Bible Strands
Ezekiel 40:6
Then he came to the gate facing east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate to be one rod deep.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezekiel narrates a visionary architectural survey to exiled Israelites, recording the dimensions of the eastern temple gate as the angelic guide leads him to its entrance.
The words — The text highlights דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַ/קָּדִ֔ימָ/ה (De.rekh ha./ka.Di.ma/h), literally "the direction east," and וַ/יַּ֖עַל (va/i.Ya.'al), meaning "and he went up," to describe the guide's approach and ascent at the gate.
The thread — The eastern gate motif recurs in Ezekiel 8:16 and Ezekiel 43:1, while the architectural details of temple entrances and stairways parallel 1 Kings 6:8.
Why it lands — The passage demands precise attention to the spatial order of the sanctuary, establishing the eastern gate as a measured threshold that structures the vision's movement from approach to entry.
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
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 8:16 So He brought me to the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.
- Ezekiel 43:1 Then the man brought me back to the gate that faces east,
- 1 Kings 6:8 The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the temple. A stairway led up to the middle level, and from there to the third floor.
- 1 Chronicles 9:18 he was previously stationed at the King’s Gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the Levites.
- 1 Chronicles 9:24 The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides: east, west, north, and south.
- Nehemiah 3:29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs.
- Psalms 84:10 For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
- Jeremiah 19:2 and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you,
- Ezekiel 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim.
- Ezekiel 11:1 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. And there at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders of the people.