Ezekiel 42:20
He measured it on the four sides. It had a wall around it, 500 cubits long and 500 cubits broad, to make a separation between the holy and the common.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse emphasizes that even the vast dimensions of the temple complex were enclosed by a deliberate wall to distinguish the "holy" from the "common." This isn't just about physical space; it highlights God's desire for sacredness to be clearly set apart, not blending into everyday secular life.
Ezekiel is still walking through the measurements of this incredible, idealized temple complex. After detailing the chambers for the priests and the dimensions of the entire sacred precinct, the text now focuses on a massive wall enclosing this holy space. This wall, stretching 500 cubits by 500 cubits, serves a crucial purpose: to clearly distinguish the sacred ground of the temple from the common, everyday world outside.
Imagine a physical barrier that doesn't just keep people out, but actively declares what is set apart for God. Ezekiel's vision includes just such a wall.
The vision in Ezekiel 42:20 describes a massive square wall, 500 cubits by 500 cubits. This wasn't just a fence; it was a deliberate demarcation.
Purpose of the Wall
This physical separation underscores a spiritual reality: God's presence is unique and requires a distinct, set-apart space.
The line between what's devoted to God and what's simply part of daily life can easily blur. Ezekiel's vision confronts this head-on.
The core purpose of the wall in Ezekiel 42:20 is to distinguish between the 'sanctuary' and the 'profane.' This isn't just about physical places; it's a theological concept.
Understanding the Terms
Understand the original words
habdalah · Hebrew Noun
The act of setting something or someone apart for a special, sacred purpose. In the context of the temple, it denotes the boundary between that which is dedicated to God's presence and that which is ordinary or profane.
qodesh · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
That which is dedicated, consecrated, or set apart for God's use and presence. It carries the idea of absolute purity and exclusivity to the Divine.
chol · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
That which is secular, everyday, or profane; it refers to things that have not been consecrated or set apart for the specific worship or service of God.
Ezekiel's vision of a meticulously walled holy area, 500 cubits square, speaks powerfully to a people who had experienced the profanation and destruction of their sacred space. The distinct separation of holy from common underscores a deep longing for restored purity and divine presence after the trauma of exile and temple destruction.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many Judean leaders, artisans, and soldiers were exiled to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity. This event profoundly impacted Jewish identity and religious practice.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces captured Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon's Temple, and deported a large portion of the remaining population to Babylon. This was a catastrophic national trauma.
c. 571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Final Visions
The prophet Ezekiel, in exile in Babylon, receives extensive visionary prophecies detailing a future, restored Temple and city. These visions served as a source of hope and a blueprint for return.
538 BC
Cyrus Cylinder Issued
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing exiled peoples to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This opened the door for Jewish return.
This passage speaks of Christ breaking down the 'dividing wall of hostility,' which echoes Ezekiel's vision of a wall separating the holy from the profane, but here it's about reconciliation rather than exclusion.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20Just as Ezekiel's wall created a physical boundary for holiness, this passage calls believers to recognize their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, implying a separation from 'profane' or unholy living.
1 Peter 1:15-16This verse directly echoes the Old Testament call to holiness, stating 'you shall be holy, for I am holy,' which aligns with the purpose of the wall in Ezekiel to maintain a distinction between the sacred and the common.
Revelation 21:12The description of the New Jerusalem includes walls with gates, symbolizing a divine order and separation, though in Revelation, the emphasis shifts to God's presence and the exclusion of anything impure, rather than a separation between humanly defined holy and common.
clarkeEzekiel 42:20: "He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place."
It had a wall round about - to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place - The holy place was that which was consecrated to the Lord; into which no heathen, nor stranger, nor any in a state of impurity, might enter. The profane place was that in which men, women, Gentiles, pure or impu…
barnesEzekiel 42:20: "He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place."
The "sanctuary" proper is probably here the most holy place as distinguished from the rest of the temple Ezekiel 41:23 ; Ezekiel 45:3 ; but the term was capable of extension first to the whole temple, then to all the ground that was separated to "holy" as distinguished from "profane," i. e., common uses.…
The verse emphasizes that even the vast dimensions of the temple complex were enclosed by a deliberate wall to distinguish the "holy" from the "common." This isn't just about physical space; it highlights God's desire for sacredness to be clearly set apart, not blending into everyday secular life.
Ezekiel is still walking through the measurements of this incredible, idealized temple complex. After detailing the chambers for the priests and the dimensions of the entire sacred precinct, the text now focuses on a massive wall enclosing this holy space. This wall, stretching 500 cubits by 500 cubits, serves a crucial purpose: to clearly distinguish the sacred ground of the temple from the common, everyday world outside.
Ezekiel is still walking through the measurements of this incredible, idealized temple complex. After detailing the chambers for the priests and the dimensions of the entire sacred precinct, the text now focuses on a massive wall enclosing this holy space. This wall, stretching 500 cubits by 500 cubits, serves a crucial purpose: to clearly distinguish the sacred ground of the temple from the common, everyday world outside.
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The Vision's Message
This distinction is crucial because God is holy, and His dwelling place should reflect that holiness. The vision shows that in God's ideal order, clear boundaries are maintained to preserve His sanctity. This means certain areas, times, and activities are reserved exclusively for Him, while others are part of our daily lives. The challenge is to honor both realms without letting the common contaminate the holy.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
The returned Jewish exiles, after significant challenges, completed the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest.
"He measured it on the four sides. It had a wall around it, 500 cubits long and 500 cubits broad, to make a separation between the holy and the common." — The verse emphasizes that even the vast dimensions of the temple complex were enclosed by a deliberate wall to distinguish the "holy" from the "common." This isn't just about physical space; it highl…
