He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

EZEKIEL 42:20KJV
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Ezekiel 42:20 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 42:20 mean?

Ezekiel 42:20 describes the measurement of a wall surrounding the temple area, stating that it is five hundred reeds long on each side and serves to separate the holy sanctuary from the common or profane area. This verse emphasizes the clear boundary set between what is considered sacred and what is not.

In this part of Ezekiel, the prophet is being shown a vision by a divine guide, who carefully measures the new temple complex. The focus here is on the outer wall, which marks off the area dedicated to God (the sanctuary) from everything outside it. The verse highlights the importance of keeping what is holy distinct from what is ordinary or unclean in the vision of the restored temple.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 42:20

  • בְּדָד (badad, "separation"): The word used for "separation" (בְּדָד, badad) means a dividing or setting apart. Its use here stresses the deliberate act of keeping the sanctuary distinct from the profane, not just a physical barrier but a spiritual one.
  • קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh, "sanctuary"): This word refers to what is holy or set apart for God. Its presence in this verse underlines that the area inside the wall is dedicated to God's purposes.
  • חֹל (chol, "profane place"): This word means what is common, ordinary, or not set apart for sacred use. The contrast with "sanctuary" is sharp, showing that the wall is not just about space but about spiritual status.

Why Ezekiel 42:20 matters

  • Ezekiel 42:20 clarifies that the temple's holiness is protected by a clear, measured boundary, not left to chance or tradition.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme in Ezekiel of God restoring order and holiness among His people, especially after the destruction and exile.
  • This detail helps readers understand the seriousness with which ancient Israel viewed the separation between sacred and common, shaping how the community related to God and worship.

Where else these words appear

“place” Hebrew H2455 · used in 7 verses

  • Leviticus 10:10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
  • 1 Samuel 21:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
  • Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

“separation” Hebrew H914 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
  • Numbers 8:14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
  • Ezra 6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,

“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.

“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 41:2 And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits.