The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
Ezekiel 43
Chapter XLIII · Vol. III, pp. 1374–1375
1 The returning of the glory of God into the temple. 7 The sin of Israel hindered God's presence. 10 The prophet exhorteth them to repentance, and observation of the law of the house. 13 The measures, 18 and the ordinances of the altar.
1 Afterward hea brought me to the gate, even the bgate that looketh toward the east:
a 1 Co.3.1,2. He.5.12.
b ch.10.19; 44.1; 46.1.
2 And, behold, cthe glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and dhis voice was like a noise of many waters: and ethe earth shined with his 1glory.2
c ch.1.28; 9.3; 10.19; 11.23. Re.7.2; 16.12.
d ch.1.24. Re.1.15; 19.1,6. Mat.7.29; 22.46. Ac.6.10. Re.11.15; 14.2,6. 2 Th.3.1.
e ch.10.4. Re.18.1. Da.12.4. Hab.2.14. 2 Th.2.8. Is.60.1,3; 4.5; 62.1.
1 The Jews admit that five things that were in Solomon's temple were wanting in the second temple. These were, the visible glory—the ark and mercy-seat—the holy fire—the Urim and Thummim, and the spirit of prophecy. Therefore, as it is certain from measurement, the prophet does not describe Solomon's temple; so, as appears from this admission, neither does he describe that of Zerubbabel and Joshua.—C.
2 In ch. x and xi. the Shekinah glory is described as having passed out of the old temple by the east gate, and gone away from the city over the Mount of Olives. Here, in vision, the prophet sees it return to a new and glorious temple by the same way, through the same gate. This, in its symbolic meaning, may be compared with Christ's promise in Mat.28.20, and with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.—P.
3 And it was gaccording to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city;3 and the visions were like the vision that I hsaw by the river Chebar: and I fell upon my face.
g ch.1.4-28; 8.4; 9.3; 10.1-22; 62.1.
3 Or, when I came to prophesy that the city should be destroyed. See ch.9.1,2,5. Je.1.10. ch.13.19; 23.45; 32.18.
h ch.1.3.
4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house, iby the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.
i ch.10.18,19; ver.1,2; ch.44.2.
5 Soj the spirit took me up, and brought me kinto the inner court; and, behold, lthe glory of the LORD filled the house.
j ch.3.12,14; 8.3; 11.24; 37.1; 40.2.
k Mat.13.11. 1 Co.2.10-12,16. Ca.1.4. Ps.43.4.
l ch.44.4. 1 Ki.8.10,11. Is.6.3. Hag.2.7,9. Ex.29.45.
7 And he said unto me, Son of man, pthe place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will qdwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel rno more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcasses4 of their kings in their high places.
p Ac.7.48,49. Mat.5.34. Re.22.3. Je.3.17; 17.12. 1 Ch.28.2. Ps.99.1,5; 132.13,14.
q Ex.29.45. Joel 3.17. ch.48.35. Jn.1.14. Col.2.9. Mat.28.20. Re.21.2,3; 22.3. He.13.5.
r ch.39.7. Ho.14.8; 2.16,17. Zec.13.2; 14.20,21, with Le.26.30. ch.xvi.xxiii. Je.16.18. ch.23.38,39.
A.M. cir. 3430. B.C. cir. 574.
4 Some think that the royal sepulchres may have been erected within the precincts of the temple, which was a profanation. See 2 Ki. 21. 18-20. Others understand by 'carcasses of their kings,' idols as lifeless as carcasses. Others, sacrifices offered to Milcom or Molech; and the tendency of the Jews to the worship of that horrid idol renders this view the most probable.—C.
8 In their ssetting of their threshold5 by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them;6 they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore tI have consumed them in mine anger.
s ch.23.39; 5.11; 8.5-18. 2 Ki.16.14; 21.4-7.
5 Building temples and altars to their idols beside God's temple and altar.—C.
6 Or, for there was but a wall between me and them.
9 Nowu let them put away their whoredom, and the carcasses of their kings, far from me, and vI will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
10 Thou son of man, xshow the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the 7pattern.8
x ch.40.4. Ex.25.40. Re.21.9. Ac.17.11. Jn.5.39.
7 Or, sum or number.
8 Pattern—'Model' (Gesenius). The intent of measuring this vast temple, is first to show how far the church has come short of the glory of God, and that, by ascertaining the divine uses of the different parts, she might learn her duty, and repent of her sins, ver.17.—C.
11 And 9if they be ashamed of all that they have done, yshow them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
9 Or, that they may be, &c.
y He.8.5. Mat.28.20. 1 Co.11.2,23. Ep.2.19-23. 1 Pe.2.4,5. Mat.16.18,19; 18.15-20; 16.26-28; 28.19,20. Mar.16.15. Ac.i. to Re.iii., with ch.44.5.
12 This is the law of the house; zUpon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.1
z ch.40.2; 42.20. Ga.4.26. Is.2.2,3. Ps.93.5. Joel 3.17. Zec.14.20,21. Ps.xv.; 24.3,4. Mat.5.48. 1 Pe.1.15,16. Phi.4.8. Re.21.27.
1 See note * below.
* 'The law of the house' as set forth in this verse is deserving of special note. In the temple of Solomon, and in the second temple, there were degrees of sacredness. Gentiles might enter the outer court. Jews alone in a state of ceremonial purity were to enter the inner court. The court around the great altar was reserved exclusively for the priests: and only the high-priest was permitted to enter the holy of holies. In the temple here described the temple and its whole precincts was 'most holy.' All who entered and worshipped in it were to be equal. All were to enjoy the privilege of approach to the very presence of God. Every individual was a minister of righteousness to himself.—P.
13 And these are the measures of the altara after the cubits: the bcubit is a cubit[≈ 46 cm · 1 ft 6 in] and an hand-breadth[≈ 7.6 cm · 3 in]; even the bottom2 shall be a cubit[≈ 46 cm · 1 ft 6 in], and the breadth a cubit[≈ 46 cm · 1 ft 6 in], and the border thereof by the edge3 thereof round about shall be a span[≈ 23 cm · 9 in]: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.
14 And cfrom the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle4 shall be two cubits[≈ 91 cm · 3 ft], and the breadth one cubit[≈ 46 cm · 1 ft 6 in]; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits[≈ 1.8 m · 6 ft], and the breadth one cubit[≈ 46 cm · 1 ft 6 in].
15 So the 5altar6 shall be four cubits[≈ 1.8 m · 6 ft]; and from the altar7 and upward shall be dfour horns.
5 Heb. Harel, that is, the mountain of God, Is.2.2,3.
6 The words rendered 'altar' in this verse are different. The first literally signifies 'mountain of God,' and may serve to explain why the church is so often compared to a mountain—the place of spiritual ascent and sacrifice. The second signifies, according to one view, 'lion of God;' according to another, 'hearth of God;' which seems certainly the most natural description.—C.
7 Heb. Ariel, that is, the lion of God, Is.29.1,2,7.
16 And the altar shall be twelve cubits[≈ 5.5 m · 18 ft] long, twelve broad, esquare in the four squares thereof.
17 And the settle shall be fourteen cubits[≈ 6.4 m · 21 ft] long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit[≈ 23 cm · 9 in]; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit[≈ 46 cm · 1 ft 6 in] about; and his gstairs8 shall look toward the east.
18 And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD, These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to hoffer burnt-offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.
19 And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the iseed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, ja young bullock for a sin-offering.
A.M. cir. 3430. B.C. cir. 574.
i ch.40.46; 44.15; 48.11. 2 Ti.2.2,22-25. 1 Ti.3.2-7.
j ver.20-26; ch.45.18,19. Ex.29.10,12,36. Le.8.14,15; 4.3. 2 Co.5.21. 1 Co.5.7. Tit.2.14. 1 Jn.2.2. Ep.5.2. 1 Pe.2.24; 3.18.
20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it kon the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou lcleanse and purge it.
k Is.45.22; 49.6. Ps.98.3. Ac.13.38,39. Mar.16.16. 2 Co.3.6; 4.5,7. Ga.3.1.
l ver.22,26. Jn.17.19. He.9.14,23,24; 10.12,14,29; 13.12,20.
21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin-offering, and he shall burn it nin the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.
n Ex.29.14. He.13.11,12.
22 And on the second day thou shalt offer oa kid of the goats without blemish for a sin-offering; and they pshall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.
23 When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and qa ram out of the flock without blemish.
24 And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall rcast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt-offering unto the LORD.
25 Sevens days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin-offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.
s ver.26. Ex.29.35,36. Le.8.34; 9.1.
27 And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the teighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your uburnt-offerings upon the altar, and your peace-offerings;1 and I will vaccept you, saith the Lord GOD.
t Le.9.1. Jn.20.19,26. Ac.20.7. 1 Co.16.2.
u ch.40.39. 1 Co.2.2; 1.23,24. Lu.2.10,11,14.
1 Or, thank-offerings.
v ch.20.40,41. Ho.8.13. 1 Pe.2.5. Ro.5.1,2,10,19. Ep.1.6; 2.4-7. Col.1.19,20. He.10.19-22.
Notes
Ver. 7-9. Their whoredom denotes their idolatry. The carcasses of their kings, or Molech, denote their idols infinitely loathsome and detestable to God. Their thresholds and posts, erected in opposition to God's, are their temples, altars, and inventions in worship, which they set up in opposition to him.
Reflections.—The different visits which God makes to his people are much alike, and serve to confirm one another; and it is but for a small moment he withdraws, when he returns in kindness. His glory manifested in his church is her principal ornament, furniture, and source of felicity. But it is through Jesus Christ, as with us, that we can have communion with him, or hear his voice with comfort. And if his goodness lead us not to repentance, nothing will. Yea, his pardon of sins renders them peculiarly loathsome and detestable. But, alas! how often the greatest abominations are found placed by men in God's own temple, his church, his worship, and their heart! No wonder that he is highly provoked herewith. But such as improve his goodness, received to his glory, and to their own self-loathing and debasement, shall experience it more and more.—The whole of our salvation is of God. And no society is a church of his but so far as true holiness prevails in it. None of our performances can be accepted, unless our persons be accepted and sins pardoned through Jesus' blood. Nor can any performance be religious unless it spring from and be seasoned with real grace. There is great need for ministers to be signally prepared for their important work. And dreadful is the profaneness of those who rush at random into the sacred function. Blessed be God that Jesus Christ, by offering his own blood, has consecrated himself as our great High-priest, and as our Altar, upon which we are ordained to offer spiritual sacrifices well-pleasing to God.
Measures in square brackets are modern equivalents added for this edition. They are not in the King James text or in Brown’s notes. They use common scholarly estimates: a cubit is about 45.7 cm (18 in), a shekel about 11.4 g (0.4 oz), an ephah about 22 litres. Money values give the worth of the silver or gold at spot prices on 28 October 2026, not what the sum would buy in the ancient world.