Ezekiel 41:22

Authorized King James Version

The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
הַמִּזְבֵּ֡חַ
The altar
an altar
#2
עֵ֑ץ
of wood
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
#3
שָׁלוֹשׁ֩
was three
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
#4
אַמּ֗וֹת
cubits
properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)
#5
גָּבֹ֜הַּ
high
elevated (or elated), powerful, arrogant
#6
וְאָרְכּ֥וֹ
and the length
length
#7
שְׁתַּֽיִם
thereof two
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
#8
אַמּ֗וֹת
cubits
properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)
#9
וּמִקְצֹֽעוֹתָיו֙
and the corners
an angle or recess
#10
ל֔וֹ
H0
#11
וְאָרְכּ֥וֹ
and the length
length
#12
וְקִֽירֹתָ֖יו
thereof and the walls
a wall (as built in a trench)
#13
עֵ֑ץ
of wood
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
#14
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר
and he said
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#15
אֵלַ֔י
near, with or among; often in general, to
#16
זֶ֚ה
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#17
הַשֻּׁלְחָ֔ן
unto me This is the table
a table (as spread out); by implication, a meal
#18
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#19
לִפְנֵ֥י
that is before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#20
יְהוָֽה׃
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ezekiel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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