Ezekiel 41:22

The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord.

Ezekiel 41:22 (KJV)

Context

In Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of a future temple, the prophet is shown a wooden structure with specific measurements: three cubits high and two cubits long. A cubit was roughly the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, making this table modest in size compared with other temple furnishings. The LORD identifies it plainly: “This is the table that is before the LORD.”

Meaning

The wooden table is not an altar for sacrifice but a distinct piece of furniture for the showbread, as its dimensions correspond to the table of showbread that served in the earlier tabernacle and temple. That table was traditionally fashioned from acacia wood and overlaid with gold, and it held the sacred bread offerings that symbolized the covenant people’s continual fellowship with God. Here the table is set directly before the LORD, signifying continual access to divine provision and the intimate, regular nature of worship.

Ezekiel also records a massive bronze altar—ten cubits long, wide, and high—intended for burnt offerings (Ezekiel 43:13-17). That altar is a separate structure made of durable metal and serves a different sacrificial function. The wooden table, by contrast, is for communion and fellowship, not sacrifice. Together, the bronze altar and the wooden table illustrate the comprehensive vision of restored worship: both sacrifice and sustenance find their appointed places before God.

Biblical connections

The identification of the altar as a “table” points to a place of communion with God. This theme finds its fulfillment in the New Testament through Christ, who is our peace and access to the Father. The wooden material also symbolizes the humanity of Christ, who, though divine, took on human flesh to be our mediator.

Application

True worship involves both sacrifice and communion. The bronze altar represents the offering of sacrifices, while the wooden table represents the presentation of perpetual bread before the LORD. Believers are invited to approach God with reverence, yet also to enjoy fellowship with Him, knowing that Christ has opened the way.

Reflection

The specific dimensions of the table are not given symbolic meaning in the text itself; they simply describe the object in the vision. Yet the placement “before the LORD” reminds us that worship and fellowship are centered on His presence. As we consider this table, we are encouraged to value both the sacrifice of Christ and the ongoing communion He offers.