Single lesson
Ezekiel 43: The Temple Vision
Ezekiel 43:1–12; Ezekiel 43:13–27
Ezekiel 43:1–12 shows a vision of Yahweh’s glory returning to the temple. The passage joins awe, holiness and instruction, showing that God’s dwelling among his people is linked with turning away from what defiles his holy name. This lesson also brings together The Altar of Sacrifice.
Before you teach
Ezekiel is brought to the east-facing gate and sees the glory of the God of Israel come from the east. The vision includes God’s powerful voice, God’s glory filling the house, and a message about God’s dwelling, Israel’s past defilement, and the law of the house.
Explain the central teaching of Ezekiel 43: The Temple Vision, using two details from the reading. This passage teaches that Yahweh’s glorious presence belongs with a holy dwelling place and calls his people to put away what defiles his holy name. This passage shows that the altar was to be carefully built and ceremonially prepared for offerings before regular worship on it was accepted.
Welcome: Ezekiel 43: The Temple Vision
5 minIntroduce “The Glory of the LORD Returns to the Temple”, “The Altar of Sacrifice” and locate Ezekiel 43:1–12; Ezekiel 43:13–27. This passage teaches that Yahweh’s glorious presence belongs with a holy dwelling place and calls his people to put away what defiles his holy name. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Ezekiel 43:1, Ezekiel 43:7, Ezekiel 43:12
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe Glory of the LORD Returns to the Temple (Ezekiel 43:1–12): Ezekiel is brought to the gate facing east, and he sees the glory of the God of Israel coming from that direction. God’s voice is described as sounding like many waters, and his glory lights up the earth. The passage stresses majesty, power and radiant splendour.
The Altar of Sacrifice (Ezekiel 43:13–27): The passage begins with the altar’s size and shape. It has a base, ledges, an upper altar, and horns. The altar hearth is square, twelve by twelve cubits, and the larger ledge is fourteen by fourteen. Even the border, bottom, and east-facing steps are specified, showing deliberate order in its design.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Glory of the LORD Returns to the Temple”, “The Altar of Sacrifice”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Ezekiel 43:1, Ezekiel 43:2, Ezekiel 43:13, Ezekiel 43:14, Ezekiel 43:15, Ezekiel 43:16, Ezekiel 43:17
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What details in the passage show the greatness of Yahweh’s glory?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage shows that the altar was to be carefully built and ceremonially prepared for offerings before regular worship on it was accepted. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Ezekiel 43:2, Ezekiel 43:5, Ezekiel 43:7, Ezekiel 43:8, Ezekiel 43:9, Ezekiel 43:25, Ezekiel 43:26, Ezekiel 43:27
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Ezekiel 43: The Temple Vision: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Glory of the LORD Returns to the Temple”, “The Altar of Sacrifice” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Ezekiel 43:1, Ezekiel 43:14, Ezekiel 43:27
Closing: return to The Altar of Sacrifice
3 minRevisit Ezekiel 43:13–27. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Altar of Sacrifice and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Ezekiel 43:13, Ezekiel 43:20, Ezekiel 43:27
Questions to explore
What details in the passage show the greatness of Yahweh’s glory?
Look for the description of his voice, the light of his glory, and the way the house is filled with his presence.
Ezekiel 43:2, Ezekiel 43:5
What actions does the passage name as defiling Yahweh’s holy name?
Read carefully for the specific wording about prostitution, the dead bodies of kings, and setting thresholds and door posts beside God’s.
Ezekiel 43:7, Ezekiel 43:8, Ezekiel 43:9
What changes on the eighth day compared with the first seven days?
Compare the seven days of cleansing and consecration with the statement about accepted burnt offerings and peace offerings from the eighth day onward.
Ezekiel 43:25, Ezekiel 43:26, Ezekiel 43:27
Make, think or respond
Ezekiel 43: The Temple Vision: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Ezekiel 43:1–12; Ezekiel 43:13–27. Use “The Glory of the LORD Returns to the Temple”, “The Altar of Sacrifice” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Ezekiel 43: The Temple Vision connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “The Glory of the LORD Returns to the Temple”, “The Altar of Sacrifice” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Ezekiel 43:1–12; Ezekiel 43:13–27. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Ezekiel 43:1–12; Ezekiel 43:13–27. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Ezekiel 43
1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east.
2 Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth was illuminated with his glory.
3 It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city; and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face.
4 Yahweh’s glory came into the house by the way of the gate which faces toward the east.
5 The Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, Yahweh’s glory filled the house.
6 I heard one speaking to me out of the house, and a man stood by me.
7 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 among the children of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no more defile my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their prostitution and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places;
8 in their setting of their threshold by my threshold and their door post beside my door post. There was a wall between me and them; and they have defiled my holy name by their abominations which they have committed. Therefore I have consumed them in my anger.
9 Now let them put away their prostitution, and the dead bodies of their kings far from me. Then I will dwell among them forever.
10 “You, son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern.
11 If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the form of the house, its fashion, its exits, its entrances, its structure, all its ordinances, all its forms, and all its laws; and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form of it, and all its ordinances, and do them.
12 “This is the law of the house. On the top of the mountain the whole limit around it shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.
13 “These are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a hand width): the bottom shall be a cubit, and the width a cubit, and its border around its edge a span; and this shall be the base of the altar.
14 From the bottom on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the width one cubit; and from the lesser ledge to the greater ledge shall be four cubits, and the width a cubit.
15 The upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns.
16 The altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides.
17 The ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and its bottom shall be a cubit around; and its steps shall look toward the east.”
18 He said to me, “Son of man, the Lord Yahweh says: ‘These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they make it, to offer burnt offerings on it, and to sprinkle blood on it.
19 You shall give to the Levitical priests who are of the offspring of Zadok, who are near to me, to minister to me,’ says the Lord Yahweh, ‘a young bull for a sin offering.
20 You shall take of its blood and put it on its four horns, and on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all around. You shall cleanse it and make atonement for it that way.
21 You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place of the house, outside of the sanctuary.
22 “On the second day you shall offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull.
23 When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without defect and a ram out of the flock without defect.
24 You shall bring them near to Yahweh, and the priests shall cast salt on them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
25 “Seven days you shall prepare every day a goat for a sin offering. They shall also prepare a young bull and a ram out of the flock, without defect.
26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and purify it. So shall they consecrate it.
27 When they have accomplished the days, it shall be that on the eighth day and onward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings on the altar and your peace offerings. Then I will accept you,’ says the Lord Yahweh.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.