So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.

EZEKIEL 40:47KJV
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Ezekiel 40:47 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 40:47 mean?

Ezekiel 40:47 describes the measuring of the inner court of the temple vision, stating that it was a perfect square—one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide—with the altar positioned in front of the temple building. This verse highlights the precise and symmetrical layout of the temple’s inner area as seen in Ezekiel’s vision.

In this part of Ezekiel, the prophet is being shown detailed measurements of a future temple by a heavenly guide. The focus here is on the court (the open area around the temple) and the altar, emphasizing their exact size and placement. This careful description underlines the order and holiness expected in the temple’s design.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 40:47

  • The word for "court" is חָצֵר (ḥatsér), which refers to an enclosed yard or open space, here meaning the inner area surrounding the temple. Its use points to a designated, set-apart space within the larger temple complex.
  • The term for "foursquare" is רָבֻעַ (rāvuʿaʿ), meaning square or having equal sides. This stresses the idea of balance and completeness in the temple’s design, which was important for ancient ideas of sacred space.
  • "Altar" is מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbēaḥ), the structure for offerings, and its placement "before the house" (לִפְנֵי הַבַּיִת, lifnē habbayit) shows its central role in worship, located directly in front of the temple building itself.

Why Ezekiel 40:47 matters

  • This verse helps clear up the layout of Ezekiel’s temple vision, showing that the inner court was not just large but perfectly square, which was unusual compared to earlier temple designs.
  • The specific mention of the altar’s location highlights its importance as the focal point for worship and sacrifice, directly in front of the temple.
  • Understanding these measurements and placements connects this vision to the broader themes of order, holiness, and restoration found throughout Ezekiel’s later chapters.

Where else these words appear

“foursquare” Hebrew H7251 · used in 12 verses

  • 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 37:25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.
  • 1 Kings 7:31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.

“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;

“broad” Hebrew H7341 · used in 89 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 6:20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
  • 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.

“long” Hebrew H753 · used in 90 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 6:3 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.
  • Ezekiel 40:33 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.