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Easy-to-Read Version

Ezekiel 40:6

Then the man went to the east gate. He walked up its steps and measured the opening for the gate. It was one ruler wide.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Reed;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Sciences;  

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Ezekiel;   Measuring Reed;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Fasting;   Line;   Moses;   Nations;   Priests and Levites;   Tabernacle;   Temple;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Weights and Measures;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Gareb;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Temple;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Weights and Measures;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Broad;   House;   Temple;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Gate;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then he came to the gate that faced east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate; it was 10½ feet deep—one threshold was 10½ feet deep.
Hebrew Names Version
Then came he to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up the steps of it: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.
King James Version
Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
English Standard Version
Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep.
New American Standard Bible
Then he went to the gate which faced east, went up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one rod in width; and the other threshold was one rod in width.
New Century Version
Then the man went to the east gateway. He went up its steps and measured the opening of the gateway. It was ten and one-half feet deep.
Amplified Bible
Then he went to the gate which faced the east and went up its [seven] steps and measured the threshold of the gate, one rod in width; and the other threshold [of the gate inside the thick wall] was one rod in width.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then came he vnto the gate, which looketh towarde the East, and went vp the stayres thereof, and measured the poste of the gate, which was one reede broade, and the other poste of the gate, which was one reede broade.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then he went to the gate which faced east, went up its steps and measured the threshold of the gate, one rod in width; and the other threshold was one rod in width.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then he went to the gate which faced east, went up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one rod in width; and the other threshold was one rod in width.
Berean Standard Bible
Then he came to the gate facing east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate to be one rod deep.
Contemporary English Version
Then he went to the east gate, where he walked up steps that led to a long passageway. On each side of this passageway were three guardrooms, which were ten feet square, and they were separated by walls over eight feet thick. The man measured the distance between the opening of the gate and the first guardroom, and it was ten feet, the thickness of the outer wall. At the far end of this passageway, I saw an entrance room that faced the courtyard of the temple itself. There was also a distance of ten feet between the last guardroom and the entrance room
Complete Jewish Bible
He went to the east gate, climbed its steps and measured one of the gate's doorposts at ten-and-a-half feet wide and the other one the same.
Darby Translation
And he came to the gate which looked toward the east, and went up its steps; and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold one reed broad.
George Lamsa Translation
Then he came to the gate that looks toward the east, and climbed up the steps thereof and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
Good News Translation
Then he went to the gateway that faced east. He went up the steps, and at the top he measured the entrance; it was 10 feet deep.
Lexham English Bible
And then he went toward the gate whose face was to the east. And he went up by its steps, and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed wide.
Literal Translation
And he came to the gate which faced eastward, and he went up its steps and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed wide, even the one threshold, one reed wide.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then came he vnto the eastdore, and wente vp the stares, & measured the postes of the dore: wherof euery one was a meterodde thicke. Euery chambre was a meterodde longe and brode:
American Standard Version
Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the steps thereof: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.
Bible in Basic English
Then he came to the doorway looking to the east, and went up by its steps; and he took the measure of the doorstep, one rod wide.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the steps thereof; and he measured the jamb of the gate, one reed broad, and the other jamb, one reed broad.
King James Version (1611)
Then came hee vnto the gate which looketh toward the East, and went vp the staires thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad, and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then came he to the gate which loketh toward the east, and went vp the staires therof, and measured the post of the gate one cane broade, and the other post of the gate one cane broade.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he entered by seven steps into the gate that looks eastward, and he measured across the porch of the gate equal to the reed.
English Revised Version
Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the steps thereof; and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad: and the other threshold, one reed broad.
World English Bible
Then came he to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up the steps of it: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he cam to the yate that bihelde the weie of the eest, and he stiede bi degrees of it; and he mat the lyntil of the yate bi o rehed the breede, that is, o lyntil bi o rehed in breede;
Update Bible Version
Then he came to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up the steps thereof: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then he came to the gate which looketh towards the east, and ascended its stairs, and measured the threshhold of the gate, [which was] one reed broad; and the other threshhold [of the gate], [which was] one reed broad.
New English Translation
Then he went to the gate facing east. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate as 10½ feet deep.
New King James Version
Then he went to the gateway which faced east; and he went up its stairs and measured the threshold of the gateway, which was one rod wide, and the other threshold was one rod wide.
New Living Translation
Then he went over to the eastern gateway. He climbed the steps and measured the threshold of the gateway; it was 10 1⁄2 feet front to back.
New Life Bible
Then he went up the steps of the east gate, and showed me with his stick that the gateway was one stick wide, and the other gate was also one stick wide.
New Revised Standard
Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep. There were
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then came he unto the gate that looked toward the east, and went up by the steps thereof, - and measured the threshold of the gate one reed bread, and the other threshold one reed broad.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he came to the gate that looked toward the east, and he went up the steps thereof: and he measured the breadth of the threshold of the gate one reed, that is, one threshold was one reed broad;
Revised Standard Version
Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep;
Young's Literal Translation
And he cometh in unto the gate whose front [is] eastward, and he goeth up by its steps, and he measureth the threshold of the gate one reed broad, even the one threshold one reed broad,
THE MESSAGE
He went into the gate complex that faced the east and went up the seven steps. He measured the depth of the outside threshold of the gate complex: ten feet. There were alcoves flanking the gate corridor, each ten feet square, each separated by a wall seven and a half feet thick. The inside threshold of the gate complex that led to the porch facing into the Temple courtyard was ten feet deep.

Contextual Overview

5 I saw a wall that went all the way around the outside of the Temple. In the man's hand there was a ruler for measuring things. It was 6 cubits long using the long measurement, so the man measured the thickness of the wall. It was one ruler thick. He measured the height of the wall. It was one ruler tall. 6 Then the man went to the east gate. He walked up its steps and measured the opening for the gate. It was one ruler wide. 7 The guardrooms were one ruler long and one ruler wide. The walls between the rooms were 5 cubits thick. The opening by the porch at the end of the gateway that faced the Temple was also one ruler wide. 8 Then he measured the porch. 9 It was 8 cubits long. He measured the walls on either side of the gate. Each side wall was 2 cubits wide. The porch was at the end of the gateway that faced the Temple. 10 There were three little guardrooms on each side of the gateway. All these rooms and their side walls measured the same. 11 The man measured the entrance to the gateway. It was 10 cubits wide and 13 cubits long. 12 There was a low wall in front of each room. That wall was 1 cubit tall and 1 cubit thick. The rooms were square. Each wall was 6 cubits long. 13 The man measured the gateway from the outside edge of the roof of one room to the outside edge of the roof of the opposite room. It was 25 cubits. Each door was directly opposite the other door. 14 He measured the faces of all the side walls, including the side walls on either side of the porch at the courtyard. The total was 60 cubits.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

unto: Ezekiel 40:20, Ezekiel 8:16, Ezekiel 11:1, Ezekiel 43:1, Ezekiel 44:1, Ezekiel 46:1, Ezekiel 46:12, 1 Chronicles 9:18, 1 Chronicles 9:24, Nehemiah 3:29, Jeremiah 19:2

which looketh: Heb. whose face was the way

stairs: Ezekiel 40:26, 1 Kings 6:8

threshold: Ezekiel 10:18, Ezekiel 43:8, Ezekiel 46:2, Ezekiel 47:1, Psalms 84:10, *marg.

one reed: Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 40:7

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 40:15 - the face of the gate Ezekiel 40:22 - and they Ezekiel 40:24 - and behold Ezekiel 40:34 - eight steps Ezekiel 42:15 - gate Ezekiel 43:17 - look toward

Cross-References

Genesis 40:1
Later, two of Pharaoh's servants did something wrong to Pharaoh. These servants were the baker and the man who served wine to Pharaoh.
Genesis 40:3
so he put them in the same prison as Joseph. Potiphar, the commander of Pharaoh's guards, was in charge of this prison.
Genesis 40:8
The two men answered, "We both had dreams last night, but we don't understand what we dreamed. There is no one to explain the dreams to us." Joseph said to them, "God is the only one who can understand and explain dreams. So I beg you, tell me your dreams."
Genesis 41:8
The next morning Pharaoh was worried about these dreams, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told these men the dreams, but none of them could explain the dreams.
Daniel 4:5
I had a dream that made me afraid. I was lying on my bed, and I saw pictures and visions in my mind. These things made me very afraid.
Daniel 5:6
King Belshazzar was very afraid. His face became white from fear, and his knees were shaking and knocking together. He could not stand up because his legs were too weak.
Daniel 7:28
"And that was the end of the dream. I, Daniel, was very afraid. My face became very white from fear, and I did not tell the other people what I saw and heard."
Daniel 8:27
I, Daniel, became very weak. I was sick for several days after that vision. Then I got up and went back to work for the king, but I was very upset about the vision. I did not understand what it meant.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east,.... Or, "whose face is the way to the east" r; to the east of the house or temple; not to the eastern gate of the wall about the house; but to the eastern gate of the outward court; see Ezekiel 40:20, for the man came from the wall he had measured unto this gate; which, with the other gates after mentioned, spiritually design Christ himself, who is the way, door, and gate, John 14:6 and this eastern gate more especially, where the prince sat, Ezekiel 44:3, and which led into the outward court; and over against which was another that led into the inner court, and so straight on to the holy of holies, at the west end of the house. Christ and faith in him, and a profession of him, are the way into the outward visible church, and to the external ordinances of it, baptism and the Lord's supper; he is also the way or gate that leads into the inner court, or into spiritual communion and fellowship with God; he is the way of access to the Father, and through whom saints have communion with him; for there is no coming to him, nor enjoyment of him, but through a mediator; and Christ is he, and he only, by whom we can draw nigh to God, have audience of him, and acceptance with him: he is the gate also that leads to eternal life; the way to heaven and happiness lies through his person, blood, and righteousness; he is the only way, the new and the living way; the plain way, and open gate, yet strait and narrow:

and went up the stairs thereof; or the steps unto it, which were seven; see Ezekiel 40:22 and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions express it here, and read, "seven steps"; according to Jarchi, there were twelve steps, which he takes from the Misnah s; that there was a "chel" of ten cubits, and there were there twelve steps. It is certain that to the north and south gates there were but seven steps; though Lipman t observes, that it is possible there might be a greater declivity on the east side, which required so many steps. Some of the Jewish writers think this is to be understood of the height of the court of Israel above this court; as if it was said, from this court they went up seven steps to the court of Israel; but the plain meaning, as Lipman u observes, is, that these steps were without the gate, and are the height of the court from the mountain of the house to it: these Cocceius very ingeniously illustrates by the seven trumpets in the Revelation; which indeed are so many steps or gradual advances towards the kingdom of Christ, and the glorious and spiritual state of his church in the latter day; which will be introduced by the blowing of the seventh trumpet, when the mystery of God will be finished, and the kingdoms of this world become Christ's, Revelation 10:7 perhaps the man leading the prophet up these steps or stairs to the gate may signify the gradual increase of spiritual light and knowledge of the saints, in the person, offices, and grace of Christ, the way, the truth, and the life; indeed the whole work of grace on the heart is gradual; it is carried on by degrees; it is but begun, not yet finished, particularly the work of faith; believers proceed from one step to another; first see Christ by faith, then go to him, then lay hold on him, and retain him; their faith increases, and they go from strength to strength; and sometimes it grows exceedingly; the advances in it are many and manifest:

and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; of the same measure. The Hebrew word w signifies both a threshold and the upper lintel; and the one may intend the one; and the other the other, and both these: some think they point at the two Testaments; or, as others, the two natures in Christ, and the strength of them, who is the gate, the way to God, the Mediator between him and man, and the mighty Redeemer. Cocceius, because mention is made of a third threshold,

Ezekiel 40:7, fancies that these three thresholds design the three witnesses, Father, Word, and Spirit; which three are one, and found in one gate, which is Christ; so that he that believes in him believes in all three; and he that has the one has the other: but it is a mistake of this learned man that these three thresholds belong to one gate; for that after mentioned is the threshold of the inner, and not the outer gate. Jarchi and Kimchi understand not the thresholds of the gate, but the posts of it.

r אשר פניו דרך הקדימה "facies ejus via ad orientem", Montanus; "eujus facies, ejus", Vatablus. s Middot, c. 2. sect. 3. t Tzurath Beth Hamikdash, sect. 9. fol. 2. 2. u lbid. w סף "sumitur pro inferiore limine, et pro superliminari, sive superiore limine", Capellus, Sanctius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The east gate-building. See Plan III.

Ezekiel 40:6

Stairs - Seven in number Ezekiel 40:22. Each threshold of the gate (was) one reed broad (or 9 ft.). The measurements are being taken from East to west, i. e., in depth.

Ezekiel 40:7

Every little chamber - The guard-chambers (a) for the use of the Levites who kept watch in the temple.

The threshold of the gate by the porch - The second threshold in the easternmost gate-way (c).

Porch - Hebrew אולם 'ûlâm; the Septuagint: αἰλάμ ailam; Vulgate: vestibulum. The word probably means porch or portico, connected with “ail” post or pillar.

Ezekiel 40:9

The porch is now measured from north to south in “wide.” “The breadth of the entry of the gate” was “ten cubits,” made up of the “eight cubits,” with “a cubit” for “a post” or pillar on each side Ezekiel 40:11.

Posts - A projection like a ram’s horn; in architecture, a column projecting from the wall with its base, shaft, and capital, or it may be the “base” only Ezekiel 40:16, Ezekiel 40:49. Here “post” represents the lower part of the column. and the dimensions given are those of the section of the base.

Ezekiel 40:10

In front of each guard-chamber were columns, whose “posts” (bases) were each one cubit square.

Ezekiel 40:11

The length of the gate - The length of the gateway (including the porch, E.) from the court to the uncovered space. The threshold was “six cubits,” and the porch “six.” In addition one cubit was probably allowed in front of the porch, as before the porch of the temple itself Ezekiel 40:49.

Ezekiel 40:13

This measurement is across the gate-building from north to south. The breadth of the gate-building was exactly half its length Ezekiel 40:15.

Ezekiel 40:14

Posts of threescore cubits - Sixty cubits were the length of a series of columns. This gives us another feature of the gate-building. Between the porch (E) and the two most western guard-chambers was a space of five cubits (through which the road passed), forming a kind of hall with columns along the sides. This hall is called the “arches” Ezekiel 40:16. A hall of the same dimensions was between the boundary wall and eastern guard-chambers Ezekiel 40:31. It is probable that in one of these halls (that of the eastern gateway of the inner court) the prince “ate bread” on solemn festivals Ezekiel 44:3.

Unto the post of the court round about the gate - This hall or colonnade extended the whole breadth of the building to the pavement (Ezekiel 40:18, H, Plan II). Outside the building on the pavement was a series of pillars.

Ezekiel 40:15

The whole length of the gate-building was thus made up:

Thickness of boundary wall 6 cubits
Hall of the entrance 5 cubits
Three guard-chambers (6 cubits) 18 cubits
Spaces between guard-chambers 10 cubits
Hall of the porch 5 cubits
The porch 6 cubits
Total 50 cubits

Ezekiel 40:16

The “narrow” (closed and (?)latticed “windows” lit up both the guard-chambers and the hall. On the square base of the “post” stood the shaft in the form of a palm-tree, as we see in ancient buildings in the east.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 40:6. Went up the stairs thereof — As the temple was built upon an eminence, there must have been steps on the outside, opposite to each door, to ascend by. And it appears there were steps to go up from one court to another, see Ezekiel 40:22; Ezekiel 40:26; Ezekiel 40:34; Ezekiel 40:37; and also from the court of the priests to the sanctuary, Ezekiel 40:49. See MMMMM in the plan. Ezekiel 48:35


 
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