And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.
Parallel translations
- WEB There were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them; and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on its posts.
- BSB Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.
- NKJV Seven steps led up to it, and its archway was in front of them; and it had palm trees on its gateposts, one on this side and one on that side.
- NASB There were seven steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree decorations on its side pillars, one on each side.
- NLT This gateway also had a stairway of seven steps leading up to it, and an entry room at the inner end, and palm tree decorations along the dividing walls.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Seven steps ascend to the south gate, adorned with palm trees. The southern entrance shares the ascent and adornment of the others.
Overview
The south gate is reached by seven steps, with arches before them and palm trees carved on its posts on either side. The familiar features of ascent and palm decoration recur. The repeated motif of climbing steps adorned with palms portrays the approach to God as a reverent, joyful ascent, anticipating the worship of the redeemed in God's eternal presence through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ezek 40:22And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.
- Ezek 40:16And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.
- Ezek 40:6Then 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.
- Ps 92:12–13The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
- 2 Pet 3:18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
- Song 7:7–8This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
- Ezek 40:29And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 40:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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