Ezekiel 41 Study Notes: The Sanctuary and Most Holy Place
The guide leads Ezekiel into the sanctuary of the visionary temple and then goes on into the innermost room, naming it the Most Holy Place. Carved cherubim with palms between them cover the walls and doors, and a wooden altar is identified as the LORD’s table standing in His presence.
General
What decorations were cut into the walls and doors of the sanctuary (41:18-20, 41:25)?
Answer: Cherubim alternating with palm trees
The walls of the sanctuary were carved all around with cherubim, with a palm tree between each one (41:18-20), and the outer room’s doors carried the same carvings (41:25). Every cherub bore two faces, a man’s face looking toward one palm and a young lion’s face toward the next (41:18-19). Cherubim are majestic heavenly beings; in an earlier vision Ezekiel had recognized the living creatures he saw beneath Israel’s God as cherubim (10:20). The same kind of carvings filled Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:29), and cherubim were even worked into the curtains of the tabernacle, the tent where God met Israel (Exodus 26:1). These carvings marked the house as the dwelling place of the holy God.
- Ezekiel 41:18-20 (BSB)“were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces: the 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. Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary from the floor to the space above the entrance.”Carved cherubim alternate with palms around the sanctuary walls; each cherub has a man’s face looking one way and a young lion’s face the other.
- Ezekiel 41:25 (BSB)“Cherubim 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.”Matching carvings decorate the doors of the sanctuary’s outer room.
- 1 Kings 6:29 (BSB)“Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.”Solomon’s temple walls likewise bore engraved cherubim, palms and blossoms.
- Exodus 26:1 (BSB)““You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.”Cherubim were skillfully worked even into the linen curtains of the tabernacle.
- Ezekiel 10:20 (BSB)“These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.”Ezekiel had already recognized the living creatures beneath God as cherubim.
Theological
What carved figures does 41:18-20 describe around the walls of the sanctuary, also repeated on its doors (41:25)?
Answer: Cherubim alternating with palm trees
The sanctuary walls are carved throughout with cherubim, alternating with palm trees (41:18-20), and the outer room’s doors bear the same design (41:25). Every cherub bears two faces, a human one and a young lion’s, each turned toward a palm tree (41:18-19). The cherubim recall the living creatures Ezekiel saw beneath Israel’s God (10:20), and the decoration continues that of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:29) and the tabernacle curtains (Exodus 26:1). Throughout, cherubim mark the place where the holy God dwells among His people.
- Ezekiel 41:18-20 (BSB)“were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces: the 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. Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary from the floor to the space above the entrance.”Carved cherubim alternate with palms around the sanctuary walls; each cherub has a man’s face looking one way and a young lion’s face the other.
- Ezekiel 41:25 (BSB)“Cherubim 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.”Matching carvings decorate the doors of the sanctuary’s outer room.
- 1 Kings 6:29 (BSB)“Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.”Solomon’s temple walls likewise bore engraved cherubim, palms and blossoms.
- Exodus 26:1 (BSB)““You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.”Cherubim were skillfully worked even into the linen curtains of the tabernacle.
- Ezekiel 10:20 (BSB)“These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.”Ezekiel had already recognized the living creatures beneath God as cherubim.
General
What did the guide say about the innermost room he entered (41:3-4)?
Answer: The Most Holy Place of God’s house
The guide brought Ezekiel into the outer room of the sanctuary (41:1), then went on into the inner room and told him that it was the Most Holy Place (41:3-4), the innermost room of God’s house. In the tabernacle (the tent where God met Israel), a veil hung between the outer room and this innermost room (Exodus 26:33), and even the high priest was not to go in whenever he pleased, because the LORD appeared there (Leviticus 16:2). The nearer one came to God’s presence, the greater the holiness required. In a related way, the New Testament says believers may now enter God’s presence with confidence through Jesus’ blood (Hebrews 10:19-20).
- Ezekiel 41:1 (BSB)“Then the man brought me into the outer sanctuary and measured the side pillars to be six cubits wide on each side.”The guide brings Ezekiel into the first, outer room of the sanctuary.
- Ezekiel 41:3-4 (BSB)“And he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance to be two cubits wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide. Then he measured the room adjacent to the inner sanctuary to be twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.””The guide passes on into the innermost room and names it to Ezekiel as the holiest place of all.
- Exodus 26:33 (BSB)“And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.”In the tabernacle a veil divided the outer holy room from the innermost one, showing steps of holiness within God’s house.
- Leviticus 16:2 (BSB)“And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.”Even Aaron the high priest was not to come into the innermost room at will, because the LORD appeared there.
- Hebrews 10:19-20 (BSB)“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,”Believers are given confident access to God’s innermost presence through Jesus’ blood, by a new way He opened.
Theological
How does the guide identify the inner sanctuary in 41:4?
Answer: The Most Holy Place of God’s house
Ezekiel is brought into the outer room of the sanctuary (41:1); the guide then passes on into the innermost room and declares it the Most Holy Place (41:3-4). The movement from court to outer room to inner room reflects the graded holiness of the tabernacle, where a veil set the innermost room apart (Exodus 26:33) and even the high priest could not enter at will because the LORD appeared there (Leviticus 16:2). God’s presence is the center from which holiness radiates outward. Hebrews 10:19-20 presents a related truth: through Jesus’ blood believers now have confident access to God’s innermost presence.
- Ezekiel 41:1 (BSB)“Then the man brought me into the outer sanctuary and measured the side pillars to be six cubits wide on each side.”The guide brings Ezekiel into the first, outer room of the sanctuary.
- Ezekiel 41:3-4 (BSB)“And he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance to be two cubits wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide. Then he measured the room adjacent to the inner sanctuary to be twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.””The guide passes on into the innermost room and names it to Ezekiel as the holiest place of all.
- Exodus 26:33 (BSB)“And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.”In the tabernacle a veil divided the outer holy room from the innermost one, showing steps of holiness within God’s house.
- Leviticus 16:2 (BSB)“And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.”Even Aaron the high priest was not to come into the innermost room at will, because the LORD appeared there.
- Hebrews 10:19-20 (BSB)“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,”Believers are given confident access to God’s innermost presence through Jesus’ blood, by a new way He opened.
General
What did the guide call the wooden altar Ezekiel saw (41:22)?
Answer: The table set in the LORD’s presence
Ezekiel saw a wooden altar, and the guide told him that it was the LORD’s table (41:22). Its name points to its meaning: it stood in God’s own presence. In the tabernacle (the tent where God met Israel), holy bread was always to lie on the table in God’s presence (Exodus 25:30). Later in the vision God speaks of His table and says that only the faithful priests descended from Zadok may come near it to serve Him (44:16). The table pictures a God who welcomes service and fellowship, but only on His own holy terms.
- Ezekiel 41:22 (BSB)“There 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.””The guide tells Ezekiel that the wooden altar is the LORD’s table, set in His presence.
- Exodus 25:30 (BSB)“And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.”In the tabernacle, holy bread was to lie on the table in the LORD’s presence continually.
- Ezekiel 44:16 (BSB)“They alone shall enter My sanctuary and draw near to My table to minister before Me. They will keep My charge.”Only the Zadokite priests would come near God’s table to serve Him.
Theological
How does the guide identify the wooden altar Ezekiel sees in 41:22?
Answer: The table set in the LORD’s presence
The guide identifies the wooden altar as the LORD’s table (41:22). Its significance lies in its location in the divine presence, recalling the tabernacle table on which the holy bread lay continually before God (Exodus 25:30). The LORD later speaks of My table, to which only the Zadokite priests may draw near to minister (44:16). The furnishing expresses communion with God that is real but regulated by His holiness, approached only by those He appoints.
- Ezekiel 41:22 (BSB)“There 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.””The guide tells Ezekiel that the wooden altar is the LORD’s table, set in His presence.
- Exodus 25:30 (BSB)“And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.”In the tabernacle, holy bread was to lie on the table in the LORD’s presence continually.
- Ezekiel 44:16 (BSB)“They alone shall enter My sanctuary and draw near to My table to minister before Me. They will keep My charge.”Only the Zadokite priests would come near God’s table to serve Him.