Ezekiel 40:19
Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubits on the east side as well as on the north.
Then he measured the distance
In Ezekiel's vision, the act of measuring signifies God's order and precision in His plans. Measuring is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, symbolizing divine assessment and the establishment of boundaries (see Zechariah 2:1-2, Revelation 11:1). It underscores the importance of God's meticulous design for His temple, reflecting His holiness and the need for purity in worship.

from the front of the lower gateway
The lower gateway likely refers to the entrance of the outer court of the temple. In ancient Near Eastern architecture, gateways were significant as they controlled access and symbolized transition from the secular to the sacred. This gateway's position emphasizes the structured approach to worship and the progression towards God's presence.

to the outside of the inner court
The inner court represents a more sacred area within the temple complex, reserved for priests and specific sacrificial activities. This separation highlights the holiness of God and the need for consecration when approaching Him. The inner court's exclusivity points to the need for mediation, fulfilled in the New Testament by Jesus Christ as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

it was a hundred cubits
A cubit is an ancient measurement roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 45 centimeters. The specific measurement of a hundred cubits indicates the grandeur and significance of the temple structure. This precise dimension reflects God's intentional design and the importance of adhering to His specifications, as seen in the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 25-27).

on the east side as well as on the north
The mention of both the east and north sides suggests symmetry and balance in the temple's design. The east side holds particular significance in biblical texts, often associated with the direction of God's glory (Ezekiel 43:1-4) and the return of Christ (Matthew 24:27). The north side, while less emphasized, completes the picture of a well-ordered and divinely orchestrated space for worship.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel receives visions from God, including the detailed vision of a new temple in chapters 40-48.

2. The Man with the Measuring Rod
A heavenly being, possibly an angel, who guides Ezekiel through the vision and measures the temple's dimensions.

3. The Lower Gateway
Part of the temple complex in Ezekiel's vision, symbolizing access and entry into the sacred space.

4. The Inner Court
A more sacred area within the temple, representing a closer proximity to God's presence.

5. The Temple Vision
A prophetic vision given to Ezekiel, symbolizing restoration, order, and God's presence among His people.
Teaching Points
God's Order and Precision
The detailed measurements in Ezekiel's vision reflect God's nature of order and precision. Believers are called to reflect this order in their lives, valuing discipline and intentionality in their walk with God.

Access to God's Presence
The gateways and courts symbolize access to God. Through Christ, believers have direct access to God, and this privilege should be cherished and utilized through prayer and worship.

Restoration and Hope
Ezekiel's vision was given during a time of exile and despair. It serves as a reminder of God's promise to restore and renew. Believers can hold onto hope in God's promises, even in difficult times.

Holiness and Separation
The inner court represents a place of holiness. Believers are called to live lives set apart for God, pursuing holiness in their daily actions and decisions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the detailed measurement of the temple in Ezekiel 40:19 reflect God's character, and how can this understanding influence our daily lives?

2. In what ways does the concept of access to the inner court in Ezekiel's vision parallel our access to God through Jesus Christ?

3. How can the hope of restoration seen in Ezekiel's temple vision encourage us in times of personal or communal exile or hardship?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure our lives reflect the order and holiness symbolized by the temple's structure?

5. How do the themes of Ezekiel's temple vision connect with the New Testament teachings about the church as the temple of God, and what implications does this have for our community life as believers?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 25-27
The detailed instructions for the Tabernacle, which parallels the detailed measurements in Ezekiel's vision, emphasizing God's order and holiness.

Revelation 21
The vision of the New Jerusalem, where measurements are also given, symbolizing God's perfect and eternal dwelling with His people.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Paul speaks of believers as God's temple, connecting the physical temple's symbolism to the spiritual reality of God's presence in the church.
God's Kingdom Divinely OrganizedJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 40:5-27
People
Ezekiel, Levi, Levites, Zadok
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Across, Breadth, Court, Cubits, Direction, Distance, Doorway, East, Eastward, Exterior, Forefront, Front, Gate, Gateway, Hundred, Inner, Inside, Lower, Measure, Measured, Measureth, North, Northward, Outer, Outside, Square, Width
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 40:1-49

     5207   architecture

Library
The Parts of the City. Sion. The Upper City: which was on the North Part.
There is one who asserts Jerusalem to stand on seven hills; but whether upon a reason more light, or more obscure, is not easy to say. "The whale showed Jonah (saith he) the Temple of the Lord, as it is said, 'I went down to the bottom of the mountains': whence we learn that Jerusalem was seated upon seven mountains." One may sooner almost prove the thing itself, than approve of his argument. Let him enjoy his argument to himself; we must fetch the situation elsewhere. "The city itself (saith Josephus)
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
^A Matt. IV. 1-11; ^B Mark I. 12, 13; ^C Luke IV. 1-13. ^c 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, ^b 12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth ^c and ^a 1 Then [Just after his baptism, with the glow of the descended Spirit still upon him, and the commending voice of the Father still ringing in his ears, Jesus is rushed into the suffering of temptation. Thus abrupt and violent are the changes of life. The spiritually exalted may expect these sharp contrasts. After being
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Millennium in Relation to Israel.
"And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land" (Gen. 15:17, 18). Here the two great periods of Israel's history was made known to Abram in figure. The vision of the smoking furnace and the burning lamp intimated that the history of Abraham's descendants was to be a checkered one. It was a prophecy in
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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