The Man with a Measuring Rod (Zechariah 2:1–5)
1 WBS In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was smitten, in the same day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. BSB BSB: In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month—in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been struck down—on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He took me there.
2 WBS In the visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. BSB BSB: In visions of God He took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose southern slope was a structure that resembled a city.
3 WBS And he brought me thither, and behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. BSB BSB: So He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze. He was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.
4 WBS And the man said to me, Son of man, behold with thy eyes, and hear with thy ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee; for, to the intent that I might show them to thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel. BSB BSB: “Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.”
The East Gate 5 WBS And behold a wall on the outside of the house around, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and a hand-breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed: and the hight, one reed. BSB BSB: And I saw a wall surrounding the temple area. Now the length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits (each measuring a cubit and a handbreadth), and he measured the wall to be one rod thick and one rod high.
6 WBS Then he came to the gate which looketh towards the east, and ascended its stairs, and measured the threshhold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshhold of the gate , which was one reed broad. BSB BSB: Then he came to the gate facing east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate to be one rod deep.
7 WBS And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshhold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed. BSB BSB: Each gate chamber was one rod long and one rod wide, and there were five cubits between the gate chambers. The inner threshold of the gate by the portico facing inward was one rod deep.
8 WBS He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed. BSB BSB: Then he measured the portico of the gateway inside;
9 WBS Then he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its posts, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward. BSB BSB: it was eight cubits deep, and its jambs were two cubits thick. And the portico of the gateway faced the temple.
10 WBS And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side. BSB BSB: There were three gate chambers on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the gateposts on either side also had the same measurements.
11 WBS And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits. BSB BSB: And he measured the width of the gateway entrance to be ten cubits, and its length was thirteen cubits.
12 WBS The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side , and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side. BSB BSB: In front of each gate chamber was a wall one cubit high, and the gate chambers were six cubits square.
13 WBS He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door. BSB BSB: Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one gate chamber to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits from doorway to doorway.
14 WBS He made also posts of sixty cubits; even to the post of the court around the gate. BSB BSB: Next he measured the gateposts to be sixty cubits high. The gateway extended around to the gatepost of the courtyard.
15 WBS And from the face of the gate of the entrance to the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits. BSB BSB: And the distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its inner portico was fifty cubits.
16 WBS And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate around, and likewise to the arches: and windows were around inward: and upon each post were palm-trees. BSB BSB: The gate chambers and their side pillars had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway. The porticos also had windows all around on the inside. Each side pillar was decorated with palm trees.
The Outer Court 17 WBS Then he brought me into the outward court, and lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court around: thirty chambers were upon the pavement. BSB BSB: Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement,
18 WBS And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement. BSB BSB: which flanked the gateways and corresponded to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.
19 WBS Then he measured the breadth from the front of the lower gate to the front of the inner court without, a hundred cubits eastward and northward. BSB BSB: Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubits on the east side as well as on the north.
The North Gate 20 WBS And the gate of the outward court that looked towards the north, he measured its length, and its breadth. BSB BSB: He also measured the length and width of the gateway of the outer court facing north.
21 WBS And the little chambers of it were three on this side and three on that side; and its posts and its arches were after the measure of the first gate; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth five and twenty cubits. BSB BSB: Its three gate chambers on each side, its side pillars, and its portico all had the same measurements as the first gate: fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
22 WBS And their windows, and their arches, and their palm-trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh towards the east; and they went up to it by seven steps; and its arches were before them. BSB BSB: Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.
23 WBS And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate towards the north, and towards the east; and he measured from gate to gate a hundred cubits. BSB BSB: There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured the distance from gateway to gateway to be a hundred cubits.
The South Gate 24 WBS After that he brought me towards the south, and behold a gate towards the south: and he measured its posts and its arches according to these measures. BSB BSB: Then he led me to the south side, and I saw a gateway facing south. He measured its side pillars and portico, and they had the same measurements as the others.
25 WBS And there were windows in it and in its arches around, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits. BSB BSB: Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
26 WBS And 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, upon its posts. BSB 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.
27 WBS And there was a gate in the inner court towards the south: and he measured from gate to gate towards the south a hundred cubits. BSB BSB: The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured the distance from gateway to gateway toward the south to be a hundred cubits.
The Gates of the Inner Court 28 WBS And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate; and he measured the south gate according to these measures; BSB BSB: Next he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements as the others.
29 WBS And its little chambers, and its posts, and its arches, according to these measures; and there were windows in it and in its arches around: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. BSB BSB: Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
30 WBS And the arches around were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad. BSB BSB: (The porticoes around the inner court were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits deep.)
31 WBS And its arches were towards the outer court; and palm-trees were upon its posts: and the ascent to it had eight steps. BSB BSB: Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees. Eight steps led up to it.
32 WBS And he brought me into the inner court towards the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures. BSB BSB: And he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others.
33 WBS And its little chambers, and its posts, and its arches, were according to these measures; and there were windows in it and in its arches around: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. BSB BSB: Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
34 WBS And its arches were towards the outward court; and palm-trees were upon its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps. BSB BSB: Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.
35 WBS And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures; BSB BSB: Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others,
36 WBS Its little chambers, its posts, and its arches, and the windows to it around: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits. BSB BSB: as did its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
37 WBS And its posts were towards the outer court; and palm-trees were upon its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps. BSB BSB: Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.
Eight Tables for Sacrifices 38 WBS And the chambers and its entries were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt-offering. BSB BSB: There was a chamber with a doorway by the portico in each of the inner gateways. There the burnt offering was to be washed.
39 WBS And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay upon it the burnt-offering and the sin-offering and the trespass-offering. BSB BSB: Inside the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were to be slaughtered.
40 WBS And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables. BSB BSB: Outside, as one goes up to the entrance of the north gateway, there were two tables on one side and two more tables on the other side of the gate’s portico.
41 WBS Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, upon which they slew their sacrifices . BSB BSB: So there were four tables inside the gateway and four outside—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered.
42 WBS And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt-offering, of a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high: upon which also they laid the instruments with which they slew the burnt-offering and the sacrifice. BSB BSB: There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offering, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit high. On these were placed the utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.
43 WBS And within were hooks, a hand broad, fastened around: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering. BSB BSB: The double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.
Chambers for Ministry 44 WBS And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was towards the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect towards the north. BSB BSB: Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two chambers, one beside the north gate and facing south, and another beside the south gate and facing north.
45 WBS And he said to me, This chamber, whose prospect is towards the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. BSB BSB: Then the man said to me: “The chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple,
46 WBS And the chamber whose prospect is towards the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, who come near to the LORD to minister to him. BSB BSB: and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the only Levites who may approach the LORD to minister before Him.”
The Inner Court 47 WBS So he measured the court, a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house. BSB BSB: Next he measured the court. It was square, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.
48 WBS And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side. BSB BSB: Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the side pillars of the portico to be five cubits on each side. The width of the gateway was fourteen cubits and its sidewalls were three cubits on either side.
49 WBS The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps by which they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side. BSB BSB: The portico was twenty cubits wide and twelve cubits deep, and ten steps led up to it. There were columns by the side pillars, one on each side.