Read & explore together
The South Gate
Ezekiel 40:24–27 describes a south-facing gate with careful measurements and visible features. The passage draws attention to direction, size, steps, decoration and the measured relationship between one gate and another.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, Ezekiel is led towards the south and shown a gate facing south. Its posts and arches are measured, its windows and dimensions are named, its seven steps and palm-tree decorations are noted, and a south gate to the inner court is placed one hundred cubits away.
Ezekiel 40:24–27Main takeaway
These verses present a carefully measured south gate as part of an ordered larger layout with clear features and spacing.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A gate towards the southThe passage opens with direction and observation. Ezekiel is led towards the south, and there he sees a gate facing south.
Explanation
The passage opens with direction and observation. Ezekiel is led towards the south, and there he sees a gate facing south. Its posts and arches are measured "according to these measurements", which highlights accuracy and order in what is being shown.
02Windows and stated dimensionsThe gate includes windows in it and in its arches all around. The text says these are "like the other windows", pointing to similarity without adding more detail here.
Explanation
The gate includes windows in it and in its arches all around. The text says these are "like the other windows", pointing to similarity without adding more detail here. The measurements are then given plainly: fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width.
03Steps and palm treesSeven steps go up to the gate, so entry involves ascent. The arches are before the steps, and the posts have palm trees, one on each side.
Explanation
Seven steps go up to the gate, so entry involves ascent. The arches are before the steps, and the posts have palm trees, one on each side. The verse combines structural details with decoration, showing that the measured layout also includes visible design features.
04Measured relation to another gateThe last verse connects this gate to another part of the layout. There is a gate to the inner court facing south, and the measured distance from gate to gate towards the south is one hundred cubits.
Explanation
The last verse connects this gate to another part of the layout. There is a gate to the inner court facing south, and the measured distance from gate to gate towards the south is one hundred cubits. The focus remains on placement, relation and measurement.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details in these verses are counted or measured?
Notice the fifty cubits, twenty-five cubits, seven steps and one hundred cubits, and also the measuring of the posts and arches.
02Which features of the south gate are described besides its size?
Look for the windows, the arches, the seven steps and the palm trees on the posts.
03How does verse 27 show that this gate belongs within a larger ordered layout?
It mentions a gate to the inner court facing south and gives the distance from one gate to another.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 40:24–27
24He led me toward the south; and behold, there was a gate toward the south. He measured its posts and its arches according to these measurements.
25There 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.
26There were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them. It had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on its posts.
27There was a gate to the inner court toward the south. He measured one hundred cubits from gate to gate toward the south.