Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.

EZEKIEL 42:15KJV
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Ezekiel 42:15 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 42:15 mean?

Ezekiel 42:15 describes how, after finishing the measurements of the inner part of the temple complex, the man guiding Ezekiel led him out toward the eastern gate and measured the area around it. This verse marks a transition from measuring the inside of the temple to measuring the outer areas.

In this scene, Ezekiel is being shown a vision by a heavenly guide, who is carefully measuring the new temple’s layout. The focus here is on the detailed and orderly process of measuring, highlighting the importance of every part of the temple, including its gates and boundaries. The mention of the eastern gate is significant because, in Ezekiel’s visions, the east often represents the direction of God’s glory.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 42:15

  • "end" (כָּלָה, kalah): This word means to finish or complete. Its use here shows that the measuring of the inner house was thorough and fully completed before moving on.
  • "inner" (פְּנִימִי, penimi) and "house" (בַּיִת, bayit): Together, these words refer to the inner part of the temple complex, emphasizing that the focus up to this point was on the most sacred areas.
  • "prospect" (פָּנִים, panim): This word means "face" or "front," and in this context, it refers to the direction the gate faces—toward the east. This detail matters because the east is symbolically important in Ezekiel.
  • "measured" (מָדַד, madad): This verb highlights the careful, deliberate action of measuring, underscoring the precision and intentionality in the vision.

Why Ezekiel 42:15 matters

  • This verse shows the careful attention given to every part of the temple, not just the inner sanctuary, stressing the completeness and orderliness of God’s design.
  • The mention of the eastern gate connects to earlier parts of Ezekiel, where the east is associated with God’s presence and glory, hinting at the spiritual significance of the temple’s orientation.
  • By describing the transition from the inner to the outer measurements, Ezekiel 42:15 helps the reader follow the flow of the vision and understand the structure of the temple as a whole.

Where else these words appear

“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 41:15 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;

“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 41:5 After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side.

“measuring” Hebrew H4060 · used in 53 verses

  • Exodus 26:2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
  • Nehemiah 3:20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
  • Ezekiel 40:24 After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.

“east” 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 40:32 And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
  • Ezekiel 48:3 And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.