Ezekiel 40:6
Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּב֗וֹא
Then came
H935
וַיָּב֗וֹא
Then came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 22
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
פָּנָיו֙
which looketh
H6440
פָּנָיו֙
which looketh
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
5 of 22
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
דֶּ֣רֶךְ
toward
H1870
דֶּ֣רֶךְ
toward
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
6 of 22
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
הַקָּדִ֔ימָה
the east
H6921
הַקָּדִ֔ימָה
the east
Strong's:
H6921
Word #:
7 of 22
the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
וַיַּ֖עַל
and went up
H5927
וַיַּ֖עַל
and went up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
8 of 22
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
בְּמַֽעֲלוֹתָ֑ו
the stairs
H4609
בְּמַֽעֲלוֹתָ֑ו
the stairs
Strong's:
H4609
Word #:
9 of 22
elevation, i.e., the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step o
וַיָּ֣מָד׀
thereof and measured
H4058
וַיָּ֣מָד׀
thereof and measured
Strong's:
H4058
Word #:
10 of 22
properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
11 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
סַ֣ף
the threshold
H5592
סַ֣ף
the threshold
Strong's:
H5592
Word #:
12 of 22
a vestibule (as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or wine)
קָנֶ֥ה
reed
H7070
קָנֶ֥ה
reed
Strong's:
H7070
Word #:
14 of 22
a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard)
אֶחָ֖ד
and the other
H259
אֶחָ֖ד
and the other
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
15 of 22
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
וְאֵת֙
H853
וְאֵת֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
סַ֣ף
the threshold
H5592
סַ֣ף
the threshold
Strong's:
H5592
Word #:
18 of 22
a vestibule (as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or wine)
אֶחָ֖ד
and the other
H259
אֶחָ֖ד
and the other
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
19 of 22
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
קָנֶ֥ה
reed
H7070
קָנֶ֥ה
reed
Strong's:
H7070
Word #:
20 of 22
a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard)
Cross References
Ezekiel 43:1Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:Ezekiel 8:16And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.Psalms 84:10For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.Jeremiah 19:2And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,Nehemiah 3:29After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.1 Chronicles 9:24In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.1 Chronicles 9:18Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.Ezekiel 40:20And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.Ezekiel 11:1Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.Ezekiel 10:18Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern gates served military, commercial, and judicial functions. Temple gates controlled access to sacred space. Solomon's temple had elaborate gate structures (1 Kings 6). Archaeological discoveries at Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer reveal multi-chambered gates from Solomon's era, providing context for Ezekiel's vision. The eastern orientation held cosmological significance—sunrise symbolized divine presence and new creation. Many ancient temples faced east toward the rising sun, but Israel's eastward orientation uniquely anticipated YHWH's glory returning from the east. The stairs ascending to gates appear in both archaeological remains and biblical texts (Ezekiel 40:6, 22, 26), indicating elevated sacred precincts. For exiles familiar with Babylonian temple architecture, these details would have resonated while maintaining distinctly Israelite theological emphases.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'stairs' of spiritual discipline and preparation must you ascend to approach God in worship?
- How does the eastern gate's significance (where glory departed and must return) speak to personal or corporate spiritual restoration?
- In what ways do we trivialize 'thresholds' between sacred and secular in contemporary Christian life?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The eastern gate receives priority in the vision—directionally and theologically significant. The 'gate which looketh toward the east' recalls where God's glory departed (Ezekiel 10:18-19, 11:23) and must return (Ezekiel 43:1-4). Stairs ascending to the gate emphasize approaching God requires elevation—physically and spiritually. The threshold (Hebrew סַף, saph) marked transition from common to sacred space. Its measurement—'one reed broad'—indicates substantial separation. In Scripture, thresholds hold significance: the Passover blood marked doorposts (Exodus 12:7), priests guarded temple thresholds (2 Kings 22:4), and judgment befell those treating God's threshold with contempt (1 Samuel 5:5, Zephaniah 1:9). The double threshold ('the threshold... and the other threshold') suggests progressive stages of approach to God's presence, reflecting Reformed emphasis on reverent, mediated access through Christ our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).