Ezekiel 43

1 Then the man [the heavenly guide] brought me back [led me, took me] to the gate [entrance, doorway] that faces [looks toward, is directed] east [toward the rising sun, the direction of the east wind], word study 2 and I saw the glory [great honor, splendor] of the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, the chosen people] coming from the east [the direction of the rising sun]. His voice [sound, utterance] was like the roar [noise, sound] of many [abundant, numerous] waters [rivers, floods], and the earth [land, ground] shone [was illuminated, gave light] with His glory [majesty, splendor]. word study 3 The vision [appearance, supernatural sight] I saw was like the vision [similar to the previous revelation] I had seen when He came to destroy [bring ruin to, devastate] the city [urban settlement, community] and like the visions [supernatural appearances, revelations] I had seen by the River [a flood] Kebar [Chebar, a river in Mesopotamia]. I fell [prostrated myself, humbled] facedown [on my face, in reverence], word study 4 and the glory [great honor or splendor] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] entered [came into, approached] the temple [dwelling place, house of worship] through the gate [entrance, doorway] facing [whose prospect is toward] east [the direction of the rising sun]. word study 5 Then the Spirit [breath of life, divine wind] lifted me up and brought me into the inner [interior, most sacred] court, and the glory [great honor, splendor] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] filled [made full, completed] the temple [house of worship, dwelling place]. word study 6 While the man [a male person, an individual] was standing [to stand, in a strong sense] beside [near, in close proximity] me, I heard [to hear, to listen with attention] someone [a person, an individual] speaking [to communicate, to utter words] to me from inside [within, from the interior of] the temple [a dwelling place, the house of God], word study 7 and He said to me, “Son of man [human, a mortal], this is the place [location, dwelling] of My throne [seat of power, authority] and the place for the soles of My feet [where I rest, abide], where I will dwell [live, reside] among the Israelites [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob] forever [eternally, always]. The house of Israel [God’s people, the nation] will never again defile [make unclean, profane] My holy name [My reputation, character]—neither they nor their kings [rulers, leaders]—by their prostitution [idolatry, unfaithfulness] and by the funeral offerings [sacrifices, tributes] for their kings at their deaths [when they pass away, die]. word study 8 When they placed their threshold next [beside] to My threshold and their doorposts [pillars, posts] beside My doorposts, with only a wall [barrier, partition] between Me and them, they defiled [profaned, contaminated] My holy [set-apart, sacred] name by the abominations [detestable things, atrocities] they committed [did, performed]. Therefore I have consumed [destroyed, devoured] them in My anger [wrath, indignation]. word study 9 Now [at this time, from this moment on] let them remove [put away, go far from] far from Me their [idolatrous, spiritual] prostitution [unfaithfulness, whoredom] and the funeral [memorial, honoring] offerings [carcasses, dead bodies] for their kings [royal person, rulers], and I will dwell [live, stay, reside] among [in the midst, surrounded by] them forever [always, eternally, to the age]. word study 10 As for you, son [descendant, a man of God] of man [the human, Adam], describe [show, tell, declare openly] the temple [the house, a dwelling place] to the people of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], so that they may be ashamed [humiliated, insulted] of their iniquities [sins, moral evil]. Let them measure [stretch, extend] the plan [pattern, proportion], word study 11 and if they are ashamed [humbled, regretful] of all they have done, then make known to them the design [pattern, blueprint] of the temple—its arrangement [structure, layout] and its exits [outlets, goings out] and entrances [inlets, comings in]—its whole design [form, plan] along with all its statutes [ordinances, laws], forms [regulations, guidelines], and laws [instructions, commandments]. Write it down in their sight [before their eyes, openly], so that they may keep [obey, follow] its complete design [entire plan] and all its statutes [regulations, rules] and may carry them out [fulfill, accomplish]. word study 12 This [specific, unique] is the law [instruction, guiding principle] of the temple [house, dwelling place]: All [everything, the whole] its surrounding territory [border, limit] on top [upon, above] of the mountain [hill] will be most holy [set apart, sacred]. Yes, this [specific, unique] is the law [instruction, guiding principle] of the temple [house, dwelling place]. word study 13 These are the measurements [specific dimensions, precise proportions] of the altar [place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God] in long cubits [a unit of measurement] (a cubit and a handbreadth [the width of a hand]): Its gutter [hollow base, lower part] shall be a cubit [about the length of a forearm] deep and a cubit wide, with a rim [border, edge] of one span [half a cubit, the distance from thumb to little finger] around its edge [lip, border]. And this is the height [upper part, elevated portion] of the altar [where sacrifices are offered]: word study 14 The space from the gutter [from the base] on the ground to the lower [nethermost, bottommost] ledge shall be two cubits [the length of a forearm], and the ledge [border, enclosure] one cubit [about 18 inches] wide. The space from the smaller [lesser, little] ledge to the larger [greater, great] ledge shall be four cubits, and the ledge [width, breadth] one cubit wide. word study 15 The altar [place of sacrifice, mount of God] hearth shall be four [a simple counting number] cubits [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] high, and four horns [a horn; a hill or peak] shall project upward [above, higher] from the hearth [the fireplace, where sacrifices are burned]. word study 16 The altar [place of worship and atonement] hearth shall be square [four-sided, with equal sides] at its four [one-fourth of a whole] corners, twelve cubits [a unit of length] long and twelve cubits wide [breadth or extent]. word study 17 The ledge [a square enclosure, the settle] shall also be square, fourteen [ten and four] cubits [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] long and fourteen cubits wide, with a rim [border, edge] of half [one part out of two] a cubit and a gutter [a channel, a lower part] of a cubit all around [surrounding, encompassing] it. The steps [ascent, a means of going up] of the altar shall face [turn towards, look to] east [the direction of the rising sun, the east wind].” word study 18 Then He said to me: “Son of man [human, mortal], this is what the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘These are the statutes [ordinances, divine laws] for the altar [place of sacrifice] on the day [period of time] it is constructed [built, made], so that burnt offerings [sacrifices completely consumed by fire] may be sacrificed [offered, presented] on it and blood [the liquid that flows through the body] may be sprinkled [scattered, poured out] on it: word study 19 You are to give [as an act of worship, to present] a young bull [calf] from the herd as a sin offering [to atone for sin, for purification] to the Levitical priests [descendants of Levi, who serve God] who are of the family of Zadok [the righteous one, a high priest], who approach [draw near, come close] Me to minister [to serve, to worship] before Me, declares [says, utters] the Lord GOD [Adonay, Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 20 You are to take [receive, get] some of its blood [the liquid that flows through the body] and put it on the four [exactly, precisely] horns [a horn; a hill or peak] of the altar [place of sacrifice, worship], on the four [exactly, precisely] corners [angles, extremities] of the ledge [shelf, border], and all around [completely, entirely] the rim [edge, border]; thus you will cleanse [purify, make clean] the altar [place of sacrifice, worship] and make atonement [cover, reconcile] for it [the altar, the people]. word study 21 Then you are to take away [remove, set aside] the bull [young ox, for sacrifice] for the sin [guilt, punishment] offering and burn [set on fire, kindle flames] it in the appointed [designated, set apart] part of the temple area [house, dwelling place] outside [beyond, without] the sanctuary [holy place, sacred space]. word study 22 On the second [following] day you are to present [offer, bring near] an unblemished [perfect, without defect] male goat [he-goat, kid] as a sin [guilt, punishment] offering, and the altar [place of sacrifice] is to be cleansed [purified, expiated] as it was with the [young] bull [ox]. word study 23 When you have finished [completed, ended] the purification [cleansing, expiation], you are to present [offer, bring near] a young [perfect], unblemished bull [calf, son of the herd] and an unblemished [without defect, perfect] ram [strong male sheep] from the flock [sheep, cattle, a group of animals]. word study 24 You must present [bring near, offer] them before the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; the priests [those who serve God and lead others in worship] are to sprinkle [throw, cast] salt [a purifying agent] on them and sacrifice [offer up, cause to ascend] them as a burnt offering [a step or stairs to the altar, a complete consecration] to the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah]. word study 25 For [a period of] seven [sacred or complete] days you are to provide [make or offer] a male goat [hairy] daily for a sin [guilt or punishment for sin] offering; you are also to provide [supply or give] a young [unblemished or without defect] bull [a strong and powerful animal] and a ram [a mighty man; a post] from the flock [a group of sheep or goats], both [entirely or completely] unblemished [perfect or without defect]. word study 26 For [a period of] seven [sacred or special] days the priests [those set apart for sacred service] are to make atonement [to cover or expiate sin] for the altar [place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God] and cleanse [to purify, make ceremonially clean] it; so they shall consecrate [dedicate, set apart for sacred use] it. word study 27 At the end [completion, fulfillment] of these days [period of time, appointed season], from the eighth day on [and so forward, henceforth], the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] are to present [offer, bring near] your burnt offerings [sacrifices totally consumed by fire, acts of worship] and peace offerings [voluntary sacrifices, expressions of gratitude] on the altar [place of sacrifice]. Then I will accept [be pleased with, delight in] you, declares [utters, speaks forth] the Lord [Adonay, sovereign ruler] GOD [Yehovah].’” word study