The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

EZEKIEL 40:49KJV
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Ezekiel 40:49 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 40:49 mean?

Ezekiel 40:49 describes the entrance area of the temple Ezekiel sees in his vision. Its measurements, steps, and paired pillars help the reader picture a planned building, with an approach that rises toward the entrance.

Ezekiel is describing what the man guiding him through the vision showed him. Following the measurements of the porch entrance in verse 48, Ezekiel gives the size of the porch itself and notices the pillars beside its posts.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 40:49

  • “porch” — אוּלָם (ʾulam): This word can mean a porch or entrance hall. It points to a roofed space forming part of the approach to the building, rather than simply an open platform.
  • “cubits” — אַמָּה (ʾammah): A cubit was a measure of length based roughly on the distance from the elbow to the fingertip. Earlier in the vision, Ezekiel 40:5 describes the measuring cubit as a cubit plus a handbreadth, so the measurements follow a stated standard.
  • “posts” — אַיִל (ʾayil): Here the word refers to substantial supports at an entrance. The pillars stand beside these supports, one on each side.

Why Ezekiel 40:49 matters

  • The entrance has a balanced arrangement. The words “one on this side, and another on that side” place the pillars opposite each other.
  • The porch belongs to the larger building Ezekiel is being shown. In the next verse, the guide brings him into the temple building itself, making the porch part of the approach to its interior.

Where else these words appear

“eleven” Hebrew H6249 · used in 18 verses

  • Exodus 26:7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
  • Numbers 29:20 And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;
  • 1 Chronicles 27:14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

“porch” Hebrew H197 · used in 29 verses

  • 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.
  • 2 Chronicles 8:12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch,
  • Ezekiel 40:39 And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.

“steps” Hebrew H4609 · used in 39 verses

  • Exodus 20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
  • Nehemiah 12:37 And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
  • Psalms 132:1 A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:

“pillars” Hebrew H5982 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
  • Exodus 39:33 And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,
  • 2 Kings 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.