Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 40:3

"And he brought me thither; and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate." — Ezekiel 40:3 (ASV)

A line of flax ... a measuring reed.—The former for the longer, the latter for the shorter measures, a characteristic definiteness in details.