Ezekiel - Chapter 41

Ezekiel 41.1 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. Ezekiel 41.2 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. Ezekiel 41.3 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. Ezekiel 41.4 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. Ezekiel 41.5 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. Ezekiel 41.6 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. Ezekiel 41.7 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. Ezekiel 41.8 I saw also the height of the house round about: the foundations of the side chambers were a full reed of six great cubits. Ezekiel 41.9 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. Ezekiel 41.10 And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side. Ezekiel 41.11 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. Ezekiel 41.12 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. Ezekiel 41.13 So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long; Ezekiel 41.14 Also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, an hundred cubits. Ezekiel 41.15 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; Ezekiel 41.16 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; Ezekiel 41.17 To that above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure. Ezekiel 41.18 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; Ezekiel 41.19 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. Ezekiel 41.20 From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple. Ezekiel 41.21 The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other. Ezekiel 41.22 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. Ezekiel 41.23 And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors. Ezekiel 41.24 And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door. Ezekiel 41.25 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. Ezekiel 41.26 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 : Chapter 41

The Symbolism of the Visionary Temple in Ezekiel 41

Ezekiel chapter 41 offers a detailed description of the interior architecture of the visionary temple. This structure is not just a building, but it reveals profound symbolism about divine holiness and glory. Every dimension, every decoration, every door, and every wooden altar evokes God's presence among his people.

Understanding the Importance of the Temple

This chapter is essential for understanding the importance of the temple in Christian worship. It invites us to reflect on how we perceive the divine presence in our lives. Together, let's examine five biblical passages that shed light on the deeper meaning of this sacred architectural vision.

Illuminating Bible Passages

1 Kings 6:20: "The Most Holy Place was 30 cubits long, 30 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold and made an altar of cedar in front of it." This passage describes the Most Holy Place of Solomon's Temple and allows for a comparison with Ezekiel's vision of the new temple.

Revelation 21:15: "The angel who spoke to me had a golden rod to measure the city, its gates, and its walls." As in Ezekiel 41, this passage from Revelation involves the measurement of a sacred structure, symbolizing perfection and the divine presence.

Hebrews 9:24: "For Christ did not enter a temple made with hands, which was only the image of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." This verse offers a spiritual interpretation of the temple, applicable to Ezekiel's vision of the new temple.

2 Chronicles 3:8: "He built the Most Holy Place; its length was ten cubits, according to the breadth of the temple, and its width was ten cubits. He overlaid it with fine gold, twenty tons' worth." This description of the Most Holy Place in Solomon's temple provides a point of comparison with Ezekiel's vision.

John 2:19-21: "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.' The Jews replied, 'Forty-six years have passed since this temple was in building, and you will build it in three days?' But the temple he spoke of was his body." Jesus reinterprets the concept of the temple, thus shedding new light on the spiritual meaning of Ezekiel's vision.

Conclusion

By meditating on Ezekiel 41 and these biblical verses, we are invited to rediscover the holiness of the temple and to recognize God's continuing presence in our lives. May this reflection inspire us to live our faith with renewed depth.