Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 40:3
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.
3. there was a man ] The “man” is not to be identified with Jehovah himself, who brought the prophet to him. It is scarcely necessary to enquire who the man is. He is a creation of the prophet’s own mind, a living symbol of the revelation of God. This revelation personified has the attributes of Jehovah himself; hence the man is like bright brass (Eze 1:7), and speaks with authority ( Eze 40:4). Cf. Eze 44:2; Eze 44:5.
a line of flax ] For measuring greater dimensions (Eze 47:3), as the reed usually for smaller.
in the gate ] Or, at. The east gateway is meant, Eze 40:6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The appearance of brass – Brightly shining.
A line of flax – For measuring the ground plan.
A measuring reed – For the walls (compare Jer 31:38-39). To measure implied a separation for sacred purposes. The measurements are:
(1) exact, to show that the promise is certain;
(2) equal, to denote harmony;
(3) vast, to mark majesty and grandeur.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. A man, whose appearance was like – brass] Like bright polished brass, which strongly reflected the rays of light. Probably he had what we would term a nimbus or glory round his head. This was either an angel; or, as some think, a personal appearance of our blessed Lord.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He brought me; the Lord by his Spirit, as Eze 40:1.
Thither: see Eze 40:1.
A man; the same, no doubt, which appeared to the prophet, Eze 1:26, whose name is The Branch, and who builds the temple, Zec 6:12,13.
Whose appearance, whose fashion and colour, was like burnished brass; so Rev 1:15; much like to that Eze 1:27; and speaks glory and strength.
A line of flax; a plumbline, a masons line, to discover the rectitude of the building, or its defects.
In the gate; not in the east gate, but in the north gate next toward the east.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. manThe Old Testamentmanifestations of heavenly beings as men prepared men’s mindsfor the coming incarnation.
brassresplendent.
lineused for longermeasurements (Zec 2:1).
reedused in measuringhouses (Re 21:15). It markedthe straightness of the walls.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he brought me thither,…. Being brought into the land of Israel in vision, and to a high mountain in it, by which were as the frame of a city; he was from thence brought to the city or temple itself, which looked like one:
and, behold, a note of attention and admiration:
there was a man; one in human form; not a created angel, but the Messiah, the builder and owner of the city and temple, whom it was proper the prophet should first have a view of; and by whom he was to be made acquainted with the several parts and dimensions of those buildings: he is called a “man”, not that he was a mere man, but the eternal God; or otherwise he would not have been fit to be the architect or builder of such a fabric; nor as yet was he really man, but is so called, because it was determined he should, and it was agreed by him that he would become man, and it was foretold as a certain thing; and besides, he often appeared in a human form before his incarnation, as he now did, being most suitable to the prophet, and making himself more familiar to him; as well as it was preludium of his future incarnation, and of what he be when this vision would be fulfilled:
whose appearance was like the appearance of brass; denoting the glory and splendour of his divine Person, being the brightness of his Father’s glory; also the glory of his human nature, in his state of exaltation, and the glory of his office, as Mediator; and especially the glory and brightness he will appear in when this vision will take place, with which he shall enlighten the whole earth, and slay antichrist; see Re 18:1, also it may denote his purity and holiness in both his natures, divine and human; not only in the former, but in the latter, in which he is free from sin, original and actual; and even now from sin imputed, having made full satisfaction for it, without which he will appear when he comes a second time, Heb 9:28, this may likewise point at his great strength, as God, and man, and Mediator; who has made the world, and holds all creatures in being; who is the mighty Redeemer of his people; has bore their sins, and conquered their enemies; supports their persons; bears their burdens, and supplies them with strength: once more, it may intend his duration; who, though he was once dead, is alive, and lives for ever; his priesthood is unchangeable; his kingdom an everlasting one; and he the same yesterday, today, and for ever, and his years fail not:
with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed: one in one hand, and the other in the other hand; the one to measure greater, the other lesser matters; and both signify the sacred Scriptures, the rule and measure of faith and practice; and to which, in the latter day, all will be reduced; the doctrines then preached will be quite agreeable to them; the ordinances will be administered as they were first delivered; the form, order, and discipline of the churches, will be according to the primitive pattern; there will be no deviation from it; see Zec 2:1:
and he stood in the gate; of the house or temple, as being Lord and proprietor of it; having the keys of it, to open and shut, let in and keep out, at his pleasure; see Heb 3:6 and as the guide of the prophet, to lead him into each of the courts and apartments, and give him the dimensions of them, that he might show them to the house of Israel, to be observed by them; and here, as Cocceius observes, he stands, invites and calls persons to come into his house, and partake of all the privileges and entertainments of it; see Pr 1:20, yea, here he stands, as being not so much the doorkeeper, as the door and gate itself; as he is the way to his Father, the gate that leads to eternal life, so the door into a Gospel church; see Joh 14:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) A line of flax . . . a measuring reed.The former for the longer, the latter for the shorter measures, a characteristic definiteness in details.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. A man This was a representative of Jehovah (Dan 10:5-6) whose face shone with heavenly glory. (Compare Eze 1:26-27; Rev 1:13.) He carried in his hand the instruments for measuring the temple and surroundings the reed for short and the line for long distances. (Compare Eze 47:3.) He probably stood in the north gate (Eze 40:2). He came afterward to the east gate, which was the main entrance (Eze 40:6).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he brought me there, 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.’
The man’s appearance ‘like the appearance of brass’ depicts him as a heavenly visitor (compare Eze 8:2). He was glorious in his appearance. The line of flax was for measuring distances, the measuring reed for more exact measurements. He was there to measure the temple that was already there and stood ready at the gate. The fact that the measurement began at the gate may be seen as stressing that it was the making available of the people’s access to God that was primarily in mind.
We should note again that there is nothing here to indicate that attempts were to be made to build such a temple, nor that it should be built. It was already there in vision, and the fact that it could be measured was to deliberately indicate its ‘real’ presence and the intention for it to be currently effective. It indicated heavenly activity taking place on earth in a form usually invisible, as with Jacob’s ladder which provided access to heavenly beings from some spiritual realm and was no doubt to be seen as continuing even when Jacob saw it no more (Gen 28:12) and providing a similar way to God which was no doubt seen as equally invisibly permanent. Jacob saw Bethel as the house of God and the gate of Heaven (Gen 28:17). And it was from then on looked on as a sacred sanctuary. How much more this new temple. It is a vision of that other world in its relationships with man (compare also 2Ki 6:17. See also Dan 10:13; Dan 10:20; Zec 1:7-11).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 40:3. A man, &c. That is, an angel deputed from God to give him the dimensions of the temple. See chap. Eze 1:7 and Eze 43:6. The Hebrew cubit was equal to about eighteen inches of our measure. The reader will best understand this description, by referring to Calmet’s plan of it in his Dictionary of the Bible.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
The place to which the Prophet was brought by vision, no doubt was Jerusalem. Here is nothing said of a Temple, but of a city: but from what follows in this Chapter, and the several succeeding ones, the whole of the city is considered as a temple. Now I pray the Reader to mark, with me, the singularity of this account. The visions which John the beloved Apostle had of the new Jerusalem, were, that there was no temple there: but of this, whatever city it might be, there is nothing described but of a temple. Rev 21:22 . Who is this man spoken of, unless it be the Lord Jesus Christ? Him whom John saw, and which we know was Christ, John describes in similar language, that his feet were like unto fine brass. Rev 1:11 . Supposing that this was the Lord Jesus Christ, (as it should seem very evidently to be,) by his being appointed to show the Prophet, and to measure the dimensions of this city, perhaps was intended to say, that Christ, as the Christ of God, was both the founder of the Temple, and the sum and substance of it. Zec 6:13 ; Joh 14:6 . And the object, and design, it should seem, for which Ezekiel was introduced into these visions of God, was not for curiosity, but for use, and that of the highest nature; namely, to show to the whole house of Israel. All that ministers are, and all the gifts given them, are not for themselves, but for the people.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 40:3 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.
Ver. 3. And, behold, there was a man. ] Christ the sovereign architect of his Church. as Rev 11:1 This might well be brought in with an Ecce Behold. He appeared after another manner in that first dreadful vision. Eze 1:1
Whose appearance was like the appearance of brass.
With a line of flax in his hand.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
behold, Figure of speech Asteriamos. App-6.
man. Hebrew tsh. App-14.
reed. See App-51.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a man
The theophanies. Dan 8:15; Dan 10:6; Dan 10:10; Dan 10:18; Gen 12:7; Rev 1:9.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
whose: Eze 1:7, Eze 1:27, Dan 10:5, Dan 10:6, Rev 1:15
with: Eze 47:3, Isa 8:20, Isa 28:17, Zec 2:1, Zec 2:2, Rev 11:1, Rev 21:15
Reciprocal: Eze 41:1 – he brought Eze 42:1 – he brought Eze 42:16 – the measuring reed Eze 43:6 – the man Amo 7:7 – a wall Zec 1:16 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 40:3. Brass is a mixture of two or more metals mostly copper, hence the rendering would properly be that word. It is capable of being brought to a high polish, hence Is a fitting material to represent something that is attractive. This man had two measuring devices in his hand, a tape measure and a reed or rod. The first was for longer distances and the second for closer and specific dimensions. The mere existence of a measuring instrument of any kind indicates that something is to be checked” by the standard in force. The man stood in the gate which indicated that he was to be admitted into the place with authority for measuring it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 40:3-5. Behold, there was a man The same no doubt that appeared to the prophet, Eze 1:20, (where see the note,) whose name is the Branch, and who builds the temple of the Lord, Zec 6:12-13; whose appearance was like the appearance of brass Bright and sparkling, Rev 1:15. With a line of flax in his hand The use of the line was to measure the land of Israel, and of the reed to take the dimensions of the buildings in and about the temple; as also to set out several portions of land belonging to the sanctuary and city, to the prince and people: see the margin. And he stood in the gate Probably the north gate, being the first entrance the prophet may be supposed to have arrived at, as he came from Chaldea, which lay northward of Judea. Son of man, behold, &c., and hear Take notice of what thou seest, so that thou mayest afterward tell it to thy people. And, behold, a wall on the outside A wall went round the whole compass, or square, of the holy mountain, whereon the temple was situate, to separate the holy ground from that which was common: see Eze 42:20. And in the mans hand a measuring-reed of six cubits long, &c. Here is explained what sort of a cubit is meant in the following delineation of the temple, namely, one that consisted of six hand-breadths, or one hand-breadth over the cubit used in Chaldea, where he now lived. This is the measure of a Scripture cubit, generally agreed to be equivalent to eighteen inches, or a foot and a half of our measure. See Bishop Cumberland, Of Scripture Weights and Measures, p. 36, &c. According to Michaelis, the Hebrew measures are, 1. The fingers-breadth: 2. Four fingers, or a hand-breadth: 3. The ell; the smaller of five hand-breadths, the larger of six: 4. The rod, of six ells. He also allows the rabbinical account, that a finger is equal to the length of six barley grains. So he measured the breadth of the building That is, of the outward wall, which was three yards high, and three yards broad. This wall surrounded a part which corresponded to the court of the Gentiles, and served as a security against the precipices of the mount on which the temple stood.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
40:3 And he brought me there, and, behold, [there was] a {b} 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.
(b) Which was an angel in the form of a man, that came to measure out this building.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Ezekiel also saw a man who appeared to be made out of bronze standing in the main gateway to this temple structure. Bronze in Scripture often represents what is strong (cf. 1Ki 4:13; Job 40:18). The man had in his hand a length of flax (linen cord) and a rod (reed) used to measure things. He would use the rod to measure shorter distances and the cord to measure longer ones.