Revelation 11:2

But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The visionary receives this instruction from a heavenly voice immediately after being commanded to measure the temple and altar in Revelation 11:1. The moment marks a transition from measuring the protected sanctuary to noting an excluded outer area.

The words — The Greek αὐλὴν (aulēn) denotes a courtyard, specifically the outer court situated ἔξωθεν (exōthen) of the ναοῦ (naou), or temple. The imperative ἔκβαλε (ekbale) commands the visionary to exclude or leave this space unmeasured.

The thread — The trampling of the holy city by the nations for a fixed period parallels the oppression of the saints in Daniel 7:25 and Jerusalem’s being trodden down in Luke 21:24. This duration corresponds to the 1,260 days of divine provision for the woman in Revelation 12:6.

Why it lands — The text explicitly orders the exclusion of the outer courtyard from measurement, declaring it surrendered to Gentile control for forty-two months. A reader must acknowledge that the command establishes a bounded period of human domination preceding the prophetic ministry in verse 3.

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 Greek words

King James Version

But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Cross-references

Daniel 7:25 He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days.
Daniel 12:7 And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”
Revelation 11:3 And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
Daniel 12:11 And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days.
Revelation 13:1 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Revelation 21:2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Ezekiel 40:17 Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement,