Ezekiel 42:15-20·~1 min

The Outer Measurements

Once the guide has finished measuring the interior temple area, he brings Ezekiel out to measure the precinct all around from the east gate. Each side of the enclosure comes to five hundred cubits, forming a vast and regular perimeter. The surrounding wall is explicitly said to divide the holy from the common, making the meaning of all the chapter's measurements unmistakable.

N¹⁵ow when the man had finished measuring the interior of the temple area, he led me out by the gate that faced east, and he measured the area all around: ¹⁶With a measuring rod he measured the east side to be five hundred cubits long. ¹⁷He measured the north side to be five hundred cubits long. ¹⁸He measured the south side to be five hundred cubits long. ¹⁹And he came around and measured the west side to be five hundred cubits long. ²⁰So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common.

Section summaryAfter finishing the interior survey, the man leads Ezekiel out through the east gate and measures the outer perimeter on every side. East, north, south, and west all measure five hundred cubits, and the enclosing wall is said to separate the holy from the common.

Role in the chapterThis section gives the final overall boundary of the sanctuary precinct and states its holiness-protecting purpose directly.