New American Standard Bible 1995

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Ezekiel

43

:

16

"Now the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
"Now the altar hearth hearth, altar-hearth H741 (וְהָאֲרִיאֵ֗ל ve·ha·'a·ri·'el
[shall be] twelve two (a card. number) H8147 שְׁתֵּ֤ים she·teim
Analysis:

Twelve: People, the people of God

Naturally, when the number twelve is mentioned, two thoughts enter into one's mind.  The first thought is the twelve tribes of Israel and the second is the twelve disciples. Both groups represent the people of God. Hence, when the number twelve appears in the Scriptures, the reader ought to think of the people of God in some unique or specific manner.  

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

[cubits] long length H753 אֹ֔רֶךְ o·rech,
by twelve two (a card. number) H8147 בִּשְׁתֵּ֥ים bish·teim
Analysis:

Twelve: People, the people of God

Naturally, when the number twelve is mentioned, two thoughts enter into one's mind.  The first thought is the twelve tribes of Israel and the second is the twelve disciples. Both groups represent the people of God. Hence, when the number twelve appears in the Scriptures, the reader ought to think of the people of God in some unique or specific manner.  

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

wide, breadth, width H7341 רֹ֑חַב ro·chav;
square to square H7251 רָב֕וּעַ ra·vu·a'
in its four four H702 אַרְבַּ֥עַת ar·ba·'at
Analysis:

Four: The world, four is the global number

The number "four" has a global or relates to the world. There are some common and similar expressions in the Scripture, which are "the four winds of the heavens" or "the four corners of the earth" or "the four ends of the heavens."  Each of these expressions relate to the earth or the world in a collective manner. In the book of Daniel chapter 2, one reads about a dream which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed. In this dream, he saw an image set up and this image had four distinct parts. Each of these parts represented an empire which ruled over the world.

In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 22, Israel is told to make a four-corner garment and place a tzitzit upon each corner. The tzitzit represents the Biblical commandments of the Torah (see Numbers chapter 15). These commandments are understood as being a framework for life in this world, as when one dies, the tzitzit are removed from one's four corner garment for burial. 

In the books of Ezekiel and Revelation, one encounters the four beasts, which are in the heavens and never cease to praise HaShem. It is understood that the four beasts who continuously say, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts, Who was and is and is to come" (see Revelation 4:6-9) are related to the will of God for all the world (His creation). In a similar manner, one of the Seraphim called to another saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts, all of the earth (shall be) with His Glory." 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

sides. fourth part, four sides (pl.) H7253 רְבָעָֽיו׃ re·va·'av.

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "Now the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides.
King James Bible "Now And the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by long, twelve wide, broad, square in its the four sides.squares thereof.
Hebrew Greek English "Now the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides.