Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 41

Verses 1-4

Eze 41:1-4

Ezekiel 41:1-4

This whole chapter details the parts, decorations, and ornaments of the Temple: the posts, the doors, the walls, the sides, the chambers, the three terraces, the stairs, the narrow windows, the palm trees, the cherubim, and the young lions, the sanctuary, the altar, the tables, etc.

Measurements of the Temple (Ezekiel 41:1-4)

“And 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 entrance was ten cubits; and the sides of the entrance 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 each post of the entrance, two cubits; and the entrance, six cubits; and the breadth of the entrance, seven cubits. And 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 41:1-4).

Measurements of the holy and most holy place within the temple are given in Ezekiel 41:1-4. Note that the holy place was 70’ long by 35’ in width

Verses 5-11

Eze 41:5-11

More Measurements (Ezekiel 41:5-11)

“Then 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 in three stories, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which belonged to the house for the side-chambers round about, that they might have hold therein, and not have hold in the wall of the house. And the side-chambers were broader as they encompassed the house higher and higher; for the encompassing of the house went higher and higher round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house continued upward; and so one went up from the lowest chamber to the highest by the middle chamber. I saw also that the house had a raised basement 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-chambers, on the outside, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side-chambers that belonged to the house. And between the chambers was a breadth 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” (Ezekiel 41:5-11).

The measurements for the wall and side chambers around the temple itself.

Within the wall were three stories of separate chambers (30 on each floor).

Verses 12-15

Eze 41:12-15

Measurements of the Separate Place (Ezekiel 41:12-15)

“And the building that was before the separate place at the side 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, a hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, a hundred cubits long; also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, a hundred cubits. And he measured the length of the building before the separate place which was at the back thereof, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, a hundred cubits; and the inner temple, and the porches of the court;” (Ezekiel 41:12-15).

Measurements of the “separate place.” Are given in Ezekiel 41:12-15. The “separate place” was a large building near the back of the temple that was separated from the main temple. Measurements of the temple as a whole were 100 cubits by 100 cubits (175’ X 175’).

Verses 16-20

Eze 41:16-20

The Decorated Temple Walls (Ezekiel 41:16-20)

“the thresholds, and the closed windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the threshold, ceiled with wood round about, and [from] the ground up to the windows, (now the windows were covered), to the space 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 cherubim and palm-trees; and a palm-tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces; so that there was the face of a man toward the palm -tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm-tree on the other side. Thus was it made through all the house round about: from the ground unto above the door were cherubim and palm-trees made: thus was the wall of the temple” (Ezekiel 41:16-20).

A description of the decorated temple walls is revealed in Ezekiel 41:16-20. The Cherubs with two faces (the face of a man and a lion) along with palm trees were engraved upon the walls, thresholds, and windows.

Verses 21-26

Eze 41:21-26

Doors before The Most Holy Place (Ezekiel 41:21-26)

“As for the temple, the door-posts were squared; and as for the face of the sanctuary, the appearance thereof was as the appearance of the temple. The altar was of wood, 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 Jehovah. 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. And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubim and palm-trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there was a threshold of wood upon the face of the porch without. And there were closed windows and palm-trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch: thus were the side-chambers of the house, and the thresholds” (Ezekiel 41:21-26).

A description of the decorated temple doors before the most holy place. The four doors (two each having two leaves) were decorated as the walls of the temple with two faced cherubs and palm trees.

The Architecture of the New Temple

Ezekiel 40:1 to Ezekiel 42:20

Open It

1. What are some of the more impressive examples of architecture that you have seen?

2. How difficult would it be for you to find your way around your home blindfolded?

Explore It

3. What was the specific time of Ezekiel’s vision of the temple? (Ezekiel 40:1)

4. Whom did Ezekiel meet when God transported him to Jerusalem in a vision? (Ezekiel 40:2-3)

5. What instructions did the man have for Ezekiel before they set out on their exploration? (Ezekiel 40:4)

6. What was impressive about the wall that surrounded the temple Ezekiel saw? (Ezekiel 40:5)

7. What are some examples of how detailed Ezekiel’s description of the east gate area becomes? (Ezekiel 40:6-16)

8. What did the man do each time he stopped at the outer court, the north gate, and the south gate? (Ezekiel 40:17-27)

9. What sorts of rooms did Ezekiel see before he actually came into the temple? (Ezekiel 40:28-47)

10. What was at the center of the temple structure? (Ezekiel 40:48 to Ezekiel 41:15)

11. How were the internal parts of the temple decorated? (Ezekiel 41:16-26)

12. What important activity was to take place in the side rooms around the temple? (Ezekiel 42:1-13)

13. What specific regulations were given with regard to the priests’ garments inside and outside the temple? (Ezekiel 42:14)

14. How was the whole temple area kept distinct from the "common" parts of the city? (Ezekiel 42:15-20)

Get It

15. Why do you think the exiles to whom Ezekiel spoke might have "eaten up" every detail of his description of the temple?

16. What point did the temple buildings and worship practices make by separating the holy from the common?

17. In what respect was Ezekiel a "servant" of the exiled people of Israel?

18. If someone could bring you a blueprint of heaven, what details would you want it to include?

19. How would you describe heaven to someone unfamiliar with the Bible?

Apply It

20. How could you express your gratitude for the care that has gone into the planning and maintenance of your place of worship?

21. How can the prospect of a new heaven and a new earth inspire you in a specific problem you are presently facing?