Vision of the Future Temple: Introduction and Commission
Ezekiel 40:1-4
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Eze.40.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בעשרים: PREP+NUM,card,pl
- וחמש: CONJ+NUM,card,pl,abs
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לגלותנו: PREP
- בראש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- השנה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בעשור: PREP+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לחדש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בארבע: PREP+NUM,card,f,sg,abs
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחר: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הכתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בעצם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- היתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- יד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אתי: PRON,1,sg
- שמה: ADV
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:1 (structural): Both verses serve as vision openings with precise dating formulas introducing a theophanic experience (vision) and locate the narrative in exile.
- Ezekiel 8:1 (verbal): Uses the same wording—“the hand of the LORD was upon me”/“he brought me”—and introduces a transported-vision to the temple precincts, paralleling the movement language of 40:1.
- Ezekiel 11:1 (verbal): Begins with the Spirit lifting or bringing Ezekiel to a specific place in the temple complex (“the east gate”), echoing the motif of divine agency relocating the prophet found in 40:1.
- Ezekiel 43:1-5 (thematic): Later temple-vision material that continues the sanctuary-restoration theme initiated in 40:1; both passages depict divine movement and presence in relation to a renewed temple.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck—on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me there.
- In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down—on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me there.
Eze.40.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- במראות: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הביאני: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויניחני: VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- גבה: ADJ,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
- ועליו: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- כמבנה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עיר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מנגב: PREP
Parallels
- Rev.21:10 (structural): John is taken in spirit to a 'great high mountain' and shown the holy city (New Jerusalem), paralleling Ezekiel's being brought by a vision to a very high mountain with a city-like structure.
- Isa.2:2 (thematic): Speaks of 'the mountain of the LORD' being exalted and all nations streaming to it — thematically echoes the motif of a high mountain as the location of God's exalted presence and a central city.
- Ps.48:2 (verbal): Describes Zion as 'beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Mount Zion... the city of the great King,' echoing the image of a city on a high mountain.
- Ezek.3:12 (verbal): Ezekiel twice reports being lifted up or carried in the spirit ('the Spirit lifted me up'/'He brought me there by the Spirit'), mirroring the formula in 40:2 of being brought in visions of God to a place.
Alternative generated candidates
- In visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; and on it was a structure like the form of a city toward the south.
- By visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; and on it was a structure like a city to the south.
Eze.40.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויביא: VERB,hiphil,impf,3,m,sg
- אותי: PRON,1,sg,acc
- שמה: ADV
- והנה: ADV
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מראהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3ms-suff
- כמראה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נחשת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ופתיל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פשתים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- וקנה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- עמד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בשער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Zechariah 2:1-2 (verbal): Both visions feature 'a man with a measuring line/cord in his hand' sent to measure a holy space (Jerusalem/temple). Verbal parallel in the measuring motif.
- Revelation 11:1 (structural): John is given a reed/rod to measure the temple and worshippers, echoing the measuring-rod function of the figure in Ezekiel's temple vision.
- Revelation 21:15 (verbal): The angel uses a golden reed to measure the new city; parallels Ezek.40:3's measuring rod and the act of surveying sacred architecture.
- Ezekiel 1:26-28 (allusion): Ezekiel's earlier vision also features 'the likeness of a man' and radiance/metallic imagery (brightness/appearance like metal), linking the figure in 40:3 to the divine-glory theophany.
- Daniel 10:6 (verbal): Daniel describes a heavenly figure with appearance like polished/old brass—paralleling Ezek.40:3's 'appearance like bronze' and the motif of a striking metallic visage.
Alternative generated candidates
- He brought me there; and behold, a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord in his hand and a measuring reed—and he stood at the gate.
- He brought me there, and behold—a man whose appearance was like bronze; in his hand a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod, and he stood in the gateway.
Eze.40.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ראה: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,sg
- בעיניך: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,const,2,ms
- ובאזניך: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+poss,2,m,sg
- שמע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ושים: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,sg
- לבך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- לכל: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- מראה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אותך: PRON,2,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- למען: PREP
- הראותכה: VERB,hiph,inf+PRON,2,m,sg+PRON,3,f,sg
- הבאתה: VERB,hiph,perf,2,m,sg+PRON,3,f,sg
- הנה: PART
- הגד: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- ראה: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,sg
- לבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cns
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 3:10-11 (structural): Same prophetic commission form: addressed as 'son of man,' told to receive what is shown/heard and to declare it to the house of Israel—similar commissioning to see and report the vision.
- Ezekiel 33:7 (thematic): Both passages stress the prophet's responsibility toward Israel—being set as watcher/mediator who sees/hears and must warn or report to the house of Israel.
- Deuteronomy 4:9-10 (verbal): Uses related language about 'eyes' and remembering/teaching what has been seen; echoes the idea of being shown events so they can be reported and preserved for Israel.
- Isaiah 6:9-10 (thematic): Another prophetic context where God commissions a prophet with seeing/hearing language; presents the complementary theme that prophetic sight/hearing may be received even though the people will not perceive or respond.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes and hear with your ears; set your heart upon all that I show you. For to show it to you I have brought you here—declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”
- And the man said to me, "Son of man, see with your eyes and hear with your ears; set your heart upon all that I show you. For to show it to you I have been brought here—declare to the house of Israel all that you see."
In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck—on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me there.
In visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; and on it was something like the structure of a city toward the south. And he brought me there. Behold, a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a measuring cord of flax in his hand and a measuring reed; and he stood at the gate. And the man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, set your heart upon all that I show you; for I have brought you here to show it to you. Now declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”