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Ezekiel 37-40
New English Translation

The Valley of Dry Bones

37 The hand[a] of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and placed[b] me in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones. 2 He made me walk all around among them.[c] I realized[d] there were a great many bones in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said to him, “Sovereign Lord, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Lord’s message. 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath[e] into you and you will live. 6 I will put tendons[f] on you and muscles over you and will cover you with skin; I will put breath[g] in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. There was a sound when I prophesied— I heard[h] a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 As I watched, I saw[i] tendons on them, then muscles appeared,[j] and skin covered over them from above, but there was no breath[k] in them.

9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath,[l]—prophesy, son of man—and say to the breath: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these corpses so that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as I was commanded, and the breath came into them; they lived and stood on their feet, an extremely great army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are all the house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to open your graves and will raise you from your graves, my people. I will bring you to the land of Israel. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. 14 I will place my breath[m] in you and you will live; I will give you rest in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord—I have spoken and I will act, declares the Lord.’”

15 The Lord’s message came to me: 16 “As for you, son of man, take one branch and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another branch and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 17 Join[n] them as one stick;[o] they will be as one in your hand. 18 When your people[p] say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what these things mean?’ 19 tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to take the branch of Joseph that is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will place them on the stick of Judah[q] and make them into one stick—they will be one in my hand.’[r] 20 The sticks you write on will be in your hand in front of them. 21 Then tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to take the Israelites from among the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from round about and bring them to their land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over them all. They will never again be two nations and never again be divided into two kingdoms.[s] 23 They will not defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, and all their rebellious deeds. I will save them from all their unfaithfulness[t] by which they sinned. I will purify them; they will become my people, and I will become their God.

24 “‘My servant David will be king over them; there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow[u] my regulations and carefully observe my statutes.[v] 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your fathers lived; they will live in it—they and their children and their grandchildren forever. David my servant will be prince over them forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them.[w] I will establish them,[x] increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel.’”[y]

A Prophecy Against Gog

38 The Lord’s message came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn toward[z] Gog,[aa] of the land of Magog,[ab] the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.[ac] Prophesy against him 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against you,[ad] Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of them fully armed, a great company with shields of different types,[ae] all of them armed with swords. 5 Persia,[af] Ethiopia, and Put[ag] are with them, all of them with shields and helmets. 6 They are joined by[ah] Gomer with all its troops, and by Beth Togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples are with you.[ai]

7 “‘Be ready and stay ready, you and all your companies assembled around you, and be a guard for them.[aj] 8 After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come to a land restored from the ravages of war,[ak] from many peoples gathered on the mountains of Israel that had long been in ruins. Its people[al] were brought out from the peoples, and all of them will be living securely. 9 You will advance;[am] you will come like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the earth, you, all your troops, and the many other peoples with you.

10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind,[an] and you will devise an evil plan. 11 You will say, “I will invade[ao] a land of unwalled towns; I will advance against[ap] those living quietly in security—all of them living without walls and barred gates— 12 to loot and plunder, to attack[aq] the inhabited ruins and the people gathered from the nations, who are acquiring cattle and goods, who live at the center[ar] of the earth.” 13 Sheba and Dedan and the traders of Tarshish with all its young warriors[as] will say to you, “Have you come to loot? Have you assembled your armies to plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to haul away a great amount of spoils?”’

14 “Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will take notice[at] 15 and come from your place, from the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a vast army. 16 You will advance[au] against my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth. In future days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may acknowledge me, when before their eyes I magnify myself[av] through you, O Gog.

17 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants[aw] the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days[ax] that I would bring you against them? 18 On that day, when Gog invades[ay] the land of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, my rage will mount up in my anger. 19 In my zeal, in the fire of my fury,[az] I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake[ba] in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild beasts, all the things that creep on the ground, and all people who live on the face of the earth will shake[bb] at my presence. The mountains will topple, the cliffs[bc] will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will call for a sword to attack[bd] Gog[be] on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord; every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 I will judge him with plague and bloodshed. I will rain down on him, his troops, and the many peoples who are with him a torrential downpour, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

39 “As for you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal! 2 I will turn you around and drag you along;[bf] I will lead you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3 I will knock your bow out of your left hand and make your arrows fall from your right hand. 4 You will fall dead on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the people who are with you. I give you as food to every kind of bird and every wild beast. 5 You will fall dead in the open field; for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. 6 I will send fire on Magog and those who live securely in the coastlands; then they will know that I am the Lord.

7 “‘I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.[bg] 8 Realize that it is coming and it will be done, declares the Sovereign Lord. It is the day I have spoken about.

9 “‘Then those who live in the cities of Israel will go out and use the weapons for kindling[bh]—the shields,[bi] bows and arrows, war clubs and spears—they will burn them for seven years. 10 They will not need to take[bj] wood from the field or cut down trees from the forests because they will make fires with the weapons. They will take the loot from those who looted them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,[bk] declares the Sovereign Lord.

11 “‘On that day I will assign Gog a grave in Israel. It will be the valley of those who travel east of the sea; it will block the way of the travelers. There they will bury Gog and all his horde; they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.[bl] 12 For seven months Israel[bm] will bury them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and it will be a memorial[bn] for them on the day I magnify myself, declares the Sovereign Lord. 14 They will designate men to scout continually[bo] through the land, burying those who remain on the surface of the ground,[bp] in order to cleanse it. They will search for seven full months. 15 When the scouts survey[bq] the land and see a human bone, they will place a sign by it, until those assigned to burial duty have buried it[br] in the valley of Hamon Gog. 16 (A city by the name of Hamonah[bs] will also be there.) They will cleanse the land.’

17 “As for you, son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Tell every kind of bird and every wild beast: ‘Assemble and come! Gather from all around to my slaughter[bt] that I am going to make for you, a great slaughter on the mountains of Israel! You will eat flesh and drink blood. 18 You will eat the flesh of warriors[bu] and drink the blood of the princes of the earth—the rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fattened animals of Bashan. 19 You will eat fat until you are full, and drink blood until you are drunk[bv] at my slaughter[bw] that I have made for you. 20 You will fill up at my table with horses and charioteers,[bx] with warriors and all the soldiers,’ declares the Sovereign Lord.

21 “I will display my majesty[by] among the nations. All the nations will witness the judgment I have executed and the power I have exhibited[bz] among them. 22 Then the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward. 23 The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile due to their iniquity,[ca] for they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies; all of them died by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and rebellion I have dealt with them, and I hid my face from them.

25 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Now I will restore[cb] the fortunes of Jacob, and I will have mercy on the entire house of Israel. I will be zealous for my holy name. 26 They will bear their shame for all their unfaithful acts against me, when they live securely on their land with no one to make them afraid. 27 When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will magnify myself among them in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I sent them into exile among the nations and then gathered them into their own land. I will not leave any of them in exile[cc] any longer. 29 I will no longer hide my face from them, when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel,[cd] declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Vision of the New Temple

40 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city[ce] was struck down, on this very day,[cf] the hand[cg] of the Lord was on me, and he brought me there.[ch] 2 By divine visions[ci] he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on a very high mountain,[cj] and on it was a structure like a city, to the south. 3 When he brought me there, I saw[ck] a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring stick in his hand. He was standing in the gateway. 4 The man said to me, “Son of man, watch closely, listen carefully, and pay attention[cl] to everything I show you, for you have been brought here so that I can show it to you.[cm] Tell the house of Israel everything you see.”

5 I saw[cn] a wall all around the outside of the temple.[co] In the man’s hand was a measuring stick 10½ feet[cp] long. He measured the thickness of the wall[cq] as 10½ feet,[cr] and its height as 10½ feet. 6 Then he went to the gate facing east. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate as 10½ feet deep.[cs] 7 The alcoves were 10½ feet long and 10½ feet wide; between the alcoves were 8¾ feet.[ct] The threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate facing inward was 10½ feet. 8 Then he measured the porch of the gate facing inward as 10½ feet. 9 He measured the porch of the gate as 14 feet,[cu] and its jambs as 3½ feet;[cv] the porch of the gate faced inward. 10 There were three alcoves on each side of the east gate; the three had the same measurement, and the jambs on either side had the same measurement.[cw] 11 He measured the width of the entrance of the gateway as 17½ feet,[cx] and the length of the gateway as 22¾ feet.[cy] 12 There was a barrier in front of the alcoves, 1¾ feet[cz] on either side; the alcoves were 10½ feet[da] on either side. 13 He measured the gateway from the roof of one alcove to the roof of the other, a width of 43¾ feet[db] from one entrance to the opposite one. 14 He measured[dc] the porch[dd] at 105 feet[de] high;[df] the gateway went all around to the jamb of the courtyard. 15 From the front of the entrance gate to the porch of the inner gate was 87½ feet.[dg] 16 There were closed windows toward the alcoves and toward their jambs within the gate all around, and likewise for the porches. There were windows all around the inside, and on each jamb were decorative palm trees.[dh]

17 Then he brought me to the outer court. I saw[di] chambers there and a pavement made for the court all around; thirty chambers faced the pavement. 18 The pavement was beside the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the width from before the lower gate to the front of the exterior of the inner court as 175 feet[dj] on the east and on the north.

20 He measured the length and width of the gate of the outer court that faces north. 21 Its alcoves, three on each side, and its jambs and porches had the same measurement as the first gate; 87½ feet[dk] long and 43¾ feet[dl] wide. 22 Its windows, its porches, and its decorative palm trees had the same measurement as the gate that faced east. Seven steps led up to it, and its porch was in front of them. 23 Opposite the gate on the north and the east was a gate of the inner court; he measured the distance from gate to gate at 175 feet.[dm]

24 Then he led me toward the south. I saw[dn] a gate on the south. He measured its jambs and its porches; they had the same dimensions as the others. 25 There were windows all around it and its porches, like the windows of the others;[do] 87½ feet[dp] long and 43¾ feet[dq] wide. 26 There were seven steps going up to it; its porches were in front of them. It had decorative palm trees on its jambs, one on either side. 27 The inner court had a gate toward the south; he measured it from gate to gate toward the south as 175 feet.[dr]

28 Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate; it had the same dimensions as the others. 29 Its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches had the same dimensions as the others, and there were windows all around it and its porches; its length was 87½ feet[ds] and its width 43¾ feet.[dt] 30 There were porches all around, 43¾ feet[du] long and 8¾ feet[dv] wide. 31 Its porches faced the outer court, and decorative palm trees were on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. He measured the gate; it had the same dimensions as the others. 33 Its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches had the same dimensions as the others, and there were windows all around it and its porches; its length was 87½ feet[dw] and its width 43¾ feet.[dx] 34 Its porches faced the outer court, it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.

35 Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; it had the same dimensions as the others— 36 its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches. It had windows all around it; its length was 87½ feet[dy] and its width 43¾ feet.[dz] 37 Its jambs[ea] faced the outer court, and it had decorative palm trees on its jambs on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.

38 There was a chamber with its door by the porch of the gate;[eb] there they washed the burnt offering. 39 In the porch of the gate were two tables on either side on which to slaughter the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering. 40 On the outside of the porch as one goes up at the entrance of the north gate were two tables, and on the other side of the porch of the gate were two tables. 41 Four tables were on each side of the gate, eight tables on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered. 42 The four tables for the burnt offering were of carved stone, 32 inches[ec] long, 32 inches[ed] wide, and 21 inches[ee] high. They would put the instruments that they used to slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice on them. 43 There were hooks[ef] three inches[eg] long fastened in the house all around, and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44 On the outside of the inner gate were chambers for the singers of the inner court, one[eh] at the side of the north gate facing south, and the other at the side of the south[ei] gate facing north. 45 He said to me, “This chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple,[ej] 46 and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the descendants of Zadok, from the descendants of Levi, who may approach the Lord to minister to him.” 47 He measured the court as a square 175 feet long and 175 feet wide;[ek] the altar was in front of the temple.

48 Then he brought me to the porch of the temple and measured the jambs of the porch as 8¾ feet[el] on either side; the width of the gate was 24½ feet,[em] and the sides[en] were 5¼ feet[eo] on each side. 49 The length of the porch was 35 feet[ep] and the width 19¼ feet;[eq] steps[er] led up to it, and there were pillars beside the jambs on either side.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 37:1 tn Or “power.” sn Hand in the OT can refer metaphorically to power, authority, or influence. In Ezekiel God’s hand being on the prophet is regularly associated with communication or a vision from God (3:14, 22; 8:1; 37:1; 40:1).
  2. Ezekiel 37:1 tn Heb “caused me to rest.”
  3. Ezekiel 37:2 tn Heb “and he made me pass over them, around, around.”
  4. Ezekiel 37:2 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and is here translated as “I realized” because it results from Ezekiel’s recognition of the situation around him. In Hebrew, the exclamation is repeated in the following sentence.
  5. Ezekiel 37:5 tn Heb “I am about to bring a spirit.”
  6. Ezekiel 37:6 tn The exact anatomical referent of the term is uncertain. In addition to v. 8, the term occurs only in Gen 32:32 (32:33 Heb); Job 10:11; 40:17; Is 48:4.
  7. Ezekiel 37:6 tn Or “a spirit.”
  8. Ezekiel 37:7 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  9. Ezekiel 37:8 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  10. Ezekiel 37:8 tn Heb “came up.”
  11. Ezekiel 37:8 tn Or “spirit.”
  12. Ezekiel 37:9 tn Or “spirit,” and several times in this verse.
  13. Ezekiel 37:14 tn Or “spirit.” This is likely an allusion to Gen 2 and God’s breath that creates life.
  14. Ezekiel 37:17 tn Heb “bring near.”
  15. Ezekiel 37:17 tn Heb “one to one for you for one stick.”
  16. Ezekiel 37:18 tn Heb “the sons of your people.”
  17. Ezekiel 37:19 tn Heb “I will place them on it, that is, on the stick of Judah.”
  18. Ezekiel 37:19 sn The reunification of Israel and Judah is envisioned as well in Ezek 33:23, 29; Jer 3:18; 23:5-6; Hos 1:11; Amos 9:11.
  19. Ezekiel 37:22 sn Jeremiah also attested to the reuniting of the northern and southern kingdoms (Jer 3:12, 14; 31:2-6).
  20. Ezekiel 37:23 tc Heb “their dwellings.” The text as it stands does not make sense. Based on the LXX, a slight emendation of two vowels, including a mater lectionis, yields the reading “from their turning,” a reference here to their turning from God and deviating from his commandments. See BDB 1000 s.v. מְשׁוּבָה, and D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:407.
  21. Ezekiel 37:24 tn Heb “walk [in].”
  22. Ezekiel 37:24 tn Heb “and my statutes they will guard and they will do them.”
  23. Ezekiel 37:26 sn See Isa 24:5; 55:3; 61:8; Jer 32:40; 50:5; Ezek 16:60 for other references to perpetual covenants.
  24. Ezekiel 37:26 tn Heb “give them.”
  25. Ezekiel 37:28 sn The sanctuary of Israel becomes the main focus of Ezek 40-48.
  26. Ezekiel 38:2 tn Heb “set your face against.”
  27. Ezekiel 38:2 sn This may refer to a Lydian king in western Asia Minor in the seventh century b.c. Apart from Ezek 38-39, the only other biblical reference to this king/nation is in Rev 20:8. For a study of the names appearing in this verse, see E. Yamauchi, Foes From the Northern Frontier, 19-27.
  28. Ezekiel 38:2 sn One of the sons of Japheth according to Gen 10:2 and 1 Chr 1:5.
  29. Ezekiel 38:2 tn Heb “the prince, the chief of Meshech and Tubal.” Some translate “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal,” but it is more likely that the Hebrew noun in question is a common noun in apposition to “prince,” rather than a proper name. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:434-35. As Block demonstrates, attempts by some popular writers to identify these proper names with later geographical sites in Russia are anachronistic. See as well E. Yamauchi, Foes From the Northern Frontier, 19-27. sn Meshech and Tubal were two nations in Cappadocia of Asia Minor. They were also sons of Japheth (Gen 10:2; 1 Chr 1:5).
  30. Ezekiel 38:3 tn Or “I challenge you.” The phrase “I am against you” may be a formula for challenging someone to combat or a duel. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:201-2, and P. Humbert, “Die Herausforderungsformel ‘hinnenî ’êlékâ’” ZAW 45 (1933): 101-8.
  31. Ezekiel 38:4 sn The Hebrew text mentions two different types of shields here.
  32. Ezekiel 38:5 tn D. I. Block prefers to see the Hebrew word as referring here to a western ally of Egypt or as an alternative spelling for Pathros, that is, Upper Egypt. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:439-40.
  33. Ezekiel 38:5 sn That is, Lybia.
  34. Ezekiel 38:6 tn The words “they are joined by” are added in the translation for purposes of English style.
  35. Ezekiel 38:6 sn The seven-nation coalition represents the north (Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, Beth Togarmah), the south/west (Ethiopia, Put) and the east (Persia). The use of the sevenfold list suggests completeness. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:441.
  36. Ezekiel 38:7 tn The second person singular verbal and pronominal forms in the Hebrew text indicate that Gog is addressed here.
  37. Ezekiel 38:8 tn Heb “from the sword.”
  38. Ezekiel 38:8 tn Heb “it.”
  39. Ezekiel 38:9 tn Heb “go up.”
  40. Ezekiel 38:10 tn Heb “words will go up upon your heart.”
  41. Ezekiel 38:11 tn Heb “go up against.”
  42. Ezekiel 38:11 tn Heb “come (to).”
  43. Ezekiel 38:12 tn Heb “to turn your hand against.”
  44. Ezekiel 38:12 tn The Hebrew term occurs elsewhere only in Judg 9:37. Perhaps it means “high point, top.”
  45. Ezekiel 38:13 tn Heb “young lions.”
  46. Ezekiel 38:14 tn The Hebrew text is framed as a rhetorical question: “will you not take notice?”
  47. Ezekiel 38:16 tn Heb “come up.”
  48. Ezekiel 38:16 tn Or “reveal my holiness.”
  49. Ezekiel 38:17 tn Heb “by the hand of my servants.”
  50. Ezekiel 38:17 tn The Hebrew text adds “years” here, but this is probably a scribal gloss on the preceding phrase. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:201.
  51. Ezekiel 38:18 tn Heb “goes up against.”
  52. Ezekiel 38:19 sn The phrase “in the fire of my fury” occurs in Ezek 21:31 and 22:21, 31.
  53. Ezekiel 38:19 tn Or “shaking.”
  54. Ezekiel 38:20 tn Or “tremble.”
  55. Ezekiel 38:20 tn The term occurs only here and in Song of Songs 2:14.
  56. Ezekiel 38:21 tn Heb “against.”
  57. Ezekiel 38:21 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Gog, cf. v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  58. Ezekiel 39:2 tn The Hebrew root occurs only here in the OT. An apparent cognate in the Ethiopic language means “walk along.” For a discussion of the research on this verb, see D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:460.
  59. Ezekiel 39:7 sn The basic sense of the word “holy” is “set apart from that which is commonplace, special, unique.” The Lord’s holiness is first and foremost his transcendent sovereignty as the ruler of the world. He is “set apart” from the world over which he rules. At the same time his holiness encompasses his moral authority, which derives from his royal position. As king he has the right to dictate to his subjects how they are to live; indeed, his very own character sets the standard for proper behavior. This expression is a common title for the Lord in the book of Isaiah.
  60. Ezekiel 39:9 tn Heb “burn and kindle the weapons.”
  61. Ezekiel 39:9 tn Two different types of shields are specified in the Hebrew text.
  62. Ezekiel 39:10 tn Heb “they will not carry.”
  63. Ezekiel 39:10 tn Heb “loot their looters and plunder their plunderers.”
  64. Ezekiel 39:11 tn The name means “horde of Gog.”
  65. Ezekiel 39:12 tn Heb “the house of Israel.”
  66. Ezekiel 39:13 tn Heb “name.”
  67. Ezekiel 39:14 tn Heb “men of perpetuity.”
  68. Ezekiel 39:14 tn Heb “and bury the travelers and those who remain on the surface of the ground.” The reference to “travelers” seems odd and is omitted in the LXX. It is probably an accidental duplication (see v. 11).
  69. Ezekiel 39:15 tn Heb “as the scouts scout.”
  70. Ezekiel 39:15 tn That is, the aforementioned bone.
  71. Ezekiel 39:16 tn This name appears to be a feminine form of the word “horde,” used in the name Hamon Gog.
  72. Ezekiel 39:17 tn Or “sacrifice” (so also in the rest of this verse).
  73. Ezekiel 39:18 sn See Rev 19:17-18.
  74. Ezekiel 39:19 sn Eating the fat and drinking blood were God’s exclusive rights in Israelite sacrifices (Lev 3:17).
  75. Ezekiel 39:19 tn Or “sacrifice” (so also in the rest of this verse).
  76. Ezekiel 39:20 tn Heb “chariots.”
  77. Ezekiel 39:21 tn Or “my glory.”
  78. Ezekiel 39:21 tn Heb “my hand which I have placed.”
  79. Ezekiel 39:23 tn Or “in their punishment.” The phrase “in/for [a person’s] iniquity/punishment” occurs fourteen times in Ezekiel: here; 3:18, 19; 4:17; 7:13, 16; 18:17, 18, 19, 20; 24:23; 33:6, 8, 9. The Hebrew word for “iniquity” may also mean the “punishment” for iniquity or “guilt” of iniquity.
  80. Ezekiel 39:25 tn Heb “cause to return.”
  81. Ezekiel 39:28 tn Heb “there,” referring to the foreign nations to which they were exiled. The translation makes the referent clear.
  82. Ezekiel 39:29 sn See Ezek 11:19 and 37:14.
  83. Ezekiel 40:1 sn That is, Jerusalem.
  84. Ezekiel 40:1 tn April 19, 573 b.c.
  85. Ezekiel 40:1 tn Or “power.” sn Hand in the OT can refer metaphorically to power, authority, or influence. In Ezekiel God’s hand being on the prophet is regularly associated with communication or a vision from God (3:14, 22; 8:1; 37:1; 40:1).
  86. Ezekiel 40:1 sn That is, to the land of Israel (see v. 2).
  87. Ezekiel 40:2 tn The expression introduces the three major visions of Ezekiel (1:1; 8:3; 40:2).
  88. Ezekiel 40:2 tn The reference to a very high mountain is harmonious with Isa 2:2.
  89. Ezekiel 40:3 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  90. Ezekiel 40:4 tn Heb “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and set your mind on.”
  91. Ezekiel 40:4 tn Heb “in order to show (it) to you.”
  92. Ezekiel 40:5 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  93. Ezekiel 40:5 tn Heb “house.”
  94. Ezekiel 40:5 tn Heb “a measuring stick of 6 cubits, [each] a cubit and a handbreadth.” The measuring units here and in the remainder of this section are the Hebrew “long” cubit, consisting of a cubit (about 18 inches or 45 cm) and a handbreadth (about 3 inches or 7.5 cm), for a total of 21 inches (52.5 cm). Therefore the measuring stick in the man’s hand was 10.5 feet (3.15 meters) long. Because modern readers are not familiar with the cubit as a unit of measurement, and due to the additional complication of the “long” cubit as opposed to the regular cubit, all measurements have been converted to American standard feet and inches, with the Hebrew measurements and the metric equivalents given in the notes.
  95. Ezekiel 40:5 tn Heb “building.”
  96. Ezekiel 40:5 tn Heb “one rod [or “reed”]” (also a second time in this verse, twice in v. 6, three times in v. 7, and once in v. 8).
  97. Ezekiel 40:6 tn The Hebrew text adds “the one threshold 10½ feet deep.” This is probably an accidental duplication of what precedes. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:517.
  98. Ezekiel 40:7 tn Heb “5 cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters) according to the “long” cubit. See the note on the first occurrence of the phrase “10½ feet” in v. 5.
  99. Ezekiel 40:9 tn Heb “8 cubits” (i.e., 4.2 meters).
  100. Ezekiel 40:9 tn Heb “2 cubits” (i.e., 1.05 meters).
  101. Ezekiel 40:10 sn The three alcoves are parallel to the city gates found at Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer.
  102. Ezekiel 40:11 tn Heb “10 cubits” (i.e., 5.25 meters).
  103. Ezekiel 40:11 tn Heb “13 cubits” (i.e., 6.825 meters).
  104. Ezekiel 40:12 tn Heb “one cubit” (i.e., 52.5 cm).
  105. Ezekiel 40:12 tn Heb “6 cubits” (i.e., 3.15 meters).
  106. Ezekiel 40:13 tn Heb “25 cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
  107. Ezekiel 40:14 tn Heb “made.”
  108. Ezekiel 40:14 tc The MT reads “jambs,” which does not make sense in context. Supposing a confusion of י (yod) for ו (vav), the text may be emended to read “porch.” See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:518.
  109. Ezekiel 40:14 tn Heb “60 cubits” (i.e., 31.5 meters).
  110. Ezekiel 40:14 tn The word “high” is not in the Hebrew text but is supplied for sense.
  111. Ezekiel 40:15 tn Heb “50 cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
  112. Ezekiel 40:16 sn Decorative palm trees were also a part of Solomon’s temple (1 Kgs 6:29, 32, 35).
  113. Ezekiel 40:17 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  114. Ezekiel 40:19 tn Heb “100 cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
  115. Ezekiel 40:21 tn Heb “50 cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
  116. Ezekiel 40:21 tn Heb “25 cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
  117. Ezekiel 40:23 tn Heb “100 cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
  118. Ezekiel 40:24 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  119. Ezekiel 40:25 tn Heb “as these windows.”
  120. Ezekiel 40:25 tn Heb “50 cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
  121. Ezekiel 40:25 tn Heb “25 cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
  122. Ezekiel 40:27 tn Heb “100 cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
  123. Ezekiel 40:29 tn Heb “50 cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
  124. Ezekiel 40:29 tn Heb “25 cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
  125. Ezekiel 40:30 tn Heb “25 cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
  126. Ezekiel 40:30 tn Heb “5 cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters).
  127. Ezekiel 40:33 tn Heb “50 cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
  128. Ezekiel 40:33 tn Heb “25 cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
  129. Ezekiel 40:36 tn Heb “50 cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
  130. Ezekiel 40:36 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
  131. Ezekiel 40:37 tc The LXX reads “porches.”
  132. Ezekiel 40:38 tc The MT reads “jambs of the gates,” which does not make sense in a context discussing one chamber. The emendation to “porch” is similar to v. 14. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:530.
  133. Ezekiel 40:42 tn Heb “1½ cubits” (i.e., 78.75 cm).
  134. Ezekiel 40:42 tn Heb “1½ cubits” (i.e., 78.75 cm).
  135. Ezekiel 40:42 tn Heb “one cubit” (i.e., 52.5 cm).
  136. Ezekiel 40:43 tc This reading is supported by the Aramaic Targum. The LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac read “shelves” or some type of projection.
  137. Ezekiel 40:43 tn Heb “one handbreadth” (7.5 cm).
  138. Ezekiel 40:44 tn “One” is not in the Hebrew text but is supplied for clarity in the translation.
  139. Ezekiel 40:44 tc This reading is supported by the LXX; the MT reads “east.”
  140. Ezekiel 40:45 tn Heb “the house.”
  141. Ezekiel 40:47 tn Heb “100 cubits long and 100 cubits wide, a square” (i.e., 52.5 meters by 52.5 meters).
  142. Ezekiel 40:48 tn Heb “5 cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters).
  143. Ezekiel 40:48 tn The LXX reads “14 cubits” (i.e., 7.35 meters). See following note.
  144. Ezekiel 40:48 tc The translation follows the LXX. The MT reads: “the width of the gate was 3 cubits,” the omission due to haplography.tn Or “sidewalls.”
  145. Ezekiel 40:48 tn Heb “3 cubits” (i.e., 1.575 meters).
  146. Ezekiel 40:49 tn Heb “20 cubits” (i.e., 10.5 meters).
  147. Ezekiel 40:49 tn Heb “11 cubits” (i.e., 5.775 meters).
  148. Ezekiel 40:49 tc The LXX reads: “ten steps.”
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Ezekiel 37-40
New International Version

The Valley of Dry Bones

37 The hand of the Lord was on me,(A) and he brought me out by the Spirit(B) of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley;(C) it was full of bones.(D) 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.(E)”

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!(F) 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life.(G) 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(H)’”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath;(I) prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds(J) and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded(K) me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.(L)

11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’(M) 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.(N) 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord,(O) when I open your graves and bring you up from them.(P) 14 I will put my Spirit(Q) in you and you will live, and I will settle(R) you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.(S)’”

One Nation Under One King

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites(T) associated with him.(U)’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.’ 17 Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.(V)

18 “When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’(W) 19 say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’(X) 20 Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on 21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.(Y) 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.(Z) There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.(AA) 23 They will no longer defile(AB) themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding,[b](AC) and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.(AD)

24 “‘My servant David(AE) will be king(AF) over them, and they will all have one shepherd.(AG) They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.(AH) 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived.(AI) They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever,(AJ) and David my servant will be their prince forever.(AK) 26 I will make a covenant of peace(AL) with them; it will be an everlasting covenant.(AM) I will establish them and increase their numbers,(AN) and I will put my sanctuary among them(AO) forever.(AP) 27 My dwelling place(AQ) will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.(AR) 28 Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy,(AS) when my sanctuary is among them forever.(AT)’”

The Lord’s Great Victory Over the Nations

38 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog,(AU) of the land of Magog,(AV) the chief prince of[c] Meshek and Tubal;(AW) prophesy against him 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of[d] Meshek and Tubal.(AX) 4 I will turn you around, put hooks(AY) in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords.(AZ) 5 Persia, Cush[e](BA) and Put(BB) will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer(BC) with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah(BD) from the far north(BE) with all its troops—the many nations with you.

7 “‘Get ready; be prepared,(BF) you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. 8 After many days(BG) you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations(BH) to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.(BI) 9 You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm;(BJ) you will be like a cloud(BK) covering the land.(BL)

10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind(BM) and you will devise an evil scheme.(BN) 11 You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people(BO)—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.(BP) 12 I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.[f]” 13 Sheba(BQ) and Dedan(BR) and the merchants of Tarshish(BS) and all her villages[g] will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?(BT)”’

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety,(BU) will you not take notice of it? 15 You will come from your place in the far north,(BV) you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army.(BW) 16 You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud(BX) that covers the land.(BY) In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy(BZ) through you before their eyes.(CA)

17 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You are the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel. At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them. 18 This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord. 19 In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake(CB) in the land of Israel.(CC) 20 The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble(CD) at my presence. The mountains will be overturned,(CE) the cliffs will crumble(CF) and every wall will fall to the ground.(CG) 21 I will summon a sword(CH) against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother.(CI) 22 I will execute judgment(CJ) on him with plague and bloodshed;(CK) I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones(CL) and burning sulfur(CM) on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.(CN) 23 And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(CO)’

39 “Son of man, prophesy against Gog(CP) and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of[h] Meshek(CQ) and Tubal.(CR) 2 I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north(CS) and send you against the mountains of Israel.(CT) 3 Then I will strike your bow(CU) from your left hand and make your arrows(CV) drop from your right hand. 4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds(CW) and to the wild animals.(CX) 5 You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CY) 6 I will send fire(CZ) on Magog(DA) and on those who live in safety in the coastlands,(DB) and they will know(DC) that I am the Lord.

7 “‘I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned,(DD) and the nations will know(DE) that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel.(DF) 8 It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord. This is the day(DG) I have spoken of.

9 “‘Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up—the small and large shields, the bows and arrows,(DH) the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.(DI) 10 They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder(DJ) those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign Lord.(DK)

11 “‘On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, in the valley of those who travel east of the Sea. It will block the way of travelers, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried(DL) there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon Gog.[i](DM)

12 “‘For seven months the Israelites will be burying them in order to cleanse the land.(DN) 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and the day I display my glory(DO) will be a memorable day for them, declares the Sovereign Lord. 14 People will be continually employed in cleansing the land. They will spread out across the land and, along with others, they will bury any bodies that are lying on the ground.

“‘After the seven months they will carry out a more detailed search. 15 As they go through the land, anyone who sees a human bone will leave a marker beside it until the gravediggers bury it in the Valley of Hamon Gog, 16 near a town called Hamonah.[j] And so they will cleanse the land.’

17 “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call out to every kind of bird(DP) and all the wild animals: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing for you, the great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood.(DQ) 18 You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as if they were rams and lambs, goats and bulls—all of them fattened animals from Bashan.(DR) 19 At the sacrifice(DS) I am preparing for you, you will eat fat till you are glutted and drink blood till you are drunk. 20 At my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind,’ declares the Sovereign Lord.(DT)

21 “I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay on them.(DU) 22 From that day forward the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. 23 And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword.(DV) 24 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I hid my face from them.(DW)

25 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob[k](DX) and will have compassion(DY) on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name.(DZ) 26 They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety(EA) in their land with no one to make them afraid.(EB) 27 When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations.(EC) 28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them(ED) to their own land, not leaving any behind.(EE) 29 I will no longer hide my face(EF) from them, for I will pour out my Spirit(EG) on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.(EH)”

The Temple Area Restored

40 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city(EI)—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me(EJ) and he took me there. 2 In visions(EK) of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain,(EL) on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze;(EM) he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod(EN) in his hand. 4 The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you,(EO) for that is why you have been brought here. Tell(EP) the people of Israel everything you see.(EQ)”

The East Gate to the Outer Court

5 I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits,[l] each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured(ER) the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.

6 Then he went to the east gate.(ES) He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. 7 The alcoves(ET) for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits[m] thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.

8 Then he measured the portico of the gateway; 9 it[n] was eight cubits[o] deep and its jambs were two cubits[p] thick. The portico of the gateway faced the temple.

10 Inside the east gate were three alcoves on each side; the three had the same measurements, and the faces of the projecting walls on each side had the same measurements. 11 Then he measured the width of the entrance of the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.[q] 12 In front of each alcove was a wall one cubit high, and the alcoves were six cubits square. 13 Then he measured the gateway from the top of the rear wall of one alcove to the top of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits[r] from one parapet opening to the opposite one. 14 He measured along the faces of the projecting walls all around the inside of the gateway—sixty cubits.[s] The measurement was up to the portico[t] facing the courtyard.[u](EU) 15 The distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its portico was fifty cubits.[v] 16 The alcoves and the projecting walls inside the gateway were surmounted by narrow parapet openings all around, as was the portico; the openings all around faced inward. The faces of the projecting walls were decorated with palm trees.(EV)

The Outer Court

17 Then he brought me into the outer court.(EW) There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms(EX) along the pavement.(EY) 18 It abutted the sides of the gateways and was as wide as they were long; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court;(EZ) it was a hundred cubits[w](FA) on the east side as well as on the north.

The North Gate

20 Then he measured the length and width of the north gate, leading into the outer court. 21 Its alcoves(FB)—three on each side—its projecting walls and its portico(FC) had the same measurements as those of the first gateway. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 22 Its openings, its portico(FD) and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.(FE) 23 There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured from one gate to the opposite one; it was a hundred cubits.(FF)

The South Gate

24 Then he led me to the south side and I saw the south gate. He measured its jambs and its portico, and they had the same measurements(FG) as the others. 25 The gateway and its portico had narrow openings all around, like the openings of the others. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.(FH) 26 Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side.(FI) 27 The inner court(FJ) also had a gate facing south, and he measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side; it was a hundred cubits.(FK)

The Gates to the Inner Court

28 Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements(FL) as the others. 29 Its alcoves,(FM) its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.(FN) 30 (The porticoes(FO) of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep.) 31 Its portico(FP) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated its jambs, and eight steps led up to it.(FQ)

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements(FR) as the others. 33 Its alcoves,(FS) its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its portico(FT) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.

35 Then he brought me to the north gate(FU) and measured it. It had the same measurements(FV) as the others, 36 as did its alcoves,(FW) its projecting walls and its portico, and it had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 37 Its portico[x](FX) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.(FY)

The Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

38 A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings(FZ) were washed. 39 In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings,(GA) sin offerings[y](GB) and guilt offerings(GC) were slaughtered.(GD) 40 By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway were two tables, and on the other side of the steps were two tables. 41 So there were four tables on one side of the gateway and four on the other—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were slaughtered. 42 There were also four tables of dressed stone(GE) for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high.[z] On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.(GF) 43 And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth[aa] long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.

The Rooms for the Priests

44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one[ab] at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south[ac] gate and facing north. 45 He said to me, “The room facing south is for the priests who guard the temple,(GG) 46 and the room facing north(GH) is for the priests who guard the altar.(GI) These are the sons of Zadok,(GJ) who are the only Levites who may draw near to the Lord to minister before him.(GK)”

47 Then he measured the court: It was square—a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.(GL)

The New Temple

48 He brought me to the portico of the temple(GM) and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits[ad] and its projecting walls were[ae] three cubits[af] wide on either side. 49 The portico(GN) was twenty cubits[ag] wide, and twelve[ah] cubits[ai] from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs,[aj] and there were pillars(GO) on each side of the jambs.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 37:5 The Hebrew for this word can also mean wind or spirit (see verses 6-14).
  2. Ezekiel 37:23 Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts all their dwelling places where they sinned
  3. Ezekiel 38:2 Or the prince of Rosh,
  4. Ezekiel 38:3 Or Gog, prince of Rosh,
  5. Ezekiel 38:5 That is, the upper Nile region
  6. Ezekiel 38:12 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.
  7. Ezekiel 38:13 Or her strong lions
  8. Ezekiel 39:1 Or Gog, prince of Rosh,
  9. Ezekiel 39:11 Hamon Gog means hordes of Gog.
  10. Ezekiel 39:16 Hamonah means horde.
  11. Ezekiel 39:25 Or now bring Jacob back from captivity
  12. Ezekiel 40:5 That is, about 11 feet or about 3.2 meters; also in verse 12. The long cubit of about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters is the basic unit of measurement of length throughout chapters 40–48.
  13. Ezekiel 40:7 That is, about 8 3/4 feet or about 2.7 meters; also in verse 48
  14. Ezekiel 40:9 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts gateway facing the temple; it was one rod deep. 9 Then he measured the portico of the gateway; it
  15. Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 14 feet or about 4.2 meters
  16. Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 3 1/2 feet or about 1 meter
  17. Ezekiel 40:11 That is, about 18 feet wide and 23 feet long or about 5.3 meters wide and 6.9 meters long
  18. Ezekiel 40:13 That is, about 44 feet or about 13 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 30, 33 and 36
  19. Ezekiel 40:14 That is, about 105 feet or about 32 meters
  20. Ezekiel 40:14 Septuagint; Hebrew projecting wall
  21. Ezekiel 40:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  22. Ezekiel 40:15 That is, about 88 feet or about 27 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 33 and 36
  23. Ezekiel 40:19 That is, about 175 feet or about 53 meters; also in verses 23, 27 and 47
  24. Ezekiel 40:37 Septuagint (see also verses 31 and 34); Hebrew jambs
  25. Ezekiel 40:39 Or purification offerings
  26. Ezekiel 40:42 That is, about 2 2/3 feet long and wide and 21 inches high or about 80 centimeters long and wide and 53 centimeters high
  27. Ezekiel 40:43 That is, about 3 1/2 inches or about 9 centimeters
  28. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew were rooms for singers, which were
  29. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew east
  30. Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 25 feet or about 7.4 meters
  31. Ezekiel 40:48 Septuagint; Hebrew entrance was
  32. Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 5 1/4 feet or about 1.6 meters
  33. Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 35 feet or about 11 meters
  34. Ezekiel 40:49 Septuagint; Hebrew eleven
  35. Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 21 feet or about 6.4 meters
  36. Ezekiel 40:49 Hebrew; Septuagint Ten steps led up to it
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Ezekiel 36
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