Ezequiel 40

ARC · Chapter 40/48

1No anno vinte e cinco do nosso captiveiro, no principio do anno, no decimo dia do mez, quatorze annos depois que a cidade foi ferida, n'aquelle mesmo dia veiu sobre mim a mão do Senhor, e me levou para lá.

2Em visões de Deus me levou á terra d'Israel, e me poz sobre um monte mui alto, e havia sobre elle como edificio de cidade para a banda do sul.

3E, havendo-me levado ali, eis que um homem cujo parecer era como o parecer de cobre tinha um cordel de linho na sua mão e uma canna de medir; e elle estava em pé na porta.

4E disse-me o homem: Filho do homem, vê com os teus olhos, e ouve com os teus ouvidos, e põe no teu coração tudo quanto eu te fizer vêr; porque afim de t'o mostrar foste tu aqui trazido: annuncia pois á casa de Israel tudo quanto tu vires

5E eis um muro fóra da casa em redor, e na mão do homem uma canna de medir, de seis covados, cada covado d'um covado e um palmo, e mediu a largura do edificio, d'uma canna, e a altura, d'uma canna.

6Então veiu á porta que olhava para o caminho do oriente, e subiu pelos seus degraus; mediu o umbral da porta, uma canna de largo, e o outro umbral, d'uma canna de largo.

7E cada camarinha era uma canna de comprido, e outra canna de largo, e entre as camarinhas havia cinco covados; e o umbral da porta, ao pé do vestibulo da porta, era d'uma canna, por dentro.

8Tambem mediu o vestibulo da porta por dentro, d'uma canna.

9Então mediu o outro alpendre da porta, de oito covados, e os seus pilares, de dois covados, e o vestibulo da porta, por dentro.

10E as camarinhas da porta do caminho para o oriente eram tres d'esta e tres da outra banda, uma mesma medida era a das tres: tambem os pilares d'esta e da outra banda tinham a mesma medida.

11Mediu mais a largura da entrada da porta, de dez covados; e o comprimento da porta, treze covados.

12E o espaço de diante das camarinhas era de um covado, e de um covado o espaço da outra banda: e cada camarinha tinha seis covados d'uma e seis covados da outra banda.

13Então mediu a porta desde o telhado d'uma camarinha até ao telhado da outra, vinte e cinco covados de largo, porta contra porta.

14Tambem fez pilares de sessenta covados, a saber, para o pilar do atrio, em roda da porta.

15E, desde a dianteira da porta da entrada até á dianteira do vestibulo da porta interior, havia cincoenta covados.

16Fez tambem janellas de fechar nas camarinhas, e nos seus pilares, dentro da porta ao redor, e da mesma sorte nos vestibulos: e as janellas estavam á roda pela parte de dentro, e nos pilares havia palmas.

17E elle me levou ao atrio exterior; e eis que havia n'elle camaras, e um solhado que estava feito no atrio em redor: trinta camaras havia n'aquelle solhado.

18E o solhado da banda das portas era a par do comprimento das portas: o solhado estava debaixo.

19E mediu a largura da dianteira do atrio interior, por fóra, cem covados, da banda do oriente e do norte.

20E, quanto á porta que olhava para o caminho do norte, no atrio exterior, elle mediu o seu comprimento e a sua largura.

21E as suas camarinhas, tres d'uma banda, e tres da outra, e os seus pilares e os seus vestibulos eram da medida da primeira porta: cincoenta covados era o seu comprimento, e a largura vinte e cinco covados.

22E as suas janellas, e os seus vestibulos, e as suas palmas, eram da medida da porta que olhava para o caminho do oriente; e subiam a ella por sete degraus, e os seus vestibulos estavam diante d'ellas.

23E estava a porta do atrio interior defronte da porta do norte e do oriente; e mediu de porta a porta cem covados.

24Então elle me levou ao caminho do sul, e eis uma porta que olhava para o caminho do sul, e mediu os seus pilares e os seus vestibulos conforme estas medidas.

25E tinha tambem janellas em redor dos seus vestibulos, como estas janellas: cincoenta covados o comprimento, e a largura vinte e cinco covados.

26E de sete degraus eram as suas subidas, e os seus vestibulos diante d'ellas; e tinha umas palmas, uma d'uma banda e outra da outra banda, nos seus pilares.

27Tambem havia uma porta no atrio interior para o caminho do sul; e mediu de porta a porta, para o caminho do sul, cem covados.

28Então me levou ao atrio interior pela porta do sul; e mediu a porta do sul, conforme estas medidas.

29E as suas camarinhas, e os seus pilares, e os seus vestibulos eram conforme estas medidas; e tinham tambem janellas ao redor dos seus vestibulos: o comprimento era de cincoenta covados, e a largura de vinte e cinco covados.

30E havia vestibulos em redor: o comprimento era de vinte e cinco covados, e a largura de cinco covados.

31E os seus vestibulos estavam no atrio exterior, e tinham palmas nos seus pilares; e de oito degraus eram as suas subidas.

32Depois me levou ao atrio interior, para o caminho do oriente, e mediu a porta conforme estas medidas;

33Como tambem as suas camarinhas, e os seus pilares, e os seus vestibulos, conforme estas medidas; e tinha tambem janellas em redor dos seus vestibulos: o comprimento de cincoenta covados, e a largura de vinte e cinco covados.

34E os seus vestibulos estavam no atrio de fóra: tambem havia palmas nos seus pilares de uma e de outra banda; e eram as suas subidas de oito degraus.

35Então me levou á porta do norte, e mediu conforme estas medidas;

36As suas camarinhas, os seus pilares, e os seus vestibulos; tambem tinha janellas em redor: o comprimento era de cincoenta covados, e a largura de vinte e cinco covados.

37E os seus pilares estavam no atrio exterior: tambem havia palmas nos seus pilares de uma e de outra banda; e eram as suas subidas de oito degraus.

38E a sua camara e a sua porta estavam junto aos pilares das portas onde levavam o holocausto.

39E no vestibulo da porta havia duas mesas de uma banda, e duas mesas da outra, para n'ellas se degolar o holocausto e o sacrificio pelo peccado e pela culpa.

40Tambem da banda de fóra da subida para a entrada da porta do norte havia duas mesas; e da outra banda, que estava no vestibulo da porta, havia duas mesas.

41Quatro mesas de uma, e quatro mesas da outra banda; aos lados da porta oito mesas, sobre as quaes immolavam.

42E as quatro mesas para o holocausto eram de pedras lavradas: o comprimento era de um covado e meio, e a largura de um covado e meio, e a altura de um covado: e sobre ellas se punham os instrumentos com que immolavam o holocausto e o sacrificio.

43E as pedras do lar eram de um palmo de grossura, postas na casa em redor, e sobre as mesas a carne da offerta.

44E fóra da porta interior estavam as camaras dos cantores, no atrio de dentro, que estava da banda da porta do norte e olhava para o caminho do sul: uma estava á banda da porta do oriente, a qual olhava para o caminho do norte.

45E elle me disse: Esta camara que olha para o caminho do sul é para os sacerdotes que teem a guarda do templo.

46Mas a camara que olha para o caminho do norte é para os sacerdotes que teem a guarda do altar: estes são os filhos de Zadoc, que se chegam ao Senhor, d'entre os filhos de Levi, para o servir.

47E mediu o atrio: o comprimento de cem covados e a largura de cem covados, quadrado; e o altar estava diante do templo.

48Então me levou ao vestibulo do templo, e mediu a cada pilar do vestibulo, cinco covados de uma banda, e cinco covados da outra; e a largura da porta, tres covados de uma banda, e tres covados da outra.

49O comprimento do vestibulo era de vinte covados, e a largura de onze covados, e com degraus, pelos quaes se subia; e havia columnas junto aos pilares, uma de uma banda e outra da outra.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

In a detailed vision, Ezekiel is led by a man with the appearance of bronze through a magnificent future temple, with an angel carefully measuring every gate, chamber, and courtyard with a measuring rod.

Explanation

This chapter opens the book's final major section (chapters 40-48), an elaborate vision of a restored temple with extremely precise measurements. More than a literal architectural blueprint, this vision communicated concrete hope to an exiled people who had completely lost their temple: God still had plans to dwell among his people in an organized, holy, and lasting way. The command for Ezekiel to 'set his heart' on everything he sees and report it to the house of Israel (v.4) suggests that the main purpose was not merely informational but transformational — producing genuine shame for past sins and real hope for the future. Regardless of whether the vision is taken as a literal blueprint, a spiritual symbol, or both, its central message is the permanence of God's desire to dwell near his people.

Fun facts

  • The detailed measurements of this temple, if taken literally, result in a structure considerably larger than Solomon's temple, leading many scholars to interpret it as a symbolic vision or a prophecy of a temple still to come.
  • The 'measuring reed' of six cubits (each cubit about half a meter) mentioned here is one of the rare biblical references to precise measuring instruments, reflecting real architectural practices of the ancient world.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Ezequiel 40:1Fourteen years after Jerusalem’s fall, still in exile, Ezekiel receives the book’s longest vision: a temple, measured in detail, that did not yet exist. Measuring something that exists only in a vision is a way of sealing a promise, like drawing the blueprint of a house before it is built.
  2. Ezequiel 40:2The vision carries Ezekiel to a very high mountain in Israel, from which he sees what looks like a city built there — the start of the long temple vision that runs through chapter 48.
  3. Ezequiel 40:3The guide in the vision has the appearance of bronze and carries a linen cord and a measuring rod — he will lead Ezekiel through the whole complex, taking the measurements of every part.
  4. Ezequiel 40:4The guide’s instruction frames the following chapters: Ezekiel must pay close attention so he can later tell all of it to Israel — it is a message to deliver, not a blueprint to build right away.
  5. Ezequiel 40:5Defines the unit of measure used throughout the vision: a special cubit, longer than the ordinary cubit, used to measure the wall surrounding the whole temple complex.
  6. Ezequiel 40:6The measuring begins at the east gate, the main entrance — climbing steps to reach it already shows the temple stood on elevated ground, reinforcing its central importance.
  7. Ezequiel 40:7The “little chambers” are small rooms inside the gate itself, probably used by guards — a detail showing how access to the temple was controlled in stages.
  8. Ezequiel 40:8Measures the porch, the area right past the entrance, one more of the many architectural details that make up this meticulous description of the complex.
  9. Ezequiel 40:9Measures another section of the porch and the posts that supported the gate — the posts come up again and again because they visually marked every entrance to the temple.
  10. Ezequiel 40:10The chambers of the east gate come in groups of three on each side, all the same size — this strict symmetry is a hallmark of this whole vision of the restored temple.
  11. Ezequiel 40:11Measures the width and length of the gate’s own entrance — measurements that will repeat, with small variations, at every gate of the complex.
  12. Ezequiel 40:12A small space in front of each chamber marked a kind of boundary between the gate’s corridor and the inner rooms.
  13. Ezequiel 40:13Measures the gate from end to end, roof to roof — a way of recording the total width of this elaborate entrance structure.
  14. Ezequiel 40:14Measures the posts and the area around the gate — every architectural element gets recorded with precision, like a complete technical survey.
  15. Ezequiel 40:15Measures the distance between the gate’s outer entrance and the inner porch — the temple gate was not a simple passage, but a deep structure with several spaces.
  16. Ezequiel 40:16Windows in the chambers and palm trees carved into the posts — the palm-tree decoration also appeared in Solomon’s temple, a motif tied to the idea of abundance and life.
  17. Ezequiel 40:17The guide takes Ezekiel to the outer court, where thirty chambers stood around a paved floor — a space likely reserved for worshippers.
  18. Ezequiel 40:18The paved floor of the court sat at the lower level, aligned with the length of the gates — a detail that helps picture the complex’s different levels.
  19. Ezequiel 40:19Measures the distance between the outer gate and the inner court, one hundred cubits, showing the complex ran much deeper than a single entrance.
  20. Ezequiel 40:20After the east side, the guide moves on to measure the north gate of the outer court, repeating the same detailed process as before.
  21. Ezequiel 40:21The chambers and posts of the north gate have exactly the same measurements as the east gate — the repetition reinforces that the whole complex followed a strict, symmetrical pattern.
  22. Ezequiel 40:22Windows, porches, and palm trees at the north gate repeat the pattern of the east gate; seven steps led up to it, marking the rise in the ground.
  23. Ezequiel 40:23The gate of the inner court lined up with the outer gates, a hundred cubits away — the temple’s design follows a clearly defined axis in every direction.
  24. Ezequiel 40:24The guide now measures the south gate of the outer court, the third entrance described, following the same pattern of measurements as the other two.
  25. Ezequiel 40:25The windows around the porches of the south gate match the measurements of the earlier gates — uniformity is the whole point of this description.
  26. Ezequiel 40:26Seven steps and palm trees on the posts repeat, once again, the decorative pattern already seen at the other gates of the outer court.
  27. Ezequiel 40:27There is also a matching gate in the inner court on the south side, a hundred cubits from the outer one — completing the pattern in the three directions described (there is no west gate, at the back of the temple).
  28. Ezequiel 40:28The guide takes Ezekiel into the inner court through the south gate, now beginning to measure the structures closest to the temple itself.
  29. Ezequiel 40:29Chambers, posts, and porch of the inner south gate follow the same pattern of measurements already set for the outer gates.
  30. Ezequiel 40:30The porches of the inner gates were smaller than those of the outer gates — a detail that visually distinguishes the complex’s two layers.
  31. Ezequiel 40:31This inner gate’s porch faced the outer court, with eight steps, one more than the outer gates — suggesting a gradual ascent toward the temple.
  32. Ezequiel 40:32Now it is the turn of the inner east gate, lined up with the outer gate already measured, following the same careful pattern.
  33. Ezequiel 40:33Chambers, posts, porch, and windows of this inner east gate repeat the same fifty-by-twenty-five-cubit measurements seen at the other gates.
  34. Ezequiel 40:34The porch facing the outer court and the eight steps reappear here, confirming the pattern already established for the inner court’s gates.
  35. Ezequiel 40:35The guide finally measures the inner north gate, completing the circuit of the three entrances closest to the temple.
  36. Ezequiel 40:36Chambers, posts, and windows of this last gate follow exactly the same fifty-by-twenty-five-cubit measurement as the others.
  37. Ezequiel 40:37Posts facing the outer court, carved palm trees, and eight steps close out the repeated description of the three inner-court gates.
  38. Ezequiel 40:38A chamber near the gate’s posts had a specific practical function: washing the animals before the burnt offering, the sacrifice consumed entirely by fire.
  39. Ezequiel 40:39Tables on both sides of the gate’s porch were used for slaughtering the sacrificial animals — the architecture already set aside a specific space for each stage of the ritual.
  40. Ezequiel 40:40More tables outside, near the ascent to the north gate, and others inside the porch — the text counts, table by table, the whole structure used for the sacrifices.
  41. Ezequiel 40:41In all there were eight tables beside the gate, all meant for slaughtering the offered animals — a concrete ritual workspace, not just a symbol.
  42. Ezequiel 40:42Four of these tables, made of hewn stone and smaller in size, were set aside specifically for the burnt offering, along with the instruments used in the process.
  43. Ezequiel 40:43A technical detail about the stones in this area and the spot where the offering’s meat was placed — another sign that the vision describes a space meant for real use.
  44. Ezequiel 40:44Outside the inner gate there were chambers set aside for the singers — showing that worship at the temple involved music, with its own dedicated space for those in charge of it.
  45. Ezequiel 40:45The mention of the “sons of Zadok” as the priests responsible for the altar points to a real historical dispute between different priestly lines — the Zadokites were regarded, in this tradition, as the legitimate priests, a theme that returns with more force in chapter 44.
  46. Ezequiel 40:46The chamber facing north was reserved for priests descended from Zadok, a priestly line remembered for its faithfulness at earlier points in Israel’s history.
  47. Ezequiel 40:47Measures the inner court as a perfect square, a hundred by a hundred cubits, with the altar positioned right in front of the temple — the geometric and symbolic center of the whole complex.
  48. Ezequiel 40:48The guide now measures the porch of the temple itself, its posts and the width of the gate — the last set of measurements before finally entering the main building.
  49. Ezequiel 40:49Closes the chapter with the measurements of the temple’s porch, steps, and columns — in the next chapter the vision finally enters the sacred building itself.

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