Ezekiel 41:16-26 · Bible study
Ezekiel 41:16-26 Commentary: Temple Interior and Its
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Ezekiel's vision of the temple interior with cherubim, palm trees, and the altar, pointing to God's presence and restored worship.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A detailed description of the temple interior's architecture, carvings, and furnishings in Ezekiel's vision, emphasizing God's presence and restored worship.
- Key words: Thresholds, closed windows, galleries, cherubim, palm trees, altar (table), doors.
- Main debate: Whether the entire vision is a literal blueprint for a future temple or a symbolic depiction of the new creation and God's presence.
- Theological theme: God's holiness, order, and desire to dwell among his people; the temple as a place of communion (altar-table).
- Best use: Teaching on the hope of restoration, the character of God, and the continuity between the old and new covenants.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
16as well as the thresholds and the beveled windows and the galleries all around with their three levels opposite the threshold, were overlaid with wood on all sides. They were paneled from the ground to the windows, and the windows were covered.
17In the space above the outside of the entrance to the inner sanctuary on all the walls, spaced evenly around the inner and outer sanctuary,
18were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces:
19the 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.
20Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary from the floor to the space above the entrance.
21The outer sanctuary had a rectangular doorframe, and the doorframe of the sanctuary was similar.
22There was an altar of wood three cubits high and two cubits square. Its corners, base, and sides were of wood. And the man told me, “This is the table that is before the LORD.”
23Both the outer sanctuary and the inner sanctuary had double doors,
24and each door had two swinging panels. There were two panels for one door and two for the other.
25Cherubim and palm trees like those on the walls were carved on the doors of the outer sanctuary, and there was a wooden canopy outside, on the front of the portico.
26There were beveled windows and palm trees on the sidewalls of the portico. The side rooms of the temple also had canopies.
WEB World English Bible 2000
16the thresholds, and the closed windows, and the galleries around on their three stories, opposite the threshold, with wood ceilings all around, and from the ground up to the windows, (now the windows were covered),
17to the space above the door, even to the inner house, and outside, and by all the wall all around inside and outside, by measure.
18It was made with cherubim and palm trees. A palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces,
19so that there was the face of a man 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 like this through all the house all around.
20Cherubim and palm trees were made from the ground to above the door. The wall of the temple was like this.
21The door posts of the nave were squared. As for the face of the nave, its appearance was as the appearance of the temple.
22The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length two cubits. Its corners, its base, and its walls were of wood. He said to me, “This is the table that is before Yahweh.”
23The temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
24The doors had two leaves each, two turning leaves: two for the one door, and two leaves for the other.
25There were made on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm trees, like those made on the walls. There was a threshold of wood on the face of the porch outside.
26There were closed windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch. This is how the side rooms of the temple and the thresholds were arranged.
KJV King James Version 1769
16The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the door, cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered;
17To that above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure.
18And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;
19So 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.
20From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple.
21The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other.
22The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord.
23And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
24And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door.
25And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.
26And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick planks.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
16the thresholds, and the closed windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the threshold, ceiled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows (now the windows were covered),
17to the space above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure.
18And it was made with cherubim and palm-trees; and a palm-tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces;
19so that there was the face of a man toward the palm-tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm-tree on the other side. Thus was it made through all the house round about:
20from the ground unto above the door were cherubim and palm-trees made; thus was the wall of the temple.
21As for the temple, the door-posts were squared; and as for the face of the sanctuary, the appearance thereof was as the appearance of the temple.
22The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before Jehovah.
23And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
24And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves: two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other.
25And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubim and palm-trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there was a threshold of wood upon the face of the porch without.
26And there were closed windows and palm-trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch: thus were the side-chambers of the house, and the thresholds.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
16the thresholds, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about them three, over-against the threshold, a ceiling of wood all round about, and the ground unto the windows and the covered windows,
17over above the opening, and unto the inner-house, and at the outside, and by all the wall all round about within and without by measure.
18And it is made with cherubs and palm-trees, and a palm-tree is between cherub and cherub, and two faces are to the cherub;
19and the face of man is unto the palm-tree on this side, and the face of a young lion unto the palm-tree on that side; it is made unto all the house all round about.
20from the earth unto above the opening are the cherubs and the palm-trees made, and on the wall of the temple.
21Of the temple the side post is square, and of the front of the sanctuary, the appearance is as the appearance.
22Of the altar, the wood is three cubits in height, and its length two cubits; and its corners are to it, and its length, and its walls are of wood, and he speaketh unto me, `This is the table that is before Jehovah.'
23And two doors are to the temple and to the sanctuary;
24and two leaves are to the doors, two turning leaves are to the doors, two to the one door, and two leaves to the other.
25And made on them, on the doors of the temple, are cherubs and palm-trees as are made on the walls, and a thickness of wood is at the front of the porch on the outside.
26And narrow windows and palm-trees are on this side, and on that side, at the sides of the porch, and the side-chambers of the house, and the thick places.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
16The thresholds, and the closed windows, and the galleries round about the three of them (opposite the thresholds it was wainscoted with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered),
17[and] above, over the entry, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about, within and without, [all was] by measure.
18And it was made with cherubim and palm-trees, and a palm-tree was between cherub and cherub; and the cherub had two faces:
19the 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: [so] was it made upon all the house round about.
20From the ground unto above the entry were the cherubim and the palm-trees made, and [on] the wall of the temple.
21As for the temple, the door-posts were squared; and the front of the sanctuary had the same appearance.
22The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length two cubits; and its corners, and its length, and its walls were of wood. And he said unto me, This is the table which is before Jehovah.
23And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
24And the doors had two leaves, two turning-leaves: two for the one door, and two leaves for the other.
25And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubim and palm-trees, as there were made upon the walls; and there was a wooden portal in front of the porch without,
26and closed windows and palm-trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch and the side chambers of the house and the portals.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
16The thresholds, and the oblique windows, and the galleries round about on three sides, over against the threshold of every one, and floored with wood all round about: and the ground was up to the windows, and the windows were shut over the doors.
17And even to the inner house, and without all the wall round about within and without, by measure.
18And there were cherubims and palm trees wrought, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub, and every cherub had two faces.
19The face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion was toward the palm tree on the other side: set forth through all the house round about.
20From the ground even to the upper parts of the gate, were cherubims and palm trees wrought in the wall of the temple.
21The threshold was foursquare, and the face of the sanctuary sight to sight.
22The altar of wood was three cubits high: and the length thereof was two cubits: and the corners thereof, aid the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood. And he said to me: This is the table before the Lord.
23And there were two doors in the temple, and in the sanctuary.
24And in the two doors on both sides were two little doors, which were folded within each other: for there were two wickets on both sides of the doors.
25And there were cherubims also wrought in the doors of the temple, and the figures of palm trees, like as were made on the walls: for which cause also the planks were thicker in the front of the porch without.
26Upon which were the oblique windows, and the representation of palm trees on this side, and on that side in the sides of the porch, according to the sides of the house, and the breadth of the walls.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this passage describes the interior decoration of the temple in Ezekiel's vision, drawing on features from Solomon's temple. The walls were covered with carved cherubim and palm trees, alternating between a man's face and a lion's face. Barnes notes that the cherubim had two faces rather than four for convenience of wall carving. Clarke and Gill identify the wooden altar as the altar of incense, called the table before the Lord. The windows were closed or covered, possibly for privacy or to mark the height of the building. The precise measurements and wood paneling (from floor to windows) echo the craftsmanship of the first temple, as seen in 1 Kings 6:15-18. The overall effect, as Matthew Henry observes, conveys a temple filled with reminders of God's presence and the worship due to him.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal blueprint for a future temple: Details such as precise measurements, wood paneling, and carvings resemble 1 Kings 6, suggesting a real building.
- Symbolic vision of God's presence: The temple is part of a larger vision (ch. 40–48) that uses architectural language to convey theological truths about holiness and restoration.
- Typological/Christological reading: The altar-table is seen as a type of Christ's intercession (Gill), and the cherubim as angelic beings serving the throne.
What is clear: The passage describes a temple interior decorated with cherubim and palm trees, with a wooden altar called the table before the Lord, and emphasizes careful measurement and order.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Cherubim faces | All traditions note that the cherubim in this passage have two faces (man and lion) rather than four, and that this is a deliberate variation from Ezekiel 1 and 10. | Some commentators (Barnes) attribute this to convenience for wall carving; others (Gill) see it as underscoring specific aspects of redemption (humanity and royalty). |
| Altar of wood | Almost all agree it is the altar of incense, called 'the table before the Lord,' and it stands in the holy place. | Christians who hold a literal future temple see this as a physical piece of furniture; others interpret it symbolically as Christ's intercession or communion. |
| Closed windows | All interpreters understand the windows as covered or latticed, and likely placed high on the walls. | The purpose is debated: some see them as merely architectural (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown: covered from view below); others see them as symbolic of mystery and separation from the world. |
| Textual difficulties | All acknowledge that the Hebrew text of verses 16, 17, 21 and 26 is difficult, with possible omissions or uncertain readings. | Some (Cambridge Bible, Ellicott) tentatively emend based on the Septuagint; others (Keil & Delitzsch) retain the Masoretic Text and propose alternative interpretations. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Ezekiel's temple vision (chapters 40, 48) came to the prophet while he was among the exiles in Babylon, around 573 BC. The people had lost the first temple, and this vision offered a detailed blueprint for a restored sanctuary. The language of measurement ("by measure," v. 17) and construction echoes the building of Solomon's temple, as described in 1 Kings 6. The windows with fixed lattice (1 Kings 6:4) and the wood paneling (1 Kings 6:15) are direct parallels. The galleries, or side chambers, appear in Solomon's temple as well (1 Kings 6:5-6; see also Ezekiel 42:3). The cherubim and palm trees are based on earlier temple carvings (2 Chronicles 3:5). However, there are differences: Ezekiel's cherubim have two faces, while those in chapter 1 and in Solomon's temple had more. Some commentators suggest the two-faced cherubim are a simplification for wall carving. The closed windows (v. 16) have been interpreted as latticed or covered from view (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown), perhaps signifying the temple's separation from the outside world. The altar of wood (v. 22) stands in the holy place, but unlike the bronze altar for burnt offering, this is the altar of incense, placed before the veil. The phrase "This is the table that is before the Lord" indicates it as a place of communion. The doors with two folding leaves (v. 23-24) match those of Solomon's temple (1 Kings 6:31-35). The entire passage reinforces that the restored temple, though not yet built, is designed by God with purposeful order and beauty.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note several textual uncertainties. Cambridge Bible observes that v. 16 may have lost words, and the Hebrew of v. 21 ("the posts were squared") is syntactically awkward. Ellicott indicates that the phrase "thick planks" in v. 25 is of uncertain meaning, possibly referring to a canopy or threshold. The LXX differs in some details, but these variants do not affect the main theological points of the passage: the careful carving of cherubim and palm trees, and the presence of the altar-table.
Reception History
This passage has been read primarily as part of the larger temple vision (Ezekiel 40, 48). In Jewish tradition, it was seen as a blueprint for the second temple, though that temple did not match these details exactly. Early Christian writers, such as Jerome, interpreted the temple as a type of the church or of the believer as a dwelling place for God. During the Reformation, many Protestant commentators (Calvin, Matthew Henry) read it Christologically: the cherubim point to angels who serve Christ, the palm trees to the righteous, and the altar to Christ's intercession. In more recent centuries, dispensationalist interpreters view it as a literal description of a millennial temple, while covenant theologians see it as symbolic of the new creation. Throughout, the precision of the measurements has been taken as a sign of God's orderly plan and the hope of restored fellowship with him.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God's Detailed Design, Every threshold, window and measurement points to a God who orders worship with precision.
- Symbols of Presence and Fruitfulness, Cherubim guard the holiness of God; palm trees evoke righteousness and life (Psalm 92:12).
- The Table of the Lord, The wooden altar, called the table before the Lord, invites communion and reminds us that worship is both sacrifice and fellowship.
Five-point outline
- The closed windows, A reminder that God's ways are not always visible to the outside world; holiness involves separation.
- The cherubim and palm trees, Heaven and earth meet in the temple. Cherubim represent heavenly beings; palm trees represent creation's fruitfulness.
- The square posts, The temple's stability and order reflect God's unchanging character.
- The altar-table, Jesus is both the offering and the host of this table, uniting sacrifice and feast.
- The double doors, Access to God is now open through Christ, the single door, but still demands reverence.
Illustration hooks
- A master carpenter measuring and cutting each piece of a fine piece of furniture, God's care for his dwelling place shows his care for his people.
- Walking into a beautifully designed cathedral or sanctuary, the wood, symbols, and light all point to something beyond the material.
- A restored home after a disaster, the temple vision was hope for exiles that God would rebuild and dwell with them again.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible give so many architectural details? Does it matter for us today?
- What do cherubim and palm trees have to do with my faith?
- Is there a future temple, or is this vision already fulfilled in the church?
Leading a Discussion
This passage may seem like tedious description, but it reveals God's heart for his dwelling place and for his people. As you read Ezekiel 41:16, 26, pay attention to the repeated phrases and symbols. Ask yourselves: what was God communicating to the exiles through this vision?
Discussion questions
- Observation: What architectural features are mentioned repeatedly? (thresholds, windows, palm trees, cherubim, wood, doors, altar)
- Observation: Where do you see the phrase "all around" or "by measure"? What does that emphasize?
- Interpretation: The cherubim had two faces, a man and a lion. What might this combination represent? Consider Ezekiel 1:10 and 10:14.
- Interpretation: The altar was called "the table that is before the Lord." How does that change how you think about worship?
- Interpretation: The windows were covered or closed. How does that reflect the temple's holiness?
- Application: What does this description teach you about God's attention to detail? How can that shape your prayer life or worship?
- Application: Ezekiel's vision gave hope to exiles. In what areas of your life do you need a vision of God's presence and restoration?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Kings 6:4 | He made windows of fixed lattice work for the house. |
| I Kings 6:15 | He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar; from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood. He covered the floor of the house with cypress boards. |
| II Chronicles 3:5 | He made the larger room with a ceiling of cypress wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains. |
| Isaiah 6:4 | The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. |
| Ezekiel 40:16 | There were closed windows to the side rooms, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches. Windows were around inward. Palm trees were on each post. |
| Ezekiel 40:25 | There were windows in it and in its arches all around, like the other windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the width twenty-five cubits. |
| Ezekiel 42:3 | Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in the three stories. |
| Haggai 1:4 | “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies waste? |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke describes how the carved palm trees and cherubim were alternated around the temple gate, each cherub having two faces—a lion and a man—turned toward the palms on either side. He notes these carvings were as tall as the fourteen-cubit gate itself, and that the altar mentioned is the golden incense altar. The thick planks allowed the cherubim and palm trees to be carved in relief.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB identifies the table before the Lord in the temple vision as the altar of incense, not the table of showbread. He explains it is called a table because it represents the place where the Lord delights in His people as at a feast, and its dimensions are larger than the old altar. Additionally, he notes that the sanctuary and temple had similar appearances, differing only in size.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch read this verse as both a conclusion and a fresh start. It sums up all previous measurements of the temple complex, then introduces five new categories of architectural detail that the vision will now describe, including ornamentation, the altar, and the doors.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that cherubim are usually taken as portraits of angels or young men with wings, yet their descriptions vary across Ezekiel, Isaiah, Revelation, and Solomon's temple. He also observes that the temple gate was square, not arched, and the oracle's gate matched its form on a smaller scale.