Ezekiel 40:35 — Word Study
WLCוַיְבִיאֵ֖נִי אֶל־ שַׁ֣עַר הַצָּפ֑וֹן וּמָדַ֖ד כַּמִּדּ֥וֹת הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
BSAThen he brought mebôwʼ▸ [to approach, to come near] toʼêl the northtsâphôwn [Zaphon, towards the northern direction] gateshaʻar [entrance, doorway] and measured [it]mâdad■ [to stretch, to extend] It had the same measurementsmiddâh [according to these measures, like the others] as the othersʼêl-leh [these, the previously measured ones]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְבִיאֵ֖נִי | and he brought me | Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| אֶל־ | into | Preposition |
| שַׁ֣עַר | [the] gate of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַצָּפ֑וֹן | the north | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וּמָדַ֖ד | and he measured | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
| כַּמִּדּ֥וֹת | according to the measurements | Preposition, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ | these | Particle, particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others, |
| KJV | ¶ And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures; |
| ASV | And he brought me to the north gate: and he measured it according to these measures; |
| YLT | And he bringeth me in unto the north gate, and hath measured according to these measures; |
| WEB | He brought me to the north gate, and he measured it according to these measurements— |
| BBE | And he took me to the north doorway: and he took the measure of it by these measures; |
All translations agree on the action of measuring in this verse.
The structure features a main action followed by details of what is being measured, emphasizing the significance of the north gate.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָדַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ezekiel 40:35
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Measurements of the Templegenerated
Ezekiel 40:35 continues the vision of the temple, where Ezekiel is guided to measure the north gate. This measurement is part of a larger vision detailing the dimensions and structure of the temple, emphasizing God's design and order. The context includes descriptions of other gates and their features, as seen in Ezekiel 40:34 and Ezekiel 40:36.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 40:27–32 | 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. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 44:4 | Then the man brought me to the front of the temple by way of the north gate. I looked and saw the glory of the LORD filling His temple, and I fell facedown. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 47:2 | Next he brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and there I saw the water trickling out from the south side. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מָדַד, u.ma.Dadgenerated
The verb מָדַד (madad) means to measure or stretch. It captures the action of determining dimensions, which is crucial in the context of the temple's construction. This verb is used in various contexts, often relating to physical measurements, such as lengths and areas.
In this verse, the Qal form indicates a straightforward action of measuring, emphasizing the precision required in the temple's design. The act of measuring signifies not just physical dimensions but also the importance of order and structure in worship.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the sentence is וַיְבִיאֵ֖נִי, and he brought me, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating direction, followed by a noun phrase identifying the gate, and concludes with another verb indicating the action of measuring.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of bringing and measuring, highlighting the importance of the north gate in the context of the temple's layout.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיְבִיאֵ֖נִי as με, indicating a direct action of bringing, which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning. This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of the action without additional interpretation.
The word מָדַד is rendered as διεμέτρησεν, which emphasizes the act of measuring in a precise manner, maintaining the original intent of the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezekiel 40:35 describes how Ezekiel was brought to the north gate of the temple, where he measured it. The measurements of this gate were the same as those of the other gates, highlighting the uniformity in the temple's design.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The north gate represents one of the main entrances to the temple, emphasizing the structure's importance and accessibility.
Measuring the gates signifies the importance of order and precision in the construction of the temple, which reflects God's design.
This verse is part of a detailed vision where Ezekiel is shown the measurements and layout of the temple, indicating God's plan for worship.
The measurements illustrate the divine order and structure in worship, reminding us of the significance of approaching God with reverence.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the uniformity of the temple gates teach us about God's nature?
- How can we apply the principles of order and precision in our own lives?
- In what ways do we prepare ourselves to approach God, similar to the measurements of the temple?
- What significance do you find in the specific details provided in Ezekiel's vision?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on this verse, interpreting its significance in relation to the measurements of the temple.
"And he brought me to the gate which looked toward the North, and he measured according to the former measures, its chamber, and its front,Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 40 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 40:35 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleVer. 35, 36, 37. And he brought me to the north gate,.... That is, of the inner court, for he had measured before the north gate that led to the outward court, Ezekiel 40:20, and here the little
Read John Gill on Ezekiel 40 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures; And he measured the south gate according to these measures - namely, the measures of the outer gate.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 40 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleFrom the east gate, and taking the measures thereof, he passeth by order to the north gate, where all is exactly conformed to that in the south and east gates.
Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 40 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEzekiel 40:35 And he brought me to the north gate, and measured [it] according to these measures;Ver. 35. And measured it according to these measures.] Vilalpandus here noteth that whatsoever is measured in one gate, the same is common to all the rest.
Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 40 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges28–37. The inner court and its gateways The measurement of the outer court was finished at the S. gate. Opposite to this was the S. gate of the inner court at a distance of 100 cubits (Ezekiel 40:27), and the measurement of the inner court naturally begins with the S. gate. The gates of the inner court were similar in all respects to those of the outer court, except that in the former the “porch” lay at the outer end of the gateway, looking into the outer court (Ezekiel 40:31; Ezekiel 40:34; Ezekiel 40:37).
Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 40 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleOF THE INNER COURT WITH ITS GATES, FOR , AND CELLS FOR PRIESTS, Ezekiel 40:28-49.28-37.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 40 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others,
He brought me to the north gate, and he measured it according to these measurements—
Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others,
Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; it had the same dimensions as the others –
Tyndale line
¶ And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
And he brought me to the north gate: and he measured it according to these measures;
And he brought me to the north gate: and he measured it according to these measures;
And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
After he brought mee to the North gate, and measured it, according to these measures,
Strictly literal
And he brought me to the north gate, and he measured [it] according to these measures:
And he bringeth me in unto the north gate, and hath measured according to these measures;
And he brings me into the north gate, and has measured according to these measurements;
And he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it after these measures;
Next the man brought me to the northern gate and measured it; it measured the same as the other gates.
From the Latin
And he brought me into the gate that looked to the north: and he measured according to the former measures.
Simplified
He took me to the north gate and measured it. It measured the same as those previously,
And he took me to the north doorway: and he took the measure of it by these measures;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched. This consistency underscores the reliability of the text in both traditions.
וַיְבִיאֵ֖נִי אֶל־ שַׁ֣עַר הַצָּפ֑וֹן וּמָדַ֖ד כַּמִּדּ֥וֹת הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ezekiel 40:35
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vhw3ms/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep — PrepositionHR
שַׁ֫עַר (sha'ar) means 'gate' and is derived from a root that signifies an opening. It encompasses various types of gates, including those of cities, palaces, and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like 'gate of heaven.' The entries consistently highlight its role as an entrance or threshold.
שַׁ֫עַר 373 n.m. gate
base
H8179 שַׁ֫עַר gate
8179 sha`ar shah'-ar
from 8176 in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or
gate:--city, door, gate, port (X -er).
see HEBREW for 08176
שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) — gate.
: gate
1) gate
1a) gate (of entrance)
1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place)
1b1) city, town
1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle)
1d) heaven
שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) — gate: town.
: town
1) gate
1a) gate (of entrance)
1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place)
1b1) city, town
1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle)
1d) heaven
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
צָפוֹן (tsaphown) means 'north' and is derived from a root meaning 'hidden' or 'dark.' It is used specifically to refer to the northern direction, often associated with gloominess and the unknown. The term also appears in the context of a name, 'Zaphon,' which similarly denotes the north.
צָפוֹן 153 n.f. north (as the hidden, dark)
base
H6828 צָפוֹן north
6828 tsaphown tsaw-fone'
or tsaphon {tsaw-fone'}; from 6845; properly, hidden, i.e.
dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and
unknown):--north(-ern, side, -ward, wind).
see HEBREW for 06845
צָפוֹן (tsa.phon) — north.
1) north (of direction), northward
1a) north
1b) northward
צָפוֹן (tsa.phon) — Zaphon.
This name means north
Also named: tsa.phon (צָפוֹן "Zaphon" H6829)
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
See EAST. The Babylonians and Assyrians are represented as coming from "the north," because they invaded Israel by a northern route in order to avoid the desert, Jer 1:14 46:6,24 Zep 2:13. "Fair weather," says Job, or golden weather, "cometh out of the north," Job 37:22. This is as true in Syria and Arabia now as it was three thousand years ago. A traveler there remarks, "Our friends, who have been long residents, informed us that we should have fair weather for our start on the morrow, as the wind was from the north."
"... And so we have found it come to pass that the clouds of a golden hue always followed upon a north wind, and indicated a clear day; and as in the times of the Savior, we could always say when it was evening…
מָדַד (madad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to measure or stretch. It encompasses various forms, including measuring length or distance, extending, and being measured. The word appears in different contexts, such as dry measures and figurative uses related to waters and requital. Notably, it can also refer to the act of extending oneself, as seen in its usage in the Old Testament.
מָדַד 53 vb. measure
Qal
measure of length, distance
of dry measure
fig. of measuring waters; of requital
Niph. be measured
Pi.
extend, continue (= make extent or continuation)
measure, measure off
Po. measured
Hithpo. measured (= extended, stretched) himself upon the boy
base
H4058 מָדַד measure .. measure of length, distance
. of dry measure
. fig. of measuring waters; of requital
. be measured
. . extend, continue (= make extent or continuation)
. measure, measure off
. measured
. measured (= extended, stretched) himself upon the boy
4058 madad maw-dad'
a primitive root: properly, to stretch; by implication, to
measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be
extended:--measure, mete, stretch self.
מָדַד (ma.dad) — to measure.
1) to measure, stretch
1a) (Qal) to measure
1b) (Niphal) to be measured
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to extend, continue
1c2) to measure, measure off
1d) (Po) measured
1e) (Hithpolel) to extend oneself, stretch oneself
Also means: mid.dad (מָדַד "to extend" H4059)
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqq3ms
מִדָּה (middah) is a feminine noun meaning measure or measurement, encompassing concepts like stature, size, and garment. It can also refer to tribute, as noted in Nehemiah 5:4. The word is derived from a root that implies extension in height or breadth, indicating its use in various contexts related to measurement.
ref
H4060a מִדָּה measure, measurement, stature, size, garment H4060b מִדָּה tribute
4060 middah mid-daw'
feminine of 4055; properly, extension, i.e. height or
breadth; also a measure (including its standard); hence a
portion (as measured) or a vestment; specifically, tribute (as
measured):--garment, measure(-ing, meteyard, piece, size,
(great) stature, tribute, wide.
see HEBREW for 04055
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — measure.
1) measure, measurement, stature, size, garment
1a) measure, act of measurement
1b) measurement, size
1c) measured portion, extent
1d) garment
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — tribute.
(BDB) tribute
Aramaic equivalent: mid.dah (מִנְדָּה "tribute" H4061)
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — `great stature`.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.21.20;
son of: Rapha (H7497A);
brother of: Goliath (H1555), Ishbi-benob (H3430), Saph (H5593), Lahmi (H3902)
§ (BDB) tribute
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absoluteHRd/Ncfpa
אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.
אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these
in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
with preps.
base
H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
. with preps.
428 'el-leh ale'-leh
prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one
sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,
thus, which, who(-m).
see HEBREW for 0411
אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.
1) these
1a) used before antecedent
1b) used following antecedent
Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Art | Pron — Particle · particleHTd/Tm