And he measured the length of the building over against the separate place which was behind it, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court;

EZEKIEL 41:15KJV
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Ezekiel 41:15 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 41:15 mean?

Ezekiel 41:15 describes the prophet Ezekiel measuring the length of a building that stands opposite a special separate area, including its side galleries, the inner temple, and the porches of the court, totaling one hundred cubits. The verse is part of a detailed vision where Ezekiel is shown the layout and dimensions of a future temple.

In this vision, Ezekiel is being led by a heavenly guide who instructs him to measure different parts of the temple complex. The focus here is on the precise size and arrangement of the temple’s structures, highlighting the importance of order and design in this sacred space. The verse fits into a larger section where Ezekiel carefully records every measurement, emphasizing the significance of each area within the temple.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 41:15

  • "measured" (מָדַד, madad): This word emphasizes the act of careful measurement, showing that every part of the temple’s design is intentional and exact.
  • "galleries" (צְלָעוֹת, tselāʿōt): This term refers to side chambers or galleries, which were architectural features running along the sides of the building, possibly used for storage or other temple functions.
  • "hundred" (מֵאָה, me’ah) and "cubits" (אַמָּה, ammah): These words specify the length as one hundred cubits, which is about 150 feet or 45 meters, giving a sense of the temple’s impressive scale.

Why Ezekiel 41:15 matters

  • Ezekiel 41:15 helps clarify that the temple vision is not just symbolic but includes very specific architectural details, showing the value placed on structure and order in worship.
  • The verse highlights the separation and specialness of certain areas within the temple, which reflects the idea of holiness and the careful distinction between different sacred spaces.
  • Understanding the measurements and layout described here helps readers better follow the entire temple vision in Ezekiel, making sense of the prophet’s detailed record and its significance for his audience.

Where else these words appear

“galleries” Hebrew H862 · used in 4 verses

  • Ezekiel 41:16 The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the door, cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered;
  • Ezekiel 42:3 Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.
  • Ezekiel 42:5 Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.

“building” Hebrew H1146 · used in 6 verses

  • Ezekiel 40:5 And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
  • Ezekiel 41:12 Now the building that was before the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits.
  • Ezekiel 42:5 Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.

“place” Hebrew H1508 · used in 8 verses

  • Lamentations 4:7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
  • 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;
  • Ezekiel 42:1 Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north.

“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.