Bible/Ezekiel/42

Ezekiel 42:20

42:19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

KJV

Save image

He measured it on the four sides: it had a wall around it, the length five hundred, and the width five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common.

He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

What does Ezekiel 42:20 mean?

Ezekiel 42:20 is a verse in the book of Ezekiel, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include מָדַד (mâdad), אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ), רוּחַ (rûwach). It connects to 12 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
He
measuredמָדַדmâdad/maw-dad'/H4058properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
it
by
the
fourאַרְבַּעʼarbaʻ/ar-bah'/H702four
sides:רוּחַrûwach/roo'-akh/H7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
it
had
a
wallחוֹמָהchôwmâh/kho-maw'/H2346a wall of protection
round
about,סָבִיבçâbîyb/saw-beeb'/H5439(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh/khaw-maysh'/H2568five
hundredמֵאָהmêʼâh/may-aw'/H3967a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
reeds
long,אֹרֶךְʼôrek/o'rek'/H753length
and
fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh/khaw-maysh'/H2568five
hundredמֵאָהmêʼâh/may-aw'/H3967a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
broad,רֹחַבrôchab/ro'-khab/H7341width (literally or figuratively)
to
make
a
separationבָּדַלbâdal/baw-dal'/H914to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.)
between
the
sanctuaryקֹדֶשׁqôdesh/ko'-desh/H6944a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
and
the
profane
place.חֹלchôl/khole/H2455properly, exposed; hence, profane

Commentary on Ezekiel 42:20

CLARKE · whole chapter
ein they minister - The priests were not permitted to wear their roles in the outer court. These vestments were to be used only when they ministered; and when they had done, they were to deposit them in one of the chambers mentioned in the thirteenth verse. Verse 16 He measured the east - north - south - west side - Each of which was five hundred reeds: and, as the building was square, the area must have been nearly thirteen thousand paces. No wonder this was called a city. See Eze 40:2 . Verse 20 It had a wall round about - to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place - The holy place was that which was consecrated to the Lord; into which no heathen, nor stranger, nor any in a state of impurity, might enter. The profane place was that in which men, women, Gentiles, pure or impure might be admitted. Josephus says War, lib. vi., c. 14, that in his time there was a wall built before the entrance three cubits high, on which there were posts fixed at certain distances, with inscriptions on them in Latin and Greek, containing the laws which enjoined purity on those that entered; and forbidding all strangers to enter, on pain of death. See Calmet. Introduction The glory of the Lord is represented as returning to the temple, Eze 43:1-6 ; where God promises to fix his residence, if the people repent and forsake those sins which caused him to depart from them, Eze 43:7-12 . Then the measures of the altar, and the ordinances relating to it, are set down, Eze 43:13-27 . Verse 2 The glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east - This was the chariot of cherubim, wheels, etc., which he saw at the river Chebar. And this glory, coming from the east, is going to
HENRY_FULL · Ezekiel 42:15–20
. 16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. 19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 20 He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. We have attended the measuring of this mystical temple and are now to see how far the holy ground on which we tread extends; and that also is here measured, and found to take in a great compass. Observe, 1. What the dimensions of it were. It extended each way 500 reeds ( v. 16-19 ), each reed above three yards and a half, so that it reached every way about an English measured mile, which, the ground lying square, was above four miles round. Thus large were the suburbs (as I may call them) of this mystical temple, signifying the great extent of the church in gospel-times, when all nations should be discipled and the kingdoms of the world made Christ's kingdoms. Room should be made in God's courts for the numerous forces of the Gentiles that shall flow into them, as was foretold, Isa. xlix. 18 ; lx. 4 . It is in part fulfilled already in the accession of the Gentiles to the church; and we trust it shall have a more full accomplishment when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and all Israel shall be saved. 2. Why the dimensions of it were made thus large. It was to make a separation, by putting a very large distance between the sanctuary and the profane place; and therefore there was a wall surrounding it, to keep off those that were unclean and to separate between the precious and the vile. Note, A difference is to be put between common and sacred things, between God's name and other names, between his day and other days, his book and other books, his institutions and other observances; and a distance is to be put between our worldly and religious actions, so as still to go about the worship of God with a solemn pause. The prophet, having given us a view of the mystical temple, the gospel-church, as he received it from the Lord, that it might appear not to be erected in vain, comes to desc
WESLEY · Ezekiel 42:20
Five hundred broad - Each reed was above three yards and an half, so that it was about eight miles round. Thus large were the suburbs of this mystical temple, signifying the great extent of the church in gospel times. It is in part fulfilled already, by the accession of the Gentiles to the church: and will be throughly accomplished, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, and all Israel shall be saved. A separation - To distinguish, and accordingly to exclude, or admit persons, for all might not go in.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

2 Kings 25:1

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

2 Chronicles 36:12

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

Ezekiel 1:15

Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.

Ezekiel 27:5

They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee. made: Heb. built

Ezekiel 32:2

Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers. whale: or, dragon

Ezekiel 39:1

Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Ezekiel 42:7

And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.

Daniel 2:37

Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

Daniel 2:38

And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

Daniel 4:1

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

Daniel 4:22

It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

Daniel 5:19

And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

Topics

Sanctuary

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ezekiel 42:20.

Exodus 22:1

If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. or a sheep: or, or a goat

Exodus 26:2

The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.

Exodus 26:8

The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.

Exodus 27:1

And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.

Exodus 27:18

The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass. fifty: Heb. fifty by fifty

Exodus 36:15

The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.

Exodus 36:9

The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.

Exodus 38:1

And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ezekiel 42:20 say?

Ezekiel 42:20 (King James Version) reads: "He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place."

Is Ezekiel 42:20 in the Old or New Testament?

Ezekiel 42:20 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ezekiel.

Reflect

As you read Ezekiel 42:20, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Ezekiel 42:20
42:19Read all of Ezekiel 42