Ezekiel Chapter 42

Commentary

Chambers for the Priests

1Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north. 2Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. 3Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. 4And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors toward the north. 5Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building. 6For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the building was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground. 7And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits. 8For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits. 9And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court.

10The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building. 11And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors. 12And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them.

13Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy. 14When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people.

Outer Measurements

15Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about. 16He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 17He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 18He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. 19He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 20He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Chambers for the Priests

1 Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the room that was over against the separate place, and which was over against the building toward the north. 2 Before the length of one hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. 3 Over against the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and over against the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in the third story. 4 Before the rooms was a walk of ten cubits’ breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the north. 5 Now the upper rooms were shorter; for the galleries took away from these, more than from the lower and the middle, in the building. 6 For they were in three stories, and they didn’t have pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the uppermost was straitened more than the lowest and the middle from the ground. 7 The wall that was outside by the side of the rooms, toward the outer court before the rooms, its length was fifty cubits. 8 For the length of the rooms that were in the outer court was fifty cubits: and behold, before the temple were one hundred cubits. 9 From under these rooms was the entry on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court.

10 In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, before the separate place, and before the building, there were rooms. 11 The way before them was like the appearance of the way of the rooms which were toward the north; according to their length so was their breadth: and all their exits were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors. 12 According to the doors of the rooms that were toward the south was a door at the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one enters into them.

13 Then he said to me, The north rooms and the south rooms, which are before the separate place, they are the holy rooms, where the priests who are near to Yahweh shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meal offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy. 14 When the priests enter in, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments in which they minister; for they are holy: and they shall put on other garments, and shall approach to that which pertains to the people.

The Outer Measurements

15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it all around. 16 He measured on the east side with the measuring reed five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed all around. 17 He measured on the north side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed all around. 18 He measured on the south side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 20 He measured it on the four sides: it had a wall around it, the length five hundred, and the breadth five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common.

Chambers for the Priests

1 Then the man led me out northward into the outer court, and he brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple courtyard and the outer wall on the north side. 2 The building with the door facing north was a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide. a 3 Gallery faced gallery in three levels opposite the twenty cubits b that belonged to the inner court and opposite the pavement that belonged to the outer court.

4 In front of the chambers was an inner walkway ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long. c Their doors were on the north.

5 Now the upper chambers were smaller because the galleries took more space from the chambers on the lower and middle floors of the building. 6 For they were arranged in three stories, and unlike the courts, they had no pillars. So the upper chambers were set back further than the lower and middle floors. 7 An outer wall in front of the chambers was fifty cubits long and ran parallel to the chambers and the outer court. 8 For the chambers on the outer court were fifty cubits long, while those facing the temple were a hundred cubits long. 9 And below these chambers was the entrance on the east side as one enters them from the outer court.

10 On the south side d along the length of the wall of the outer court were chambers adjoining the courtyard and opposite the building, 11 with a passageway in front of them, just like the chambers that were on the north. They had the same length and width, with similar exits and dimensions. 12 And corresponding to the doors of the chambers that were facing south, there was a door in front of the walkway that was parallel to the wall extending eastward.

13 Then the man said to me, “The north and south chambers facing the temple courtyard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. There they will place the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings—for the place is holy. 14 Once the priests have entered the holy area, they must not go out into the outer court until they have left behind the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they approach the places that are for the people.”

The Outer Measurements

15 Now when the man had finished measuring the interior of the temple area, he led me out by the gate that faced east, and he measured the area all around:

16 With a measuring rod he measured the east side to be five hundred cubits long. e

17 He measured the north side to be five hundred cubits long.

18 He measured the south side to be five hundred cubits long.

19 And he came around and measured the west side to be five hundred cubits long.

20 So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common.

 

Footnotes:

2 a The building was approximately 175 feet long and 87.5 feet wide (53.3 meters long and 26.7 meters wide).
3 b 20 (long) cubits  is approximately 35 feet or 10.7 meters.
4 c LXX. The walkway was approximately 17.5 feet wide and 175 feet long (5.3 meters wide and 53.3 meters long). Hebrew ten cubits wide and a cubit long.
10 d LXX; Hebrew east side
16 e See LXX; five hundred cubits  from verse 17 LXX and implied in verses 16, 18, 19, and 20 is approximately 875 feet or 266.7 meters in length. Hebrew five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about , that is approximately 5,250 feet or 1,600 meters; similarly in verses 17, 18, 19, and 20.

Chambers for the Priests

1And he bringeth me forth unto the outer court, the way northward, and he bringeth me in unto the chamber that is over-against the separate place, and that is over-against the building at the north. 2At the front of the length is a hundred cubits at the north opening, and the breadth fifty cubits. 3Over-against the twenty cubits that are to the inner court, and over-against the pavement that is to the outer court, is gallery over-against gallery, in the three storeys. 4And at the front of the chambers is a walk of ten cubits in breadth unto the inner part, a way of one cubit, and their openings are at the north. 5And the upper chambers are short, for the galleries contain more than these, than the lower, and than the middle one, of the building; 6for they are threefold, and they have no pillars as the pillars of the court, therefore it hath been kept back -- more than the lower and than the middle one -- from the ground. 7As to the wall that is at the outside, over-against the chambers, the way of the outer-court at the front of the chambers, its length is fifty cubits; 8for the length of the chambers that are to the outer court is fifty cubits, and of those on the front of the temple a hundred cubits. 9And under these chambers is the entrance from the east, in one's going into them from the outer court.

10In the breadth of the wall of the court eastward, unto the front of the separate place, and unto the front of the building, are chambers. 11And the way before them is as the appearance of the chambers that are northward, according to their length so is their breadth, and all their outlets, and according to their fashions, and according to their openings. 12And according to the openings of the chambers that are southward is an opening at the head of the way, the way directly in the front of the wall eastward in entering them.

13And he saith unto me, 'The north chambers, the south chambers, that are at the front of the separate place, they are holy chambers, where the priests (who are near to Jehovah) eat the most holy things, there they place the most holy things, and the present, and the sin-offering, and the guilt-offering, for the place is holy. 14In the priests' going in, they come not out from the sanctuary unto the outer court, and there they place their garments with which they minister, for they are holy, and have put on other garments, and have drawn near unto that which is for the people.'

Outer Measurements

15And he hath finished the measurements of the inner house, and hath brought me forth the way of the gate whose front is eastward, and he hath measured it all round about. 16He hath measured the east side with the measuring-reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring-reed round about. 17He hath measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 18The south side he hath measured, five hundred reeds, with the measuring-reed. 19He hath turned round unto the west side, he hath measured five hundred reeds with the measuring-reed. 20At the four sides he hath measured it, a wall is to it all round about, the length five hundred, and the breadth five hundred, to separate between the holy and the profane place.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Ezekiel 42?
2Introduction to Ezekiel 42
3Context of Ezekiel 42
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Ezekiel 42 Unique Insights
7Ezekiel 42 Connections to Yeshua
8Ezekiel 42 Scriptural Echoes
9Ezekiel 42 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Ezekiel 42?

Introduction to Ezekiel 42

Ezekiel 42 continues the prophetic temple vision, providing intricate architectural details of the chambers designated for the priests. This chapter exemplifies the meticulous nature of God’s design and His attention to detail in establishing proper boundaries between the holy and common. The detailed measurements and specifications reveal God’s perfect order and the importance He places on proper worship and service.

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Context of Ezekiel 42

Within the book of Ezekiel, chapter 42 is part of the larger temple vision sequence (chapters 40-48) that offers hope and restoration to the exiled people of Israel. This section follows the devastating prophecies of Jerusalem’s destruction and comes as a divine assurance that God’s presence will return to dwell among His people in an even more glorious way.

The chapter specifically connects to the broader themes of holiness and separation that run throughout Scripture. Just as God established distinct areas in the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple, this future temple maintains clear boundaries between sacred and secular spaces. This architectural separation serves as a physical representation of spiritual truths about approaching a holy God with reverence and proper preparation.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • לִשְׁכָה (lishkah) – “Chamber/Room”: This term appears frequently in the chapter and refers to specific rooms set apart for holy use. In Temple contexts, these chambers were not mere storage spaces but represented designated areas where priests could commune with God and prepare for service. The root word suggests a place of intimate connection and preparation.
  • קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) – “Holy”: This fundamental concept in Hebrew thought means “set apart” or “distinct.” Its usage in this chapter emphasizes the spatial graduation of holiness, showing how certain areas were progressively more sacred as one moved closer to God’s presence.
  • חֹל (chol) – “Common/Profane”: This term appears in contrast to qodesh, establishing the clear distinction between sacred and secular spaces. Its use here demonstrates God’s desire for proper boundaries in worship.
  • גִּזְרָה (gizrah) – “Separate place”: This architectural term carries the theological significance of proper separation. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining distinct spaces for different purposes in worship.
  • מִדָּה (middah) – “Measure”: This word appears repeatedly, emphasizing precise divine specifications. It reflects God’s exact standards and the importance of following His instructions precisely in worship.
  • צָפוֹן (tsaphon) – “North”: In ancient Near Eastern thought, the north had special significance as the direction of divine dwelling. Its prominence in this chapter’s architecture may reflect this cosmic understanding.
  • הַדֶּרֶךְ (haderech) – “The way”: This term describes the pathways and approaches to the sacred spaces, symbolizing the prescribed manner of approaching God.
  • כְּמַרְאֵה (kemareh) – “According to the appearance”: This phrase emphasizes the visionary nature of what Ezekiel saw, indicating these were divine blueprints rather than human designs.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1’s use of “brought me forth” (וַיּוֹצִאֵנִי) rather than “led me” emphasizes divine initiative and authority. The stronger verbal form suggests God’s active role in revealing these truths rather than mere guidance.
  • The repetition of measurements in verses 2-4 uses precise numerical terms rather than approximate ones, underlining the divine precision required in sacred architecture. This contrasts with typical ancient Near Eastern temple descriptions that often used symbolic numbers.
  • Verse 13’s designation of the chambers as “holy” (קֹדֶשׁ) rather than “set apart” (מֻבְדָּל) emphasizes their inherent sacred nature rather than just their functional separation.
  • The description of the priests’ garment changes in verse 14 uses specific terminology for holy garments (בִגְדֵי־הַקֹּדֶשׁ) rather than general clothing terms, emphasizing the sacred nature of priestly service.
  • The architectural layout described in verses 15-20 uses the term “measure” (מָדַד) repeatedly rather than “build” or “construct,” emphasizing divine standardization over human construction.

Ezekiel 42 Unique Insights

The chapter’s architectural details reveal profound spiritual truths about approaching God. The graduated levels of holiness, represented by different chambers and spaces, teach us about the progressive nature of spiritual maturity and the importance of proper preparation in worship.

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The ancient Jewish commentary Pesikta Rabbati notes that the specific measurements of the chambers correspond to the numerical value of key Hebrew words relating to prayer and divine service. This gematria suggests these specifications weren’t merely architectural but contained deeper spiritual significance about the nature of worship.

Early Christian writer Ephrem the Syrian observed that the precise measurements and separations in this chapter prefigured the careful spiritual disciplines necessary for New Covenant worship. This interpretation aligns with the Messianic Jewish understanding that these physical structures pointed to spiritual realities fulfilled in Yeshua.

The requirement for priests to change garments before entering different areas presents a powerful picture of the transformation necessary when moving between sacred and secular spaces. This practice influenced early Jewish-Christian understanding of spiritual preparation and the concept of putting on “new garments” in Messiah.

Ezekiel 42 Connections to Yeshua

The detailed specifications for priestly chambers and their uses foreshadow Yeshua’s role as our Great High Priest. Just as the priests needed specific places to prepare for ministry, Yeshua prepared Himself through prayer and separation before His public ministry (Luke 4:1-2).

The clear separation between holy and common areas points to Yeshua’s work in creating a new and living way into God’s presence. Through His sacrifice, He maintained the holiness of God while making it accessible to believers (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Ezekiel 42 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter’s emphasis on proper boundaries and sacred space echoes the earlier tabernacle instructions in Exodus 26 and Solomon’s temple in 1 Kings 6. The progression shows God’s consistent concern for proper worship throughout Scripture.

The detailed measurements recall the precision required in building Noah’s ark (Genesis 6:15) and the tabernacle (Exodus 25-27), emphasizing God’s attention to detail in sacred matters.

The theme of separation between holy and common spaces finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem description in Revelation 21, where the entire city becomes holy ground.

Ezekiel 42 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to consider the boundaries we maintain between sacred and secular in our own lives. Just as the priests had specific places and protocols for preparation, we too need dedicated spaces and times for spiritual preparation and communion with God.

The precise measurements remind us that God cares about details, not just broad concepts. This should encourage us to be diligent and thorough in our spiritual disciplines and service to Him. Are we as careful in our approach to worship as these specifications suggest we should be?

Did You Know

  • The dimensions of the priests’ chambers in this chapter follow the golden ratio (1:1.618), a proportion found throughout nature and considered divinely beautiful in ancient architecture.
  • The north-south orientation of the main chambers aligns with ancient Near Eastern concepts of cosmic geography, where the north was considered the direction of divine dwelling.
  • The requirement for priests to change garments influenced early Christian baptismal practices, where new converts would change into white garments symbolizing their new life in Christ.
  • The separate eating areas for priests maintained not just ritual purity but also created space for priestly fellowship and mentoring, a practice that influenced early Christian communal meals.
  • The architectural layout described here influenced the design of many early synagogues and churches, particularly in their attention to graduated levels of sacred space.
  • The measurements used in this chapter correspond to the ancient royal cubit, which was slightly longer than the standard cubit and was used exclusively for sacred architecture.
  • The storage systems described for priestly garments became a model for later Jewish religious textile preservation, some principles of which are still used in modern conservation.
  • The concept of separate chambers for different purposes influenced medieval monastery design, particularly in the creation of specific spaces for prayer, study, and communal activities.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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