Key Verse Spotlight
Ezekiel 40:27 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits. "
Ezekiel 40:27
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
25 And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
26 And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.
27 And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.
28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
29 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
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These verses describe the inner court. The survey of the outer court ended with its south side, and this one begins the same way, then moves to the east and then the north (Ezekiel 40:27, 32, 35). There is no gate on the west side of either court. It seems that Solomon’s temple did have westward gates, since there were gatekeepers on the west side (1 Chronicles 9:24; 1 Chronicles 26:8), but Josephus says the second temple had none on that side.
Notice, first, that the gates into the inner court were exactly like those into the outer court. Their size was the same, the rooms beside them were the same, the rows of chambers around the court were the same, and even the carvings on the posts were the same. In the work of grace, the main things are the same in mature Christians and in younger believers. Mature believers may be closer to perfection, but the faith of all believers is equally precious, even if it is not equally strong. There is a great likeness among God’s children, because they are all brothers and sisters and bear the same image.
Notice, second, that the steps into the inner court were more numerous. Each gate in the outer court had seven steps, but each gate in the inner court had eight steps. This is mentioned on purpose (Ezekiel 40:31, 34, 37) to show that the nearer we come to God, the more we should rise above this world and its concerns. The people who worshiped in the outer court had to rise seven steps above others, but the priests who served in the inner court had to rise eight steps, one step higher still.
From This Chapter
Ezekiel 40:1
"In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither."
Ezekiel 40:2
"In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south."
Ezekiel 40:3
"And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate."
Ezekiel 40:4
"And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel."
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 40:6
"Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad."
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