Ezekiel 42:1-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Holy Chambers and the Outer Wall
42 Then he led me out into the outer court toward the north, and he brought me to the chambers that were opposite the temple yard and opposite the building on the north.(A) 2 The length of the building that was on the north side[a] was[b] one hundred cubits and the width fifty cubits. 3 Facing the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court and facing the pavement that belonged to the outer court, the chambers rose[c] gallery[d] by gallery[e] in three stories.(B) 4 Amid the chambers was an interior passage, ten cubits wide and one hundred cubits deep,[f] and its[g] entrances were on the north.(C) 5 Now the upper chambers were narrower, for the galleries[h] took more away from them than from the lower and middle chambers in the building. 6 For they were in three stories, and they had no pillars like the pillars of the outer[i] court; for this reason the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and the middle ones.(D) 7 There was a wall outside parallel to the chambers, toward the outer court, opposite the chambers, fifty cubits long. 8 For the chambers on the outer court were fifty cubits long, while those opposite the temple were one hundred cubits long.(E) 9 At the foot of these chambers ran a passage that one entered from the east in order to enter them from the terrace space outside.(F) 10 The entrance was aligned with the start of the wall[j] toward the court.
On the south[k] also, opposite the vacant area and opposite the building, there were chambers 11 with a passage in front of them; they were similar to the chambers on the north, of the same length and width, with the same exits[l] and arrangements and doors. 12 So the entrances of the chambers to the south were entered through the entrance at the head of the corresponding passage, from the east, along the matching wall.[m]
13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers opposite the vacant area are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the Lord shall eat the most holy offerings; there they shall deposit the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the purification offering, and the guilt offering—for the place is holy.(G) 14 When the priests enter the holy place, they shall not go out of it into the outer court without laying there the vestments in which they minister, for these are holy; they shall put on other garments before they go near to the area open to the people.”(H)
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- 42.2 Gk: Heb door
- 42.2 Gk: Heb before the length
- 42.3 Heb lacks the chambers rose
- 42.3 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 42.3 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 42.4 Gk Syr: Heb a way of one cubit
- 42.4 Heb their
- 42.5 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 42.6 Gk: Heb lacks outer
- 42.10 Compare Gk: Heb in the thickness of the wall
- 42.10 Gk: Heb east
- 42.11 Heb and all their exits
- 42.12 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Ezekiel 42:1-14
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Priests’ Chambers
42 Then the man led me out by way of the north gate into the outer court.(A) He brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple yard and opposite the building(B) to the north. 2 Along the length of the chambers, which was 175 feet,[a](C) there was an entrance on the north; the width was 87½ feet.[b] 3 Opposite the 35 foot space[c] belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface(D) belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery(E) in three tiers. 4 In front of the chambers was a walkway toward the inside,(F) 17½ feet[d] wide and 175 feet[e] long,[f] and their entrances were on the north. 5 The upper chambers were narrower because the galleries took away more space from them than from the lower and middle stories of the building. 6 For they were arranged in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts;(G) therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and middle stories. 7 A wall on the outside ran in front of the chambers, parallel to them, toward the outer court; it was 87½ feet[g] long. 8 For the chambers on the outer court were 87½ feet long, while those facing the great hall were 175 feet[h] long.(H) 9 At the base of these chambers there was an entryway on the east side as one enters them from the outer court.(I)
10 In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the south,[i] there were chambers facing the temple yard(J) and the western building, 11 with a passageway in front of them, just like the chambers that faced north.(K) Their length and width, as well as all their exits, measurements, and entrances, were identical. 12 The entrance at the beginning of the passageway, the way in front of the corresponding[j] wall as one enters on the east side, was similar to the entrances of the chambers that were on the south side.
13 Then the man said to me, “The northern and southern chambers that face the temple yard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the Lord will eat(L) the most holy offerings.(M) There they will deposit the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, sin offerings, and restitution offerings—for the place is holy.(N) 14 Once the priests have entered, they must not go out from the holy area to the outer court until they have removed the clothes they minister in, for these are holy.(O) They are to put on other clothes before they approach the public area.”(P)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezekiel 42:2 Lit 100 cubits
- Ezekiel 42:2 Lit 50 cubits
- Ezekiel 42:3 Lit 20 [cubits]
- Ezekiel 42:4 Lit 10 cubits
- Ezekiel 42:4 Lit 100 cubits
- Ezekiel 42:4 LXX, Syr; MT reads wide, a way of one cubit
- Ezekiel 42:7 Lit 50 cubits
- Ezekiel 42:8 Lit 100 cubits
- Ezekiel 42:10 LXX; MT reads east
- Ezekiel 42:12 Or protective; Hb obscure
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