Ezekiel 41
Ezekiel 41 continues the detailed vision of the temple that Ezekiel began describing in the previous chapter. This chapter outlines the structure and dimensions of the inner sanctuary, including the Holy Place, the Most Holy Place, and various chambers and decorations within the temple. Ezekiel’s vision underscores the sanctity of God’s dwelling and the meticulous design that reflects God’s holiness.
Ezekiel 41:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Then he brought me into the sanctuary and measured the doorposts, six cubits wide on one side and six cubits wide on the other side—the width of the tabernacle.
2 The width of the entryway was ten cubits, and the side walls of the entrance were five cubits on this side and five cubits on the other side; and he measured its length, forty cubits, and its width, twenty cubits.
3 Also he went inside and measured the doorposts, two cubits; and the entrance, six cubits high; and the width of the entrance, seven cubits.
4 He measured the length, twenty cubits; and the width, twenty cubits, beyond the sanctuary; and he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.”
Ezekiel is led into the sanctuary, where the exact dimensions of each section are given. These measurements emphasize the precision and order of God’s house, reflecting His holiness and the reverence required in approaching Him. The description of the “Most Holy Place” highlights its sanctity, a place set apart solely for God’s presence.
Ezekiel 41:5-9 (NKJV)
5 Next, he measured the wall of the temple, six cubits. The width of each side chamber all around the temple was four cubits on every side.
6 The side chambers were in three stories, one above the other, thirty chambers in each story; they rested on ledges which were for the side chambers all around, that they might be supported, but not fastened to the wall of the temple.
7 As one went up from story to story, the side chambers became wider all around, because their supporting ledges in the wall of the temple ascended like steps; therefore the width of the structure increased as one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the middle one.
8 I also saw an elevation all around the temple; it was the foundation of the side chambers, a full rod, that is, six cubits high.
9 The thickness of the outer wall of the side chambers was five cubits, and also the remaining terrace by the place of the side chambers of the temple.
These verses describe the side chambers, which are built in three stories, symbolizing support and stability for the temple structure. Each chamber is carefully structured, signifying the intricate design God intended. The dimensions and tiered layout reflect a careful architectural plan, ensuring the temple’s durability and the sacredness of each area.
Ezekiel 41:10-11 (NKJV)
10 And between it and the wall chambers was a width of twenty cubits all around the temple on every side.
11 The doors of the side chambers opened on the terrace, one door toward the north and another toward the south; and the width of the terrace was five cubits all around.
The twenty-cubit space around the temple emphasizes separation, suggesting a boundary that keeps the sacred area set apart from the rest. The north and south doors provide access to the side chambers, yet even these access points maintain the careful order and sanctity surrounding the temple’s design.
Ezekiel 41:12-15 (NKJV)
12 The building that faced the separating courtyard at its western end was seventy cubits wide; the wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, and its length ninety cubits.
13 So he measured the temple, one hundred cubits long; and the separating courtyard with the building and its walls was one hundred cubits long;
14 also the width of the eastern face of the temple, including the separating courtyard, was one hundred cubits.
15 He measured the length of the building behind it, facing the separating courtyard, with its galleries on the one side and on the other side, one hundred cubits, as well as the inner temple and the porches of the court.
The measurements here give a sense of the temple’s scale, conveying its grandeur and meticulous planning. The consistent use of “one hundred cubits” underscores a balanced and proportional design, symbolizing the perfection associated with God’s dwelling place. This symmetry reinforces the sanctity and orderliness that defines the entire temple.
Ezekiel 41:16-20 (NKJV)
16 Their doorposts and the beveled window frames and the galleries all around their three stories opposite the threshold were paneled with wood from the ground to the windows—the windows were covered—
17 from the space above the door, even to the inner room, as well as outside, and on every wall all around, inside and outside, by measure.
18 And it was made with cherubim and palm trees, a palm tree between cherub and cherub. Each cherub had two faces:
19 so that the face of a man was toward a palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion toward a palm tree on the other side. Thus it was made throughout the temple all around.
20 From the floor to the space above the door, and on the wall of the sanctuary, cherubim and palm trees were carved.
These verses describe the intricate decorations within the temple, including cherubim and palm trees, symbols of God’s protection and peace. The cherubim, with their two faces, represent both human and divine aspects of God’s presence. The carvings emphasize the beauty and reverence of the holy space, inviting worshippers to recognize the temple as a place where heaven and earth meet.
Ezekiel 41:21-26 (NKJV)
21 The doorposts of the temple were square, as was the front of the sanctuary; their appearance was similar.
22 The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length two cubits; its corners, its length, and its sides were of wood. And he said to me, “This is the table that is before the Lord.”
23 The temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
24 The doors had two panels apiece, two folding panels: two panels for one door and two panels for the other door.
25 Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the doors of the temple just as they were carved on the walls. A wooden canopy was on the front of the vestibule outside.
26 There were beveled window frames and palm trees on one side and on the other, on the sides of the vestibule—also on the side chambers of the temple and on the canopies.
The final verses highlight the wooden altar, referred to as the table before the Lord, symbolizing the provision and presence of God. The carved cherubim and palm trees on the doors and walls unify the temple’s design, underscoring the sacred atmosphere of the entire structure. The description of the double doors and intricate carvings suggests an invitation to come before God, emphasizing His accessibility while maintaining the reverence owed to His holiness.