Ezekiel 43:13-17

The Altar of Sacrifice

13 These are the measurements of the altar in long cubits ^[a] (a cubit and a handbreadth): Its gutter shall be a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span ^[b] around its edge. And this is the height of the altar:

14 The space from the gutter on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the ledge one cubit wide. ^[c] The space from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits, and the ledge one cubit wide. ^[d]

15 The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upward from the hearth.

16 The altar hearth shall be square at its four corners, twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide. ^[e]

17 The ledge shall also be square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide, ^[f] with a rim of half a cubit ^[g] and a gutter of a cubit all around it. The steps of the altar shall face east.”

Ezekiel 43:13-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 43

The temple or house of God being measured, the worship of God in it is pointed out and observed in this and the following chapter; and which, though evangelical, is expressed in the language of the Old Testament. An account is given of the glory of the Lord returning to the house, and the way he did, and his taking possession of it, which the prophet was favoured with a view of, Eze 43:1-5, a promise is made of his continuance there, provided his people behaved as they should, Eze 43:6-9, an order is given to the prophet, to show them the form and fashion, the laws, orders, and ordinances of the house to them, to be observed by them, Eze 43:10-12, then follows the measuring of the altar of burnt offerings; which, though measured before in chapter forty, the dimensions are here given, Eze 43:13-17, and the chapter is concluded with directions about the consecration of it, Eze 43:18-27.

Footnotes

• [a] The long cubit, about 21 inches or 53.3 centimeters, is the basic unit for linear measurement throughout Ezekiel 40–48.
• [b] One span is approximately 9 inches or 22.9 centimeters.
• [c] The space was to be approximately 3.5 feet (1.1 meters), and the ledge was to be approximately 1.75 feet wide (53.3 centimeters wide).
• [d] The space was to be approximately 7 feet (2.1 meters), and the ledge was to be approximately 1.75 feet wide (53.3 centimeters wide).
• [e] 12 (long) cubits is approximately 21 feet or 6.4 meters.
• [f] 14 (long) cubits is approximately 24.5 feet or 7.5 meters.
• [g] A half cubit is approximately 10.5 inches or 26.7 centimeters.