Keraia
Ezekiel 41

Ezekiel 41:19

The Interior Structures · Ezekiel 41:15–26
Read Ezekiel 41

Translations

Modern
…the face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion was toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved all the way around the temple.
Traditional
So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.
Literal
And the face of a man was toward the palm tree on this side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on this side; so it was made throughout all the temple round and round.
Latin
Faciem hominis juxta palmam ex hac parte, et faciem leonis juxta palmam ex alia parte: expressam per omnem domum in circuitu.

Original

Hebrew
English
…the face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion was toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved all the way around the temple.

Notes

Ezekiel 41:15–20

The temple building was covered with wooden panels. The walls were decorated with carvings of palm trees and cherubim.

The cherubim were like those Ezekiel saw in his earlier visions of judgment (see Ezekiel 1:5–12; 10:2–14). In those visions, the cherubim had four faces. However, the carved images in the temple had only two faces. One face was a lion, the greatest of the wild animals. The other was a human, the highest part of God’s created order.

Cherubim also decorated Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:32). Cherubim were traditional symbols of judgment. The palm trees were traditional symbols of blessing. Together, these images showed both God’s judgment and his blessing.

Ezekiel 41:5–26

The temple had 90 side rooms on three levels. Behind it was a large building with an unknown purpose, possibly to prevent unauthorized access. No one could approach God's presence from behind. The side rooms might have stored priestly clothing and equipment.

Ezekiel 40:1–46:24

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).

Events

Glossary

Angel Book of Revelation Cherub, Cherubim Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Judaism Laver New Jerusalem Sadducees Son of Man Temple Theocracy

Topics

Cherubim in Ezekiel's Vision of the Temple