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Ezekiel 42:1-9 King James Version (KJV)

1 Then 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.

2 Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.

3 Over 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.

4 And before the chambers was a walk to ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors toward the north.

5 Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.

6 For 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.

7 And 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.

8 For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits.

9 And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court.


Ezekiel 42:1-9 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Then he brought me forth H3318 into the utter H2435 court, H2691 the way toward H1870 the north: H6828 and he brought H935 me into the chamber H3957 that was over against the separate place, H1508 and which was before the building H1146 toward the north. H6828

2 Before H6440 the length H753 of an hundred H3967 cubits H520 was the north H6828 door, H6607 and the breadth H7341 was fifty H2572 cubits. H520

3 Over against the twenty H6242 cubits which were for the inner H6442 court, H2691 and over against the pavement H7531 which was for the utter H2435 court, H2691 was gallery H862 against H6440 gallery H862 in three H7992 stories.

4 And before H6440 the chambers H3957 was a walk H4109 of ten H6235 cubits H520 breadth H7341 inward, H6442 a way H1870 of one H259 cubit; H520 and their doors H6607 toward the north. H6828

5 Now the upper H5945 chambers H3957 were shorter: H7114 for the galleries H862 were higher H398 than these, H2007 than the lower, H8481 and than the middlemost H8484 of the building. H1146

6 For they were in three H8027 stories, but had not pillars H5982 as the pillars H5982 of the courts: H2691 therefore the building was straitened H680 more than the lowest H8481 and the middlemost H8484 from the ground. H776

7 And the wall H1447 that was without H2351 over against H5980 the chambers, H3957 toward H1870 the utter H2435 court H2691 on the forepart H6440 of the chambers, H3957 the length H753 thereof was fifty H2572 cubits. H520

8 For the length H753 of the chambers H3957 that were in the utter H2435 court H2691 was fifty H2572 cubits: H520 and, lo, before H6440 the temple H1964 were an hundred H3967 cubits. H520

9 And from under these chambers H3957 was the entry H3996 H935 on the east side, H6921 as one goeth H935 into them H2007 from the utter H2435 court. H2691


Ezekiel 42:1-9 American Standard (ASV)

1 Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was over against the building toward the north.

2 Before the length of a 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 And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits' breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the north.

5 Now the upper chambers were shorter; for the galleries took away from these, more than from the lower and the middlemost, in the building.

6 For they were in three stories, and they had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore `the uppermost' was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.

7 And the wall that was without by the side of the chambers, toward the outer court before the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.

8 For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were a hundred cubits.

9 And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the outer court.


Ezekiel 42:1-9 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And 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.

2 At the front of the length `is' a hundred cubits `at' the north opening, and the breadth fifty cubits.

3 Over-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'.

4 And 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.

5 And the upper chambers `are' short, for the galleries contain more than these, than the lower, and than the middle one, of the building;

6 for 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.

7 As 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;

8 for 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.

9 And under these chambers `is' the entrance from the east, in one's going into them from the outer court.


Ezekiel 42:1-9 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north; and he brought me to the cells that were over against the separate place and which were over against the building, toward the north,

2 before the length of the hundred cubits: the entry was on the north, and the breadth was fifty cubits,

3 over against the twenty [cubits] that pertained to the inner court, and over against the pavement that pertained to the outer court; there was gallery against gallery in the third [story];

4 and before the cells was a walk of ten cubits in breadth, [and] a way of a hundred cubits inward; and their entries were toward the north.

5 And the upper cells, because the galleries encroached on them, were shorter than the lower, and than the middle-most of the building.

6 For they were in three [stories], but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts; therefore [the third story] was straitened more than the lowest and the middle-most from the ground.

7 And the wall that was without, answering to the cells, toward the outer court in the front of the cells, its length was fifty cubits:

8 for the length of the cells that were against the outer court was fifty cubits; but behold, before the temple it was a hundred cubits.

9 And under these cells was the entry from the east, as one goeth into them from the outer court.


Ezekiel 42:1-9 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber 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 chambers was a walk of ten cubits' breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the north.

5 Now the upper chambers 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 chambers, toward the outer court before the chambers, the length of it was fifty cubits.

8 For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was fifty cubits: and, behold, before the temple were one hundred cubits.

9 From under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court.


Ezekiel 42:1-9 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And he took me out into the inner square in the direction of the north: and he took me into the rooms which were opposite the separate place and opposite the building to the north.

2 On the north side it was a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide,

3 Opposite the space of twenty cubits which was part of the inner square, and opposite the stone floor of the outer square. There were covered ways facing one another on the third floor.

4 And in front of the rooms was a walk, ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long; and their doors were facing north.

5 And the higher rooms were shorter: for the covered ways took up more space from these than from the lower and middle rooms.

6 For they were on three floors, and they had no pillars like the pillars of the outer square; so the highest was narrower than the lowest and middle floors from the earth level.

7 And the wall which went outside by the side of the rooms, in the direction of the outer square in front of the rooms, was fifty cubits long.

8 For the rooms in the outer square were fifty cubits long: and in front of the Temple was a space of a hundred cubits.

9 And under these rooms was the way in from the east side, as one goes into them from the outer square at the head of the outer wall.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezekiel 42

Commentary on Ezekiel 42 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 42

This chapter continues and concludes the describing and measuring of this mystical temple, which it is very hard to understand the particular architecture of, and yet more hard to comprehend the mystical meaning of. Here is,

  • I. A description of the chambers that were about the courts, their situation and structure (v. 1-13), and the uses for which they were designed (v. 13, 14).
  • II. A survey of the whole compass of ground which was taken up with the house, and the courts belonging to it (v. 15-20).

Eze 42:1-14

The prophet has taken a very exact view of the temple and the buildings belonging to it, and is now brought again into the outer court, to observe the chambers that were in that square.

  • I. Here is a description of these chambers, which (as that which went before) seems to us very perplexed and intricate, through our unacquaintedness with the Hebrew language and the rules of architecture at that time. We shall only observe, in general,
    • 1. That about the temple, which was the place of public worship, there were private chambers, to teach us that our attendance upon God in solemn ordinances will not excuse us from the duties of the closet. We must not only worship in the courts of God's house, but must, both before and after our attendance there, enter into our chambers, enter into our closets, and read and meditate, and pray to our Father in secret; and a great deal of comfort the people of God have found in their communion with God in solitude.
    • 2. That these chambers were many; there were three stories of them, and, though the higher stories were not so large as the lower, yet they served as well for retirement, v. 5, 6. There were many, that there might be conveniences for all such devout people as Anna the prophetess, who departed not from the temple night or day, Lu. 2:37. In my Father's house are many mansions. In his house on earth there are so; multitudes by faith have taken lodgings in his sanctuary, and yet there is room.
    • 3. That these chambers, though they were private, yet were near the temple, within view of it, within reach of it, to teach us to prefer public worship before private (the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob, and so must we), and to refer our private worship to the public. Our religious performances in our chambers must be to prepare us for the exercises of devotion in public, and to further us in our improvement of them, as our opportunities are.
    • 4. That before these chambers there were walks of five yards broad (v. 4), in which those that had lodgings in these chambers might meet for conversation, might walk and talk together for their mutual edification, might communicate their knowledge and experiences. For we are not to spend all our time between the church and the chamber, though a great deal of time may be spent to very good purpose in both. But man is made for society, and Christians for the communion of saints; and the duties of that communion we must make conscience of, and the privileges and pleasures of that communion we must take the comfort of. It is promised to Joshua, who was high priest in the second temple, that God will give him places to walk in among those that stand by, Zec. 3:7.
  • II. Here is the use of these chambers appointed, v. 13, 14.
    • 1. They were for the priests that approach unto the Lord, that they may be always near their business and may not be non-residents. Therefore they are called holy chambers, because they were for use of those that ministered in holy things during their ministration. Those that have public work to do for God and the souls of men have need to be much in private, to fit themselves for it. Ministers should spend much time in their chambers, in reading, meditation, and prayer, that their profiting may appear; and they ought to be provided with conveniences for this purpose.
    • 2. There the priests were to deposit the most holy things, those parts of the offerings which fell to their share; and there they were to eat them, they and their families, in a religious manner, for the place is holy; and thus they must make a difference between those feasts upon the sacrifice and other meals.
    • 3. There (among other uses) they were to lay their vestments, which God had appointed them to wear when they ministered at the altar, their linen ephods, coats, girdles, and bonnets. We read of the providing of priests garments after their return out of captivity, Neh. 7:70, 72. When they had ended their service at the altar they must lay by those garments, to signify that the use of them should continue only during that dispensation; but they must put on other garments, such as other people wear, when they approached to those things which were for the people, that is, to do that part of their service which related to the people, to teach them the law and to answer their enquiries. Their holy garments must be laid up, that they may be kept clean and decent for the credit of their service.

Eze 42:15-20

We have attended the measuring of this mystical temple and are now to see how far the holy ground on which we tread extends; and that also is here measured, and found to take in a great compass. Observe,

  • 1. What the dimensions of it were. It extended each way 500 reeds (v. 16-19), each reed above three yards and a half, so that it reached every way about an English measured mile, which, the ground lying square, was above four miles round. Thus large were the suburbs (as I may call them) of this mystical temple, signifying the great extent of the church in gospel-times, when all nations should be discipled and the kingdoms of the world made Christ's kingdoms. Room should be made in God's courts for the numerous forces of the Gentiles that shall flow into them, as was foretold, Isa. 49:18; 60:4. It is in part fulfilled already in the accession of the Gentiles to the church; and we trust it shall have a more full accomplishment when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and all Israel shall be saved.
  • 2. Why the dimensions of it were made thus large. It was to make a separation, by putting a very large distance between the sanctuary and the profane place; and therefore there was a wall surrounding it, to keep off those that were unclean and to separate between the previous and the vile. Note, A difference is to be put between common and sacred things, between God's name and other names, between his day and other days, his book and other books, his institutions and other observances; and a distance is to be put between our worldly and religious actions, so as still to go about the worship of God with a solemn pause.