Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.

EZEKIEL 40:19KJV
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Ezekiel 40:19 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 40:19 mean?

Ezekiel 40:19 describes a measurement taken by a man showing Ezekiel the new temple vision: the distance from the front of the lower gate to the front of the inner court was one hundred cubits, both toward the east and toward the north. This verse records a specific architectural detail about the temple’s layout.

In this vision, Ezekiel is being led by a heavenly guide who is carefully measuring the future temple. The verse focuses on the space between two key areas: the outer gate (called the lower gate) and the inner court, giving exact measurements. This detail is part of a larger, step-by-step description of the temple’s structure, meant to show its order and design.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 40:19

  • מָדַד (madad, H4058) — "measured": This word emphasizes the careful, deliberate act of measuring, showing that the temple’s design is precise and intentional.
  • רֹחַב (rochav, H7341) — "breadth": This term refers to the width or distance, highlighting the specific dimension being described, not just a general space.
  • פָּנִים (panim, H6440) — "forefront": Used twice, this word means the face or front of something, clarifying that the measurement is from the very front edge of each area.
  • מֵאָה (me’ah, H3967) — "hundred": The use of a round, significant number underlines the symmetry and planned nature of the temple’s construction.
  • אַמָּה (ammah, H520) — "cubits": A cubit is an ancient unit of length, roughly the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18 inches or 45 centimeters), giving us a sense of the actual size.

Why Ezekiel 40:19 matters

  • Ezekiel 40:19 helps clear up how the temple’s courts and gates were spaced, which can be confusing without these specific measurements.
  • The verse shows the importance of order and intentional design in the vision of the temple, reflecting the care and purpose behind its construction.
  • This measurement connects to the larger passage, where each detail builds a picture of the temple as a place of holiness and structure, different from previous temples Ezekiel or his readers would have known.

Where else these words appear

“lower” Hebrew H8481 · used in 13 verses

  • Joshua 16:3 And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.
  • 1 Chronicles 7:24 (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.)
  • 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.

“inner” Hebrew H6442 · used in 29 verses

  • 1 Kings 6:27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
  • Ezekiel 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
  • 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.

“measured” Hebrew H4058 · used in 49 verses

  • Exodus 16:18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
  • Ezekiel 40:11 And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen 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;

“eastward” Hebrew H6921 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 41:6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
  • Ezekiel 40:44 And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
  • Ezekiel 48:3 And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.