Ezekiel 40:23

There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured the distance from gateway to gateway to be a hundred cubits.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Ezekiel records a visionary tour of a temple complex where a measuring figure guides him through successive gates. This verse occurs during the inspection of the north side of the inner court, immediately following the description of the east gate.

The words — The term נֶגֶד (Ne.ged) literally means "before" or "opposite," indicating direct spatial alignment. The verb וַיָּמָד (va/i.Ya.mod) translates to "and he measured," denoting the precise calculation of the distance between structures.

The thread — The measurement of a hundred cubits between gates recurs in Ezekiel 40:19 and Ezekiel 40:27, establishing a standardized layout for the court. This architectural precision echoes the courtyard specifications detailed in Exodus 27:9.

Why it lands — The text states that the north gate aligns with the east gate and that the distance between them is exactly one hundred cubits. It requires the reader to recognize the deliberate symmetry and exact dimensions governing the sacred space.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְשַׁ֙עַר֙ve./Sha.'arand/ a gate לֶחָצֵ֣רle./cha.Tzerto the/ courtyard הַפְּנִימִ֔יha./pe.ni.Mi<the>/ inner נֶ֣גֶדNe.ged[was] before הַשַּׁ֔עַרha./Sha.'arthe/ gate לַצָּפ֖וֹןla./tza.Fonto the/ north וְלַקָּדִ֑יםve./la./ka.Dimand/ to the/ east וַיָּ֧מָדva/i.Ya.modand/ he measured מִשַּׁ֛עַרmi./Sha.'arfrom/ gate אֶל־'el-to שַׁ֖עַרSha.'argate מֵאָ֥הme.'Aha hundred אַמָּֽה׃'a.Mahcubit[s]

King James Version

And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 40:19 Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubits on the east side as well as on the north.
Ezekiel 40:27 The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured the distance from gateway to gateway toward the south to be a hundred cubits.
Exodus 27:9 You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits long on one side,
Exodus 38:9 Then he constructed the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was a hundred cubits long and had curtains of finely spun linen,
Ezekiel 40:44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two chambers, one beside the north gate and facing south, and another beside the south gate and facing north.