Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looks toward the east; and it was shut.
- BSB The man then brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faced east, but it was shut.
- NKJV Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut.
- NASB Then He brought me back by way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut.
- NLT Then the man brought me back to the east gateway in the outer wall of the Temple area, but it was closed.
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
Ezekiel is led to the temple's outer east gate, which he finds shut.
Overview
The east gate, through which God's glory had departed and returned (Ezekiel 10-11, 43), is now closed. Its shut state immediately raises the question of why, answered in the next verse. The detail emphasizes the holiness and exclusivity of God's presence, which the rest of the chapter will guard with careful regulations.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ezek 43:1Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:
- Ezek 42:14When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people.
- Ezek 40:17Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
- 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.
- 2 Chr 20:5And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
- 2 Chr 4:9Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.
- Ezek 43:4And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.
- Ezek 46:1Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
- 2 Chr 33:5And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
- Acts 21:28–30Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
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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 44:1 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.