Ezekiel – Chapter 40

Old Testament49 Verses

Chapter Summary

"In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month, the fourteenth year after the…" — so begins Ezekiel 40. Across its 49 verses, two threads run through the text: God feeding His people and worship and praise. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month, the fourteenth year after the city was destroyed: in the selfsame day the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me thither.

2In the visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain: upon which there was as the building of a city, bending towards the south.

3And he brought me in thither, and behold a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed in his hand, and he stood in the gate.

4And this man said to me: Son of man, see with thy eyes, and hear with thy ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall shew thee: for thou art brought hither that they may be shewn to thee: declare all that thou seest, to the house of Israel.

5And behold there was a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits and a handbreadth: and he measured the breadth of the building one reed, and the height one reed.

6And he came to the gate that looked toward the east, and he went up the steps thereof: and he measured the breadth of the threshold of the gate one reed, that is, one threshold was one reed broad;

7And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad: and between the little chambers were five cubits:

8And the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within, was one reed.

9And he measured the porch of the gate eight cubits, and the front thereof two cubits: and the porch of the gate was inward.

10And the little chambers of the gate that looked eastward were three on this side, and three on that side: all three were of one measure, and the fronts of one measure, on both parts.

11And he measured the breadth of the threshold of the gate ten cubits: and the length of the gate thirteen cubits:

12And the border before the little chambers one cubit: and one cubit was the border on both sides: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side and that side.

13And he measured the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another, in breadth five and twenty cubits: door against door.

14He made also fronts of sixty cubits: and to the front the court of the gate on every side round about.

15And before the face of the gate which reached even to the face of the porch of the inner gate, fifty cubits.

16And slanting windows in the little chambers, and in their fronts, which were within the gate on every side round about: and in like manner there were also in the porches windows round about within, and before the fronts the representation of palm trees.

17And he brought me into the outward court, and behold there were chambers, and a pavement of stone in the court round about: thirty chambers encompassed the pavement.

18And the pavement in the front of the gates according to the length of the gates was lower.

19And he measured the breadth from the face of the lower gate to the front of the inner court without, a hundred cubits to the east, and to the north.

20He measured also both the length and the breadth of the gate of the outward court, which looked northward.

21And the little chambers thereof three on this side, and three on that side: and the front thereof, and the porch thereof according to the measure of the former gate, fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

22And the windows thereof, and the porch, and the gravings according to the measure of the gate that looked to the east, and they went up to it by seven steps, and a porch was before it.

23And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate of the north, and that of the east: and he measured from gate to gate a hundred cubits.

24And he brought me out to the way of the south, and behold the gate that looked to the south: and he measured the front thereof, and the porch thereof according to the former measures.

25And the windows thereof, and the porches round about, as the other windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

26And there were seven steps to go up to it: and a porch before the doors thereof: and there were graven palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side in the front thereof.

27And there was a gate of the inner court towards the south: and he measured from gate to gate towards the south, a hundred cubits.

28And he brought me into the inner court at the south gate: and he measured the gate according to the former measures.

29The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch thereof with the same measures: and the windows thereof, and the porch thereof round about it was fifty cubits in length, and five and twenty cubits in breadth.

30And the porch round about was five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.

31And the porch thereof to the outward court, and the palm trees thereof in the front: and there were eight steps to go up to it.

32And he brought me into the inner court by the way of the east: and he measured the gate according to the former measures.

33The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch thereof as before: and the windows thereof, and the porches thereof round about it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

34And the porch thereof, that is, of the outward court: and the graven palm trees in the front thereof on this side and on that side: and the going up thereof was by eight steps.

35And he brought me into the gate that looked to the north: and he measured according to the former measures.

36The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch thereof, and the windows thereof round about it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

37And the porch thereof looked to the outward court: and the graving of palm trees in the front thereof was on this side and on that side: and the going up to it was by eight steps.

38And at every chamber was a door in the forefronts of the gates: there they washed the holocaust.

39And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side: that the holocaust, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering might be slain thereon.

40And on the outward side, which goeth up to the entry of the gate that looketh toward the north, were two tables: and at the other side before the porch of the gate were two tables,

41Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side at the sides of the gate were eight tables, upon which they slew the victims.

42And the four tables for the holocausts were made of square stones: one cubit and a half long, and one cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high: to lay the vessels upon, in which the holocaust and the victim is slain.

43And the borders of them were of one handbreadth, turned inwards round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singing men in the inner court, which was on the side of the gate that looketh to the north: and their prospect was towards the south, one at the side of the east gate, which looketh toward the north.

45And he said to me: This chamber, which looketh toward the south shall be for the priests that watch in the wards of the temple.

46But the chamber that looketh towards the north shall be for the priests that watch over the ministry of the altar. These are the sons of Sadoc, who among the sons of Levi, come near to the Lord, to minister to him.

47And he measured the court a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad foursquare: and the altar that was before the face of the temple.

48And he brought me into the porch of the temple: and he measured the porch five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

49And the length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and there were eight steps to go up to it. And there were pillars in the fronts: one on this side, and another on that side.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 40

In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month, the fourteenth year after the city was destroyed: in the selfsame day the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me thither.

Ezekiel 40:1

And behold there was a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits and a handbreadth: and he measured the breadth of the building one reed, and the height one reed.

Ezekiel 40:5

But the chamber that looketh towards the north shall be for the priests that watch over the ministry of the altar. These are the sons of Sadoc, who among the sons of Levi, come near to the Lord, to minister to him.

Ezekiel 40:46

And the length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and there were eight steps to go up to it. And there were pillars in the fronts: one on this side, and another on that side.

Ezekiel 40:49

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Ezekiel was written with the exiles in Babylon, moved from despair to hope of restoration in view. Chapter 40 of 48 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 49 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month, the…" It concludes: "And the length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and there were eight steps to go up to…" In terms of historical background, Ezekiel was deported to Babylon in 597 BC and prophesied among the exiles through astonishing visions: God's throne-chariot, the departure of His glory from the Temple, the valley of dry bones brought to life, and a new… Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Ezekiel around About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile

When It Was Written

About 593-571 BC, in Babylon

Catholic Commentary

In this 49-verse passage, the sacred author describes events, speeches, or revelations central to judgment, restoration, and God's glory. A pivotal line is verse 1: "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month, the fourteenth year after the city was destroyed: in…" The passage repeatedly touches on God feeding His people.

Catholic exegesis reads Ezekiel 40 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). St. Bernard of Clairvaux and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 385).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Ezekiel Chapter 40 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Ezekiel Chapter 40. At the moral level, evangelization and missionary discipleship challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 385).

If this passage raises questions, seek the Church's teaching through the Catechism, a faithful priest, or sound Catholic commentaries. Private interpretation must remain in harmony with the Magisterium (CIC 721).

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ezekiel Chapter 40 about?

Ezekiel 40 contains 49 verses. It opens with "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month, the…" and closes with "And the length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and there were eight steps to go up to…". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 40?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month, the fourteenth year after the city was destroyed: in the selfsame day…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Ezekiel and when?

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile. About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

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