Ezekiel 41: A Detailed Look at the Temple's Design
Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.
And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits.
Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.
So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.
After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side.
And the side chambers were three, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which was of the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.
And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.
I saw also the height of the house round about: the foundations of the side chambers were a full reed of six great cubits.
The thickness of the wall, which was for the side chamber without, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side chambers that were within.
And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side.
And the doors of the side chambers were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south: and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about.
Now the building that was before the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits.
So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long;
Also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, an hundred cubits.
And he measured the length of the building over against the separate place which was behind it, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court;
The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the door, cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered;
To that above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure.
And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;
So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.
From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple.
The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other.
The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord.
And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door.
And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.
And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick planks.
Ezekiel 41 offers a meticulously detailed vision of the rebuilt temple, providing measurements and descriptions that underscore the sanctity and glory of God's dwelling place. This chapter continues the architectural tour begun in Ezekiel 40, guiding us deeper into the heart of the temple complex. Let's explore the key elements of this vision, appreciating both its physical dimensions and its spiritual significance.
The Temple Entrance and Holy Place (Ezekiel 41:1-4)
The vision begins with Ezekiel, still positioned in the inner court, turning his gaze to the temple itself. The angel measures the portico, a vestibule resembling a porch, adorned with pillars (Ezekiel 40:48). To access the great hall, or outer sanctuary, Ezekiel had to ascend a flight of stairs (Ezekiel 40:49). The angel meticulously measured this space, as he did with each part of the temple (Ezekiel 41:1-2). Intriguingly, Ezekiel was restricted from entering the room adjacent to the great hall, a space the angel entered and measured (Ezekiel 41:3-4). The reason for this exclusion is profound: "This is the most holy place" (Ezekiel 41:4). This highlights the increasing levels of holiness as one progresses into the temple, culminating in the very presence of God.
Side Rooms, Walls, and an Unexplained Building (Ezekiel 41:5-15)
Ezekiel then receives information about the temple's surrounding wall, described as being approximately 10 1/2 feet thick. He also observes three levels of side rooms encircling the temple, totaling three stories with thirty rooms on each level (Ezekiel 41:5-6). While their specific purpose isn't stated, it is likely they served as storage spaces for temple equipment or as repositories for the people's tithes and offerings. These side rooms rested upon a raised platform, also 10 1/2 feet high, which served as a foundation. The outer wall of these rooms measured 8 3/4 feet in thickness (Ezekiel 41:8-9), emphasizing the structure's durability and permanence. Ezekiel also notes a large building west of the temple, its purpose remaining unexplained beyond its dimensions (Ezekiel 41:12). The temple itself measured 175 feet long and possessed the same width to the east, with the temple's length to the west being identical (Ezekiel 41:13-15).
Interior Adornments and Symbolism (Ezekiel 41:16-20)
The interior of the temple was lavishly adorned with wood on all sides, etched with carvings of cherubim and palm trees (Ezekiel 41:16-18). The cherubim, reminiscent of Ezekiel's initial vision, represent the guardians of God's presence. The palm trees symbolize God's blessing and fruitfulness, creating a sanctuary that is both protected and abundant.
The Wooden Altar (Ezekiel 41:22)
A wooden altar stood just outside the most holy place. The angel identified it as "the table that stands before the LORD" (Ezekiel 41:22), suggesting its proximity to the divine presence. This may be the altar of incense or the table holding the bread of the presence, both of which were integral to the original tabernacle (Exodus 30:1-3; 25:23-30). Though the altar's specific function isn't detailed here, its presence underscores the importance of worship and sacrifice in approaching God.
Doors and Gateways (Ezekiel 41:23-26)
Ezekiel concludes this section by describing the double doors of both the outer sanctuary and the most holy place (Ezekiel 41:23-26). These doors served as points of transition and separation, further emphasizing the increasing levels of holiness within the temple complex.
This chapter of Ezekiel offers a glimpse into the restored temple, highlighting the meticulous details and symbolic significance that permeate its design. The temple stands as a testament to God's presence, provision, and the promise of a renewed relationship with His people.
Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.
And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits.
Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.
So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.
After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side.
And the side chambers were three, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which was of the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.
And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.
I saw also the height of the house round about: the foundations of the side chambers were a full reed of six great cubits.
The thickness of the wall, which was for the side chamber without, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side chambers that were within.
And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side.
And the doors of the side chambers were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south: and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about.
Now the building that was before the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits.
So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long;
Also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, an hundred cubits.
And he measured the length of the building over against the separate place which was behind it, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court;
The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the door, cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered;
To that above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure.
And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;
So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.
From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple.
The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other.
The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord.
And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door.
And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.
And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick planks.
Ezekiel 41 offers a meticulously detailed vision of the rebuilt temple, providing measurements and descriptions that underscore the sanctity and glory of God's dwelling place. This chapter continues the architectural tour begun in Ezekiel 40, guiding us deeper into the heart of the temple complex. Let's explore the key elements of this vision, appreciating both its physical dimensions and its spiritual significance.
The Temple Entrance and Holy Place (Ezekiel 41:1-4)
The vision begins with Ezekiel, still positioned in the inner court, turning his gaze to the temple itself. The angel measures the portico, a vestibule resembling a porch, adorned with pillars (Ezekiel 40:48). To access the great hall, or outer sanctuary, Ezekiel had to ascend a flight of stairs (Ezekiel 40:49). The angel meticulously measured this space, as he did with each part of the temple (Ezekiel 41:1-2). Intriguingly, Ezekiel was restricted from entering the room adjacent to the great hall, a space the angel entered and measured (Ezekiel 41:3-4). The reason for this exclusion is profound: "This is the most holy place" (Ezekiel 41:4). This highlights the increasing levels of holiness as one progresses into the temple, culminating in the very presence of God.
Side Rooms, Walls, and an Unexplained Building (Ezekiel 41:5-15)
Ezekiel then receives information about the temple's surrounding wall, described as being approximately 10 1/2 feet thick. He also observes three levels of side rooms encircling the temple, totaling three stories with thirty rooms on each level (Ezekiel 41:5-6). While their specific purpose isn't stated, it is likely they served as storage spaces for temple equipment or as repositories for the people's tithes and offerings. These side rooms rested upon a raised platform, also 10 1/2 feet high, which served as a foundation. The outer wall of these rooms measured 8 3/4 feet in thickness (Ezekiel 41:8-9), emphasizing the structure's durability and permanence. Ezekiel also notes a large building west of the temple, its purpose remaining unexplained beyond its dimensions (Ezekiel 41:12). The temple itself measured 175 feet long and possessed the same width to the east, with the temple's length to the west being identical (Ezekiel 41:13-15).
Interior Adornments and Symbolism (Ezekiel 41:16-20)
The interior of the temple was lavishly adorned with wood on all sides, etched with carvings of cherubim and palm trees (Ezekiel 41:16-18). The cherubim, reminiscent of Ezekiel's initial vision, represent the guardians of God's presence. The palm trees symbolize God's blessing and fruitfulness, creating a sanctuary that is both protected and abundant.
The Wooden Altar (Ezekiel 41:22)
A wooden altar stood just outside the most holy place. The angel identified it as "the table that stands before the LORD" (Ezekiel 41:22), suggesting its proximity to the divine presence. This may be the altar of incense or the table holding the bread of the presence, both of which were integral to the original tabernacle (Exodus 30:1-3; 25:23-30). Though the altar's specific function isn't detailed here, its presence underscores the importance of worship and sacrifice in approaching God.
Doors and Gateways (Ezekiel 41:23-26)
Ezekiel concludes this section by describing the double doors of both the outer sanctuary and the most holy place (Ezekiel 41:23-26). These doors served as points of transition and separation, further emphasizing the increasing levels of holiness within the temple complex.
This chapter of Ezekiel offers a glimpse into the restored temple, highlighting the meticulous details and symbolic significance that permeate its design. The temple stands as a testament to God's presence, provision, and the promise of a renewed relationship with His people.