Ezekiel 43:14-24

14 from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits, with a breadth of one cubit;

15 and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting upward, ¹four horns.

16 The altar hearth shall be ²square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad.

17 The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad, with a rim around it half a cubit broad, and its base one cubit all around. ³The steps of the altar shall face east. ”

18 And he said to me, ⁴“Son of man, thus says the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and ⁵for throwing blood against it,

19 you shall give to ⁶the Levitical priests ⁷of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord God, ⁸a bull from the herd for a sin offering.

20 And ⁹you shall take some of its blood and put it on ¹⁰the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and upon ¹¹the rim all around. ¹²Thus you shall purify the altar and make atonement for it.

21 You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and ¹³it shall be burned in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area.

22 And on the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull.

23 When you have finished ¹⁴purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and ¹⁵a ram from the flock without blemish.

24 You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests ¹⁶shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord.

Ezekiel 43:14-24 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.

Cross References

• 1. 43:15 See Ex. 27:2
• 2. 43:16 [ch. 40:47; Ex. 27:1]
• 3. 43:17 [Ex. 20:26]
• 4. 43:18 See ch. 2:1
• 5. 43:18 See Lev. 1:5
• 6. 43:19 ch. 44:15; Deut. 17:9; 18:1; 24:8; 27:9
• 7. 43:19 See ch. 40:46
• 8. 43:19 ch. 45:18; Ex. 29:1, 10
• 9. 43:20 ch. 45:19; Ex. 29:12; Lev. 8:15
• 10. 43:20 [See ver. 15 above]
• 11. 43:20 [ver. 13, 17]
• 12. 43:20 Ex. 29:36; [ch. 45:18]
• 13. 43:21 Ex. 29:14
• 14. 43:23 [See ver. 20 above]
• 15. 43:23 [Ex. 29:1]
• 16. 43:24 Lev. 2:13