Ezekiel 40:3

a man whose appearance was like bronze: An angelic guide would lead Ezekiel's tour of the temple. The bronze color reminds us of the heavenly creatures described in the first vision (see Ezekiel 1:7).

Unlike the guide for his earlier vision of the earthly temple in Ezekiel 8–11, this guide carried only a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod. These are tools for building, not destroying.

Measurement is a key theme in the following chapters. It allows the prophet to emphasize the importance of certain parts of the temple by making them larger and more precisely defined than other parts.

The final section of the book of Ezekiel describes a new temple and a new division of the land.

First, Ezekiel describes the new temple (Ezekiel 40:1–47:12; see “Temple Architecture as Theology” Theme Note; “Temple Legislation as Theology” Theme Note). This vision includes detailed plans for the building and its rules. It also shows how the temple’s design and laws teach about God.

Next, Ezekiel describes how the land will be divided among the tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 47:13–48:35; see “Israel’s Geography as Theology” Theme Note). This section shows that even the geography (the way the land is arranged) has meaning.

The temple stands at the center of the land. This central place shows that God himself is at the center of his people. The temple is the final and most important part of God’s plan to restore (bring back and renew) and sanctify (make holy) his people. God promises that he will once again live among them (see Ezekiel 37:28).

Ezekiel saw this temple in a vision. However, the people of Israel never built this exact temple in history.

The prophet’s tour of the new temple began outside the building. He then moved step by step toward its center.

After reaching the inside, he walked outward again. The tour ended at the kitchens located in the corners of the outer courtyard (Ezekiel 46:19–24).