Palm trees were carved on its pilasters, and it had a stairway of eight steps.
32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side and measured the gate, its dimensions were identical to those of the others. 33 Its cells, its pilasters, and its vestibule were the same size as those of the others. The gate and its vestibule had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its vestibule opened onto the outer court. There were palm trees carved on its pilasters, and there were eight steps leading up to it.
35 Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it. Its dimensions were identical to those of the others. 36 Its cells, its pilasters, and its vestibule were of the same size as those of the others, and it had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 37 Its portico faced the outer court; it had a palm tree carved on its pilasters on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.
38 The Side Chambers.[d]There was a room that was entered through a door in the vestibule of the gateway. That was where the burnt offerings were to be washed. 39 In the vestibule of the gate, there were two tables on either side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were slaughtered.
40 On the outside of the vestibule, near the entrance of the north gate, were two tables, and on the other side of the vestibule of the gate were two tables. 41 Thus, four tables were inside the gate and four tables were outside the gate—eight tables upon which the sacrifices were slaughtered.
42 There were also four slabs of cut stone that were used for holocausts—one and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and a cubit high—on which were placed the instruments for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices. 43 Double-pronged hooks, a handbreadth wide, were attached to the nearby wall, and on the tables the flesh of the offering was laid.
44 Then he led me into the inner court, where there were two rooms—one on the side of the north gate, facing south; the other on the side of the south gate, facing north. 45 He said to me, “This room that faces south is for the priests who are in charge of the temple. 46 The room that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the descendants of Zadok, who alone among the descendants of Levi are allowed to come near to minister to the Lord.” 47 Thereupon, he measured the court. It was a perfect square, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, with the altar standing in front of the temple.
48 The Temple. Then he brought me into the vestibule of the temple and measured the pilasters of the vestibule; it was five cubits on either side. The width of the gate was fourteen cubits, and the side walls of the gate were three cubits on either side. 49 The vestibule was twenty cubits long and twelve cubits wide. There were ten steps leading up to it, and there were pillars beside the pilasters, one on either side.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 40:1 Exactly forty years after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C., Ezekiel unexpectedly resumes his prophetic activity.
He sees a city, the future city, in which the people of tomorrow, of the last times, will dwell. He sees and touches this city, which is reduced in size to the limited dimensions of the temple and its accessory buildings; he traverses it in every direction, he examines all its details and wants to show all of them to us. The story of this walk through the future city occupies chapters 40–48. It is difficult to understand the text of these final chapters of Ezekiel. In substance, they contain the account of what the prophet has seen in one or more visions. At a later date, however, Ezekiel and his disciples must have completed and extended the account with clarifications and details that now overload it to the point of making it at times incomprehensible. They express a burning faith in God, the holy God, who is present on earth, in his land, and in the temple of Jerusalem. This section has been called “the law of Ezekiel,” as if it stated anew the ancient law of the covenant that had been given to Moses.
St. John’s description, in his Apocalypse, of the heavenly Jerusalem, the definitive dwelling of God in humanity, is influenced by Ezekiel (see Rev 21:1—22:5). - Ezekiel 40:3 The linen cord was used for taking longer measurements, the measuring rod for short ones.
- Ezekiel 40:5 The measuring rod was about 340 cm. The cubit was about 58 cm.
- Ezekiel 40:38 Ezekiel’s vision seems interrupted here by later additions, the style of which is different.
Ezekiel 40
New International Version
Ezekiel 40
New International Version
The Temple Area Restored
40 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city(A)—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me(B) and he took me there. 2 In visions(C) of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain,(D) on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze;(E) he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod(F) in his hand. 4 The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you,(G) for that is why you have been brought here. Tell(H) the people of Israel everything you see.(I)”
The East Gate to the Outer Court
5 I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits,[a] each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured(J) the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.
6 Then he went to the east gate.(K) He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. 7 The alcoves(L) for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits[b] thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.
8 Then he measured the portico of the gateway; 9 it[c] was eight cubits[d] deep and its jambs were two cubits[e] thick. The portico of the gateway faced the temple.
10 Inside the east gate were three alcoves on each side; the three had the same measurements, and the faces of the projecting walls on each side had the same measurements. 11 Then he measured the width of the entrance of the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.[f] 12 In front of each alcove was a wall one cubit high, and the alcoves were six cubits square. 13 Then he measured the gateway from the top of the rear wall of one alcove to the top of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits[g] from one parapet opening to the opposite one. 14 He measured along the faces of the projecting walls all around the inside of the gateway—sixty cubits.[h] The measurement was up to the portico[i] facing the courtyard.[j](M) 15 The distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its portico was fifty cubits.[k] 16 The alcoves and the projecting walls inside the gateway were surmounted by narrow parapet openings all around, as was the portico; the openings all around faced inward. The faces of the projecting walls were decorated with palm trees.(N)
The Outer Court
17 Then he brought me into the outer court.(O) There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms(P) along the pavement.(Q) 18 It abutted the sides of the gateways and was as wide as they were long; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court;(R) it was a hundred cubits[l](S) on the east side as well as on the north.
The North Gate
20 Then he measured the length and width of the north gate, leading into the outer court. 21 Its alcoves(T)—three on each side—its projecting walls and its portico(U) had the same measurements as those of the first gateway. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 22 Its openings, its portico(V) and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.(W) 23 There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured from one gate to the opposite one; it was a hundred cubits.(X)
The South Gate
24 Then he led me to the south side and I saw the south gate. He measured its jambs and its portico, and they had the same measurements(Y) as the others. 25 The gateway and its portico had narrow openings all around, like the openings of the others. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.(Z) 26 Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side.(AA) 27 The inner court(AB) also had a gate facing south, and he measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side; it was a hundred cubits.(AC)
The Gates to the Inner Court
28 Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements(AD) as the others. 29 Its alcoves,(AE) its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.(AF) 30 (The porticoes(AG) of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep.) 31 Its portico(AH) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated its jambs, and eight steps led up to it.(AI)
32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements(AJ) as the others. 33 Its alcoves,(AK) its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its portico(AL) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.
35 Then he brought me to the north gate(AM) and measured it. It had the same measurements(AN) as the others, 36 as did its alcoves,(AO) its projecting walls and its portico, and it had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 37 Its portico[m](AP) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.(AQ)
The Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices
38 A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings(AR) were washed. 39 In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings,(AS) sin offerings[n](AT) and guilt offerings(AU) were slaughtered.(AV) 40 By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway were two tables, and on the other side of the steps were two tables. 41 So there were four tables on one side of the gateway and four on the other—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were slaughtered. 42 There were also four tables of dressed stone(AW) for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high.[o] On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.(AX) 43 And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth[p] long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.
The Rooms for the Priests
44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one[q] at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south[r] gate and facing north. 45 He said to me, “The room facing south is for the priests who guard the temple,(AY) 46 and the room facing north(AZ) is for the priests who guard the altar.(BA) These are the sons of Zadok,(BB) who are the only Levites who may draw near to the Lord to minister before him.(BC)”
47 Then he measured the court: It was square—a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.(BD)
The New Temple
48 He brought me to the portico of the temple(BE) and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits[s] and its projecting walls were[t] three cubits[u] wide on either side. 49 The portico(BF) was twenty cubits[v] wide, and twelve[w] cubits[x] from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs,[y] and there were pillars(BG) on each side of the jambs.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 40:5 That is, about 11 feet or about 3.2 meters; also in verse 12. The long cubit of about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters is the basic unit of measurement of length throughout chapters 40–48.
- Ezekiel 40:7 That is, about 8 3/4 feet or about 2.7 meters; also in verse 48
- Ezekiel 40:9 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts gateway facing the temple; it was one rod deep. 9 Then he measured the portico of the gateway; it
- Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 14 feet or about 4.2 meters
- Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 3 1/2 feet or about 1 meter
- Ezekiel 40:11 That is, about 18 feet wide and 23 feet long or about 5.3 meters wide and 6.9 meters long
- Ezekiel 40:13 That is, about 44 feet or about 13 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 30, 33 and 36
- Ezekiel 40:14 That is, about 105 feet or about 32 meters
- Ezekiel 40:14 Septuagint; Hebrew projecting wall
- Ezekiel 40:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
- Ezekiel 40:15 That is, about 88 feet or about 27 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 33 and 36
- Ezekiel 40:19 That is, about 175 feet or about 53 meters; also in verses 23, 27 and 47
- Ezekiel 40:37 Septuagint (see also verses 31 and 34); Hebrew jambs
- Ezekiel 40:39 Or purification offerings
- Ezekiel 40:42 That is, about 2 2/3 feet long and wide and 21 inches high or about 80 centimeters long and wide and 53 centimeters high
- Ezekiel 40:43 That is, about 3 1/2 inches or about 9 centimeters
- Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew were rooms for singers, which were
- Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew east
- Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 25 feet or about 7.4 meters
- Ezekiel 40:48 Septuagint; Hebrew entrance was
- Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 5 1/4 feet or about 1.6 meters
- Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 35 feet or about 11 meters
- Ezekiel 40:49 Septuagint; Hebrew eleven
- Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 21 feet or about 6.4 meters
- Ezekiel 40:49 Hebrew; Septuagint Ten steps led up to it
New International Version (NIV) 
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