Ezekiel 40:26
New International Version
Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side.

New Living Translation
This gateway also had a stairway of seven steps leading up to it, and an entry room at the inner end, and palm tree decorations along the dividing walls.

English Standard Version
And there were seven steps leading up to it, and its vestibule was before them, and it had palm trees on its jambs, one on either side.

Berean Standard Bible
Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.

King James Bible
And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.

New King James Version
Seven steps led up to it, and its archway was in front of them; and it had palm trees on its gateposts, one on this side and one on that side.

New American Standard Bible
There were seven steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree decorations on its side pillars, one on each side.

NASB 1995
There were seven steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree ornaments on its side pillars, one on each side.

NASB 1977
And there were seven steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree ornaments on its side pillars, one on each side.

Legacy Standard Bible
There were seven steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree ornaments on its side pillars, one on each side.

Amplified Bible
There were seven steps going up to the gate, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree decorations [carved] on its side pillars, one on each side.

Christian Standard Bible
Its stairway had seven steps, and its portico was ahead of them. It had palm trees on its jambs, one on each side.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Its stairway had seven steps, and its portico was ahead of them. It had palm trees on its pilasters, one on each side.

American Standard Version
And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them; and it had palm-trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.

Contemporary English Version
Seven steps led up to the gate; the entrance room was at the far end of the passageway and faced the courtyard of the temple. Carvings of palm trees decorated the walls along the passageway.

English Revised Version
And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Seven steps went up to it and led to its entrance hall. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, one picture on each side.

Good News Translation
Seven steps led up to it, and its entrance room was also at the end facing the courtyard. There were palm trees carved on the inner walls that faced the passageway.

International Standard Version
Seven steps led up to it, with a porch in front of them. Palm tree ornaments were engraved on its side pillars, one on each side.

Majority Standard Bible
Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.

NET Bible
There were seven steps going up to it; its porches were in front of them. It had decorative palm trees on its jambs, one on either side.

New Heart English Bible
There were seven steps to go up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm trees on its jambs, one on either side.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them: and it had palm-trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon its posts.

World English Bible
There 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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and seven steps [are] its ascent, and its arches [are] before them, and palm-trees [are] in it, one on this side and one on that side, on its posts;

Young's Literal Translation
and seven steps are its ascent, and its arches are before them, and palm-trees are to it, one on this side, and one on that side, at its posts;

Smith's Literal Translation
And its going up, seven steps, and its porch before them: and palm trees to it, one from hence, and one from thence, to its post.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there were seven steps to go up to it: and a porch before the doors thereof: and there were graven palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side in the front thereof.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And there were seven steps to ascend to it, and a vestibule before its doors. And there were engraved palm trees, one on each side, at its front.

New American Bible
Seven steps led up to it, its vestibule faced inside; and palms decorated each of the posts opposite one another.

New Revised Standard Version
There were seven steps leading up to it; its vestibule was on the inside. It had palm trees on its pilasters, one on either side.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And there were seven steps to go up to it, and there was a portico in front of it; and it had palm trees, one on this side and another on that side, upon its posts.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And with seven steps going up to it, and a vestibule was before it, and palm trees were with it, one from here and one from there, by its gate posts
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them; and it had palm-trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it had seven steps, and porches within: and it had palm-trees on the posts, one on one side, and one on the other side.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The South Gate
25Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 26Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side. 27The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured the distance from gateway to gateway toward the south to be a hundred cubits.…

Cross References
1 Kings 6:8
The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the temple. A stairway led up to the middle level, and from there to the third floor.

1 Kings 7:29
and on the panels between the uprights were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the uprights was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of beveled work.

2 Chronicles 9:11
The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

2 Chronicles 3:4
The portico at the front, extending across the width of the temple, was twenty cubits long and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

1 Kings 10:19-20
The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest. / Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

1 Kings 6:31-35
For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, Solomon constructed doors of olive wood with five-sided doorposts. / The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold. / In the same way he made four-sided doorposts of olive wood for the sanctuary entrance. ...

2 Chronicles 9:18-19
The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest. / Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

1 Kings 6:15-18
He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypress boards. / He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. / And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long. ...

1 Kings 6:23-28
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. / One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits. / The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, ...

1 Kings 6:5-6
Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuary, Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple, in which he constructed the side rooms. / The bottom floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits, and the third floor seven cubits. He also placed offset ledges around the outside of the temple, so that nothing would be inserted into its walls.

Revelation 21:12
The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates.

Revelation 21:21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

Revelation 4:1
After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”

Revelation 11:1
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.

Revelation 21:15-17
The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls. / The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height. / And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.


Treasury of Scripture

And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on the posts thereof.

seven

Ezekiel 40:6,22,29
Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad…

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

palm trees

Ezekiel 40:16,22
And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees…

Psalm 92:12
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Song of Solomon 7:7,8
This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes

Jump to Previous
Arches Ascent Covered Decorations Either Faces Front Inside Jambs Leading Opposite Ornaments Palm Palm-Trees Pillars Porches Portico Posts Projecting Projections Seven Side Steps Thereof Tree Trees Uprights Vestibule Way
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Arches Ascent Covered Decorations Either Faces Front Inside Jambs Leading Opposite Ornaments Palm Palm-Trees Pillars Porches Portico Posts Projecting Projections Seven Side Steps Thereof Tree Trees Uprights Vestibule Way
Ezekiel 40
1. The time, manner, and end of the vision of the city and temple
6. The description of the east gate of the outer court
20. of the north gate
24. of the south gate
27. of the south gate of the inner court
32. of the east gate
35. and of the north gate
39. Eight tables
44. The chambers
48. The porch of the house














Seven steps led up to it
The number "seven" in biblical terms often symbolizes completeness or perfection, reflecting God's divine order. In the context of Ezekiel's vision of the temple, these "seven steps" may represent a complete and perfect approach to worship and communion with God. The ascent of these steps signifies a journey towards holiness and a deeper relationship with the divine. Historically, steps leading to sacred spaces were common in ancient Near Eastern architecture, symbolizing the elevation of the sacred above the mundane.

and its portico was ahead of them
The "portico" refers to a covered entrance or porch, which in ancient temple architecture served as a transitional space between the outside world and the sacred interior. This portico, being "ahead of them," suggests a forward movement towards the presence of God. It is a place of preparation and reflection before entering the holy space. Theologically, it can be seen as a metaphor for Christ, who is the way to the Father, providing access to the divine presence.

with palm trees decorating the side pillars on each side
Palm trees in biblical symbolism often represent victory, peace, and eternal life. Their presence "decorating the side pillars" of the temple's entrance signifies the beauty and triumph of God's kingdom. In the context of Ezekiel's vision, these palm trees may also evoke the imagery of the Garden of Eden, suggesting a return to paradise and the restoration of creation. Architecturally, palm motifs were common in ancient Near Eastern temples, symbolizing fertility and divine blessing. The "side pillars" adorned with palms emphasize the strength and stability of God's eternal promises, framing the entrance to His holy dwelling.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Seven
שִׁבְעָה֙ (šiḇ·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

steps
וּמַעֲל֤וֹת (ū·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4609: Elevation, the act, the condition, a climactic progression

led up to it,
עֹֽלוֹתָ֔יו (‘ō·lō·w·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

and its portico
וְאֵֽלַמָּ֖יו (wə·’ê·lam·māw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 361: A pillar-space, a pale

was opposite them;
לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם (lip̄·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

it had palm trees
וְתִמֹרִ֣ים (wə·ṯi·mō·rîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8561: A palm-like pilaster

on
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

its side pillars,
אֵילָֽיו׃ (’ê·lāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 352: Strength, strong, a chief, a ram, a pilaster, an oak, strong tree

one
אֶחָ֥ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

on each side.
מִפּ֛וֹ (mip·pōw)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 6311: This place, here


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 40:26 There were seven steps to go up (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 40:25
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