Ezekiel 42NASB
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Ezekiel42

New American Standard

1Then he brought me out into the outer courtyard, the way toward the north; and he brought me to the chamber which was opposite the separate area and opposite the building toward the north.

2Along the length, which was a hundred cubits, was the north door; the width was fifty cubits.

3Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner courtyard, and opposite the stone pavement which belonged to the outer courtyard, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories.

4In front of the chambers was an inner passage ten cubits wide, a way of one hundred cubits; and their openings were on the north.

5Now the upper chambers were smaller because the galleries took more space away from them than from the lower and middle ones in the building.

6For they were in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courtyards; for that reason the upper chambers were set back from the ground upward, more than the lower and middle ones.

7As for the outer wall by the side of the chambers, toward the outer courtyard facing the chambers, its length was fifty cubits.

8For the length of the chambers which were in the outer courtyard was fifty cubits; and behold, the length of those facing the main room was a hundred cubits.

9And below these chambers was the entrance on the east side, as one enters them from the outer courtyard.

10In the thickness of the wall of the courtyard toward the east, facing the separate area and facing the building, there were chambers.

11And the way in front of them was like the appearance of the chambers which were on the north; according to their length, so was their width, and all their exits were according to their building plans and openings.

12Corresponding to the openings of the chambers which were toward the south was an opening at the head of the way, the way in front of the wall toward the east, as one enters them.

13Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separate area, they are the holy chambers where the priests who are near to the Lord shall eat the most holy things. There they shall set the most holy things, the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; for the place is holy.

14When the priests enter, they shall not go out into the outer courtyard from the sanctuary without laying their garments there in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they shall approach that which is for the people.”

15Now when he had finished measuring the inner house, he brought me out by way of the gate which faced east, and measured it all around.

16He measured on the east side with the measuring rod: five hundred rods by the measuring rod.

17He measured on the north side: five hundred rods by the measuring rod.

18On the south side he measured five hundred rods with the measuring rod.

19He turned to the west side and measured five hundred rods with the measuring rod.

20He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, the length five hundred rods and the width five hundred, to divide between the holy and the common.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 42.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The Vision of the Temple. (1-20).

vv1-20

In this chapter are described the priests' chambers, their use, and the dimensions of the holy mount on which the temple stood. These chambers were many. Jesus said, In my Father's house are many mansions: in his house on earth there are many; multitudes, by faith, are lodging in his sanctuary, and yet there is room. These chambers, though private, were near the temple. Our religious services in our chambers, must prepare for public devotions, and further us in improving them, as our opportunities are.

Cross References

Ezekiel 42
v14Ezekiel 44:19thematic

Parallels the law of changing ministerial garments before going out to the outer court.

The square measurements and wall parallel the measurement and security of the New Jerusalem.

Supported by JFB

v14Leviticus 16:23thematic

The high priest must leave his holy linen garments in the tabernacle after service.

v20Ezekiel 22:26thematic

Highlights the wall's function to make a separation between the holy and the profane.

v20Ezekiel 44:23thematic

Reiterates the priestly duty to teach the difference between the holy and the profane.

v6Ezekiel 41:6thematic

Parallels the three-story construction and narrowing structure of the side chambers.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v61 Kings 6:8thematic

Solomon's temple similarly featured three stories of side chambers.

Prescribes where the priests must eat the most holy grain offerings.

Mandates eating the sin offering in the holy place of the court.

v13Leviticus 7:1-6thematic

Details the consumption of the trespass offering in a holy place.

v13Ezekiel 40:46thematic

Refers back to the chambers of the sons of Zadok who approach the Lord.

Supported by JFB

v20Ezekiel 40:5thematic

Directly links to the original measuring reed used for the outer wall.

Supported by JFB

v20Leviticus 10:10thematic

Connects the physical wall to the moral duty to distinguish clean from unclean.

Identifies the 'separate place' and the building toward the west.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Ezekiel 41:7thematic

Explains the narrowing of the upper chambers due to the architectural ledge design.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v20Ezekiel 45:2thematic

Provides the overall square dimension of five hundred reeds square for the sanctuary.