Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Ezekiel 43
Ezekiel 43:2And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
This verse captures the awe-inspiring return of God, whose voice sounds like rushing water and whose light brightens the entire earth. It shows that God's presence is not subtle. It is a powerful, world-changing reality.Ezekiel 43:10“As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan.
God tells Ezekiel to show the temple plans to the people so they feel a healthy sense of regret for their past sins. Seeing the beauty of God's design is meant to motivate them to live better lives.Ezekiel 43:27And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord God."
After the altar is purified, God promises to accept the people's offerings. This highlights that God's goal is always relationship and acceptance once the barriers of sin are removed.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Radiant Return of the King
The chapter opens with Ezekiel standing at the east gate of the temple complex. This is a significant location because, in a previous vision in Ezekiel 10, he saw God's glory leave the temple through this very gate due to the people's persistent sin. Now, the prophet watches as the radiant presence of God returns from the east, accompanied by a sound like many waters, signaling that God is coming back to stay.
A New Standard for a Holy Home
Once the glory of God fills the temple, Ezekiel is moved by the Spirit into the inner court. From within the temple, God speaks directly to him, defining this space as His throne and the place where He will dwell with Israel forever. God makes it clear that the old ways of idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness must end so that His holy name is never again dishonored by the people's choices.
The Restoration of God's Presence and Altar
In Ezekiel 43:1-27, the vision shifts from the physical measurements of the temple to the spiritual reality of God's arrival. The scene begins at the east gate and moves into the heart of the temple, where the altar of sacrifice is established and purified.
The Glory Fills the House (Ezekiel 43:1-5)
1 Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east.
2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
3 And it was like the appearance of the vision that I saw, like the vision that I saw when he came to destroy the city, and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face.
4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east,
5 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Commentary:
God's radiant glory returns through the east gate and fills the temple, overwhelming Ezekiel with awe.
The Law of the Temple (Ezekiel 43:6-12)
6 And I heard him speaking to me out of the temple, and the man stood by me.
7 And he said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever.
8 by setting their threshold by my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them. They have defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed, so I have consumed them in my anger.
9 Now let them put away their whoring and the dead bodies of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.
10 “As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan.
11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its whole design, and all its regulations and all its laws, and write it down in their sight, so that they may observe all its laws and all its statutes and carry them out.
12 This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.
Commentary:
God declares the temple His throne and calls the people to leave their sins behind to live in His holiness.
The Design of the Altar (Ezekiel 43:13-17)
13 And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): its base shall be one cubit high and one cubit broad, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this shall be the height of the altar:
14 And from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits, with a breadth of one cubit.
15 And the altar hearth shall be four cubits, and from the altar hearth shall project upwards four horns.
16 The altar hearth shall be square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad.
17 The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad, with a rim all around it of half a cubit, and its base one cubit all around. Its steps shall face east."
Commentary:
Detailed measurements are given for the large, tiered altar where the people will offer their sacrifices.
Purifying the Altar (Ezekiel 43:18-27)
18 And he said to me, "Son of man, thus says the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and for throwing blood against it,
19 You shall provide a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering to the Lord daily; morning by morning you shall provide it.
20 You shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and upon the rim all around. Thus you shall purify the altar and make atonement for it.
21 you shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area.
22 On the second day, you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull.
23 When you have finished purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish.
24 And you shall present them before the Lord, and the priests shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord.
25 Seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided.
26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it.
27 And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord God."
Commentary:
The altar is purified through seven days of sacrifice, leading to God's promise to accept His people.
Spiritual Truths in the Return of Glory
The Beauty of God's Presence
The chapter emphasizes that God's presence is the most vital part of the temple. Without His glory, the building is merely a shell. When God returns, He brings light and a powerful voice, showing that His presence is active, communicative, and life-giving.
Repentance as a Path to Restoration
God uses the beauty and order of the temple to make the people 'ashamed' of their messy, sinful past. This isn't about making them feel bad for no reason, but about using God's perfect standards to inspire a desire for a cleaner, more holy way of living.
The Necessity of Atonement
The detailed rituals for the altar show that we cannot approach a holy God on our own terms. Atonement - the act of making amends for sin - is required to bridge the gap between a perfect God and imperfect people, ultimately pointing toward God's desire to accept us.
Applying Ezekiel's Vision to Your Life
Similar to how the temple was empty until God's glory filled it in verse 5, our lives can feel hollow without a connection to Him. It reminds you that seeking God's presence is the very thing that brings light and 'shining glory' to your world, not merely a religious duty.
In verses 10-11, God uses the temple's design to help people recognize their faults so they can change. You can use God's Word as a mirror to honestly assess your life, allowing a healthy sense of regret to motivate you toward better choices rather than letting it weigh you down in guilt.
The seven-day cleansing in verses 25-26 shows that approaching God is a serious and prepared act. While we no longer sacrifice animals, it encourages you to take time to 'cleanse' your heart through prayer and confession before you engage in worship, ensuring your heart is ready to be accepted by Him.
God Returns to Dwell With Us
Ezekiel 43 delivers the climactic news that God has not abandoned His people forever, despite their past failures. In the return of His glory, we see God's character: He is holy and cannot tolerate sin, yet He is deeply committed to living among those He loves. The message is clear that restoration is possible when we align our lives with God's standards. By putting away 'spiritual unfaithfulness,' we open the door for the Creator to make His home in our hearts and communities.
What This Means for Us Today
God's glory is not merely a historical event for Ezekiel. It is an invitation for us to create space for Him in our own lives. When we prioritize His holiness and seek His presence, we experience the transformation that only His light can bring. Ezekiel 43 invites us to look at the 'design' of a godly life and step into the joy of being accepted by Him.
- Is there a 'gate' in your life you need to open to let God's glory back in?
- What 'idols' or distractions do you need to move away from to make more room for His presence?
- How can you live today in a way that reflects the 'law of the temple' - that everything around you is holy?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Provides the final measurements of the temple chambers before the glory of God arrives.
Explains the rules for the priests who will serve in this newly consecrated temple.
Connections Across Scripture
A parallel moment where God's glory fills the Tabernacle after Moses finishes building it.
The ultimate fulfillment of God's promise in Ezekiel 43:7 to dwell in the midst of His people forever.
Explains how believers today are the 'temple of the living God,' where He dwells.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God chose to return through the same gate (the east gate) that He used when He left the temple earlier in Ezekiel's visions?
- God says the people defiled His name by putting their 'thresholds' next to His. In what ways do we sometimes try to mix our own selfish desires with our devotion to God?
- The altar had to be purified for seven days before it was used. Why is the concept of 'preparation' so important when it comes to our relationship with God?