Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text mentions measuring two thresholds, one at the entrance and another at the inner end of the gateway. This detail, often overlooked, highlights the substantial, multi-layered structure of this gate, emphasizing its significance and the deliberate, thorough way it was designed and measured.
Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is being guided through a vision of a new temple, moving from the outer structures inward. After assessing the outer wall, the visionary guide leads him to the prominent eastern gateway of the inner court, which historically faced the rising sun and was significant for divine presence. The guide then begins measuring the architectural details of this gate, starting with its threshold, a deliberate step in revealing the dimensions and features of this divinely designed structure.
Why does Ezekiel's vision start with the eastern gate? This isn't just about architecture; it's about access to God.
The Gate Facing East
Ezekiel is led to the eastern gate, a significant choice. In ancient Israel, the glory of God often manifested from the east. Think of the sunrise – a symbol of new beginnings and divine light. This specific gate is where the glory of the Lord will later be seen entering the temple (Ezekiel 43:2-4). It's not just any gate; it's the designated entry point for God's presence.
Symbolism of Access
Commentators suggest this eastern gate, and indeed the entire temple structure, points to Jesus Christ. He is the one who said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The meticulously measured gate, with its stairs and thresholds, speaks to the divine order and specific path God has established for humanity to approach Him.
What's the big deal about measuring the threshold with a reed? It highlights a crucial aspect of God's presence.
The Measuring Reed
The "reed" used for measurement was a standard tool, approximately 10-12 feet long. This wasn't a casual glance; it was precise, detailed measurement. The angel measures the "threshold" (the sill or base) and the "other threshold" (likely the lintel or upper beam) of the gate, each one reed deep.
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Holiness Demands Order
This precision isn't about God being picky; it's about His absolute holiness. When God's presence is involved, everything is done according to His divine order and standard. The careful measurements emphasize that access to God is not haphazard but intentional and sacred. This vision of the temple, with its exact dimensions, foreshadows the perfect and holy nature of God's ultimate dwelling place with His people.
Why mention the stairs? This journey upward is more than just physical movement; it's symbolic of our spiritual ascent.
The Steps of Ascent
Before reaching the threshold, the angel "went up its steps." While this specific gate's steps aren't numbered here (unlike others in the vision, like Ezekiel 40:22 and 40:26 which have seven steps), their mention is vital. These steps represent a gradual approach, a purposeful journey upwards towards God's holy space.
Gradual Spiritual Growth
This ascent mirrors the believer's journey of faith. We don't instantly arrive at perfect communion; rather, we grow step by step. Each stage of our walk with God involves moving closer, gaining more understanding, and experiencing deeper fellowship. The stairs remind us that approaching the divine is a process, often requiring effort and persistence as we move from the outer courts into greater intimacy with Him.
Understand the original words
sha'ar · Hebrew Noun
A point of entry or exit, often serving as a place of judgment, administration, or formal greeting in ancient Near Eastern cities; in the context of the temple, it signifies the place of access to the holy presence of God.
qaneh · Hebrew Noun
A standard unit of length derived from the length of a common reed plant, often used for architectural measurements in the temple vision; it emphasizes the precision and order of God's dwelling place.
saph · Hebrew Noun
The strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway; it marks the boundary between the common or outer space and the sacred inner space of the sanctuary.
Ezekiel's detailed measurements of the visionary Temple, including the eastern gate described here, occurred during the Babylonian exile, after the destruction of the first Temple. This context highlights the vision's role as a message of hope and a divine blueprint for future restoration, intended to reorient a displaced and discouraged people toward God's presence and future glory.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Deportations of Israelites
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conducted systematic deportations of conquered populations, including many Israelites, as a means of control and resettlement. This began a period of exile and displacement for the northern kingdom of Israel.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon captured Jerusalem and deported a significant portion of its population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This marked a severe blow to the kingdom of Judah.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population into exile. This event represented a profound national and religious catastrophe for the Jewish people.
c. 571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of the New Temple
In the years following the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel received a series of detailed visions of a new Temple and city. These visions provided hope and a blueprint for future restoration.
538 BC
Cyrus Cylinder Decree
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This marked the beginning of the return from Babylonian exile.
516 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
The returned exiles, after significant challenges and delays, completed the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This was a partial fulfillment of the prophetic hopes, though different in scale from the First Temple.
This passage describes the glory of the Lord returning to the temple through the east gate, highlighting its significance and connection to divine presence. The measurements in Ezekiel 40 likely serve as a blueprint for this sacred space where God would dwell.
John 10:9Jesus states, 'I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved.' This verse offers a spiritual interpretation of gates and thresholds, seeing Christ as the true entrance to God's presence and kingdom, echoing the symbolic meaning of these measurements in Ezekiel's vision.
Hebrews 10:19-20The author speaks of having confidence to enter the most holy place by the new and living way, which is Christ's flesh. This passage connects with Ezekiel's detailed measurements by pointing to Jesus as the ultimate pathway and access to God's sanctuary.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17Paul reminds believers that 'you are God's temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you.' This concept of the body as a sacred space is paralleled by the meticulous measurement of the physical temple in Ezekiel, suggesting that holiness and divine presence are to be approached with reverence and specific attention to detail.
clarkeEzekiel 40:6: "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."
Went up the stairs thereof - As the temple was built upon an eminence, there must have been steps on the outside, opposite to each door, to ascend by. And it appears there were steps to go up from one court to another, see Ezekiel 40:22 , Ezekiel 40:26 , Ezekiel 4…
gillEzekiel 40:6: "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."
Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east,.... Or, "whose face is the way to the east" (r); to the east of the house or temple; not to the eastern gate of the wall about the house; but to the eastern gate of the outward court; see Ezekiel 40:20 , fo…
The text mentions measuring two thresholds, one at the entrance and another at the inner end of the gateway. This detail, often overlooked, highlights the substantial, multi-layered structure of this gate, emphasizing its significance and the deliberate, thorough way it was designed and measured.
Ezekiel is being guided through a vision of a new temple, moving from the outer structures inward. After assessing the outer wall, the visionary guide leads him to the prominent eastern gateway of the inner court, which historically faced the rising sun and was significant for divine presence. The guide then begins measuring the architectural details of this gate, starting with its threshold, a deliberate step in revealing the dimensions and features of this divinely designed structure.
Ezekiel is being guided through a vision of a new temple, moving from the outer structures inward. After assessing the outer wall, the visionary guide leads him to the prominent eastern gateway of the inner court, which historically faced the rising sun and was significant for divine presence. The guide then begins measuring the architectural details of this gate, starting with its threshold, a deliberate step in revealing the dimensions and features of this divinely designed structure.
"Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep." — The text mentions measuring two thresholds, one at the entrance and another at the inner end of the gateway. This detail, often overlooked, highlights the substantial, multi-layered structure of th…
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Last reviewed October 2026