Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 40:8
He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
8, 9. These verses should read: And he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, &c the words “within ( Eze 40:8) gate” ( Eze 40:9) being omitted. The copyist’s eye when he came to the word gate Eze 40:8 went back to the same word Eze 40:7, the clause following which he repeated. Some MSS. and all the ancient Versions, except Targ., omit. Fig. 1, mn.
the posts thereof ] Possibly: the post sing used collectively. The posts are the projecting wall-fronts or jambs on either side of the exit or door from the porch into the outer court, Fig. 1, no. The thickness of this jamb was two cubits.
was inward ] Or, toward the inside ( Eze 40:7), i.e. on the end of the gateway building toward the interior, and looking into the outer court. This is specially mentioned because in the inner gateway buildings the porch was on the side away from the house.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The porch; the posts, which were joined together at the top by an arch, and so made the portico, say some. The open space under the arch between the posts, or the ally which leads from the gate into the more inward parts of the house, or to the inmost. So the French version, puis apres il mesura d une eanne l alle qui menait a la porte la plus en dedans.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed. This was either the measure of the breadth of the porch between the opposite chambers on both sides; or rather of the length of that space, which was between the third little chamber and the last gate; and such a space must be supposed to be between the first gate and the first little chamber, which space were three yards and a half; which shows how spacious the churches of Christ will be, and how exactly measured.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘He also measured the vestibule of the gate towards the house which was one reed. So he measured the vestibule of the gate, eight cubits, and its posts, two cubits, and the vestibule of the gate was towards the house. And the side rooms of the gate eastward were three on this side and three on that side, the three were of the same size, and the posts were of the same size on this side and on that side. And he measured the breadth of the opening of the gateway, ten cubits, and the breadth of the gate, thirteen cubits.’
‘Towards the house’ indicated that this vestibule was at that end of the gateway nearer the sanctuary, rather than at the outer end. So the inner protecting gate was also measured by God’s representative. The six guard rooms are again described, emphasising their importance in relation to the protecting gate. The way to God had to be fully protected from profanity. There was a way in but it had to be guarded and kept for those for whom it was allowed. The measuring of them stresses that they were there and that they had to be taken into account.
The eight cubit vestibule plus the two one cubit posts, presumably make up the ten cubit opening of the gateway. Emphasis again is on multiples of five.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 40:8 He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
Ver. 8. He measured, also the porch. ] This porch, which had neither doors nor roof that we read of, was symbolum coeli: coelum enim undique conspicuum lateque patens significabat, saith Josephus. a It represented heaven.
a De Bell. Jud., lib. vi. cap. 6.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
He measured, &c. Verse 8 is not found in the Septuagint, Syriac, or Vulgate. It may be the latter clause of Eze 40:7 copied again through human infirmity.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Reciprocal: 1Ch 28:11 – the porch Jer 31:39 – General Eze 40:21 – after
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 40:8, The porch was the same in size as the several parts Of the building. See the comments in the preceding verse on the subject of principles of standards.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The vestibule stood at the far end of the gate complex and faced the courtyard. It was eight cubits (13 feet 4 inches) deep and 25 cubits (41 feet 8 inches) wide. Evidently the opening from this vestibule into the courtyard was 10 cubits (16 feet 8 inches) wide, but the "side pillars" supporting the doorframes around the opening were one cubit (1 foot 8 inches) wide on each side leaving an opening of eight cubits (13 feet 4 inches).