Ezekiel42
New King James Version
1Then he brought me out into the outer court, by the way toward the north; and he brought me into the chamber which was opposite the separating courtyard, and which was opposite the building toward the north.
2Facing the length, which was one hundred cubits (the width was fifty cubits), was the north door.
3Opposite the inner court of twenty cubits, and opposite the pavement of the outer court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.
4In front of the chambers, toward the inside, was a walk ten cubits wide, at a distance of one cubit; and their doors faced north.
5Now the upper chambers were shorter, because the galleries took away space from them more than from the lower and middle stories of the building.
6For they were in three stories and did not have pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper level was shortened more than the lower and middle levels from the ground up.
7And a wall which was outside ran parallel to the chambers, at the front of the chambers, toward the outer court; its length was fifty cubits.
8The length of the chambers toward the outer court was fifty cubits, whereas that facing the temple was one hundred cubits.
9At the lower chambers was the entrance on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court.
10Also there were chambers in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, opposite the separating courtyard and opposite the building.
11There was a walk in front of them also, and their appearance was like the chambers which were toward the north; they were as long and as wide as the others, and all their exits and entrances were according to plan.
12And corresponding to the doors of the chambers that were facing south, as one enters them, there was a door in front of the walk, the way directly in front of the wall toward the east.
13Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the Lord shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering—for the place is holy.
14When the priests enter them, they shall not go out of the holy chamber into the outer court; but there they shall leave their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they may approach that which is for the people.”
15Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the gateway that faces toward the east, and measured it all around.
16He measured the east side with the measuring rod, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.
17He measured the north side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.
18He measured the south side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
19He came around to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
20He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 42.
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.
Key Words
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
חִיצוֹן: properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior; figuratively, secular (as opposed to sacred)
חָצֵר: a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
דֶּרֶךְ: a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
צָפוֹן: properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
לִשְׁכָּה: a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
נֶגֶד: a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
גִּזְרָה: the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated)
Cross References
Ezekiel 42Parallels 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
The high priest must leave his holy linen garments in the tabernacle after service.
Highlights the wall's function to make a separation between the holy and the profane.
Reiterates the priestly duty to teach the difference between the holy and the profane.
Parallels the three-story construction and narrowing structure of the side chambers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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.
Details the consumption of the trespass offering in a holy place.
Refers back to the chambers of the sons of Zadok who approach the Lord.
Supported by JFB
Directly links to the original measuring reed used for the outer wall.
Supported by JFB
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
Explains the narrowing of the upper chambers due to the architectural ledge design.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides the overall square dimension of five hundred reeds square for the sanctuary.