Ezekiel 42
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
He brought me forth into the utter court - He brought him out from the temple into the court of the priests. This, in reference to the temple, was called the outer court; but the court of the people was beyond this.
Open source ↗CHAMBERS OF THE PRIESTS: MEASUREMENTS OF THE TEMPLE. (Eze. 42:1-20) Before the length of an hundred cubits--that is before "the separate place," which was that length (Eze 41:13). He had before spoken of chambers for the officiating priests on the north and south gates of the inner court (Eze 40:44-46). He now returns to take a more exact view of them.
Open source ↗Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north,.... After the dimensions of the gates and courts of this building had been shown, and that of itself, the holy and most holy place, with the ornaments thereof; the prophet is brought by his guide into the outward court, which encompassed the building to the north part of it; probably he came out of the north gate of the house into it. So the Targum renders it, "by the way of the gate which is open to the way of the north:'' and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place; or holy of holies; see Eze 41:12, over against or before this, to the north of it, were a chamber or chambers; the singular being put for the plural; whither the prophet was brought to take a view of, being a new and distinct building from all others he had seen before; unto one of them, or to the place of them, as Jarchi, where they stood: there were two rows of them opposite to each other, and a walk between them; they are afterwards called the north and south chambers, Eze 42:13, and which was before the building toward the north; this chamber or chambers were over against or before the whole fabric, to the north of it. The Jews here confess their ignorance, there being nothing in the first or second temple answerable to these. Lipman (s) expressly says these chambers were not in the second temple; perhaps they may design the Protestant reformed churches in the northern parts of the world; the religion of Protestants is by the Papists called the northern heresy: and if our northern churches are here pointed at and described, it is a great honour that is done them, to have a particular apartment allotted them in this wonderful building; compare Psa 48:2. (s) Tzurath Beth Hamikdash, sect. 71.
Open source ↗The Cell-Building in the Outer Court for Holy Use Eze 42:1. And he brought me out into the outer court by the way toward the north, and brought me to the cell-building, which was opposite to the separate place, and opposite to the building toward the north, Eze 42:2. Before the long side of a hundred cubits, with the door toward the north, and the breadth fifty cubits, Eze 42:3. Opposite to the twenty of the inner court and opposite to the stone pavement of the outer-court; gallery against gallery was in the third storey. Eze 42:4. And before the cells a walk, ten cubits broad; to the inner a way of a hundred cubits; and their doors went to the north. Eze 42:5. And the upper cells were shortened, because the galleries took away space from them, in comparison with the lower and the central ones in the building. Eze 42:6. For they were three-storied, and had no columns, like the columns of the courts; therefore a deduction was made from the lower and from the central ones from the ground. Eze 42:7. And a wall outside parallel with the cells ran toward the outer court in front of the cells; its length fifty cubits. Eze 42:8. For the length of the cells of the outer court was fifty cubits, and, behold, against the sanctuary it was a hundred cubits. Eze 42:9. And out from underneath it rose up these cells; the entrance was from the east, when one went to them from the outer court. Eze 42:10. In the breadth of the court wall toward the south, before the separate place and before the building, there were cells, Eze 42:11. With a way before them, like the cells, which stood toward the north, as according to their length so according to their breadth, and according to all their exits as according to all their arrangements. And as their doorways, Eze 42:12. So were also the doorw…
Open source ↗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, Eze 42:5, Eze 42:6. 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, Luk 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 ou…
Open source ↗42:1 Having reached the center of the Temple complex, Ezekiel began traveling outward again.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… חִיצוֹן (chîytsôwn, H2435) — properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior; figuratively, secular (as opposed to… חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) גִּזְרָה (gizrâh, H1508) — the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated) בִּנְיָן (binyân, H1146) — an edifice
Open source ↗פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) חֲמִשִּׁים (chămishshîym, H2572) — fifty
Open source ↗עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth פְּנִימִי (pᵉnîymîy, H6442) — interior חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) רִצְפָּה (ritspâh, H7531) — a hot stone; also a tessellated pavement חִיצוֹן (chîytsôwn, H2435) — properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior; figuratively, secular (as opposed to… אַתּוּק (ʼattûwq, H862) — a ledge or offset in abuilding פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉlîyshîy, H7992) — third; feminine athird (part); by extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a…
Open source ↗פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) מַהֲלָךְ (mahălâk, H4109) — a walk, i.e. a passage or a distance עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) פְּנִימִי (pᵉnîymîy, H6442) — interior דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown)
Open source ↗עֶלְיוֹן (ʻelyôwn, H5945) — an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) קָצַר (qâtsar, H7114) — to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially… אַתּוּק (ʼattûwq, H862) — a ledge or offset in abuilding אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) הֵנָּה (hênnâh, H2007) — themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation) תַּחְתּוֹן (tachtôwn, H8481) — bottommost תִּיכוֹן (tîykôwn, H8484) — central בִּנְיָן (binyân, H1146) — an edifice
Open source ↗שָׁלַשׁ (shâlash, H8027) — to be (causatively, make) triplicate (by restoration, in portions, strands, days or years) עַמּוּד (ʻammûwd, H5982) — a column (as standing); also a stand, i.e. platform חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) אָצַל (ʼâtsal, H680) — to separate; hence, to select, refuse, contract תַּחְתּוֹן (tachtôwn, H8481) — bottommost תִּיכוֹן (tîykôwn, H8484) — central אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗גָּדֵר (gâdêr, H1447) — a circumvallation; by implication, an inclosure חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors עֻמָּה (ʻummâh, H5980) — conjunction, i.e. society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix),… לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb חִיצוֹן (chîytsôwn, H2435) — properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior; figuratively, secular (as opposed to… חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length חֲמִשִּׁים (chămishshîym, H2572) — fifty אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a…
Open source ↗אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) חִיצוֹן (chîytsôwn, H2435) — properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior; figuratively, secular (as opposed to… חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) חֲמִשִּׁים (chămishshîym, H2572) — fifty אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… הֵיכָל (hêykâl, H1964) — a large public building, such as a palace or temple מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
Open source ↗לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) מָבוֹא (mâbôwʼ, H3996) — an entrance (the place or the act); specifically sunset or the west; also (adverb with… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) קָדִים (qâdîym, H6921) — the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for… הֵנָּה (hênnâh, H2007) — themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation) חִיצוֹן (chîytsôwn, H2435) — properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior; figuratively, secular (as opposed to… חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
Open source ↗לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) גֶּדֶר (geder, H1444) — a circumvallation חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb קָדִים (qâdîym, H6921) — the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… גִּזְרָה (gizrâh, H1508) — the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated) בִּנְיָן (binyân, H1146) — an edifice
Open source ↗דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length כֵּן (kên, H3651) — properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) מוֹצָא (môwtsâʼ, H4161) — a going forth, i.e. (the act) an egress, or (the place) an exit; hence, a source or… מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way
Open source ↗פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb דָּרוֹם (dârôwm, H1864) — the south; poet. the south wind רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… הָגִין (hâgîyn, H1903) — perhaps suitable or turning פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… גְּדֵרָה (gᵉdêrâh, H1448) — enclosure (especially for flocks) קָדִים (qâdîym, H6921) — the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) לִשְׁכָּה (lishkâh, H3957) — a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging) דָּרוֹם (dârôwm, H1864) — the south; poet. the south wind פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… גִּזְרָה (gizrâh, H1508) — the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated) קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… קָרוֹב (qârôwb, H7138) — near (in place, kindred or time) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) יָנַח (yânach, H3240) — to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay מִנְחָה (minchâh, H4503) — a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually… חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh, H2403) — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or…
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity חִיצוֹן (chîytsôwn, H2435) — properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior; figuratively, secular (as opposed to… חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) יָנַח (yânach, H3240) — to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage שָׁרַת (shârath, H8334) — to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to לָבַשׁ (lâbash, H3847) — properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on agarment or clothe (oneself, or… אַחֵר (ʼachêr, H312) — properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc. קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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He also measured the length and width of the gateway of the outer court facing north.
Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement,
In front of the chambers was an inner walkway ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long. Their doors were on the north.
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.
Then the man brought me into the outer sanctuary and measured the side pillars to be six cubits wide on each side.
Then he led me to the south side, and I saw a gateway facing south. He measured its side pillars and portico, and they had the same measurements as the others.
The outer wall of the side rooms was five cubits thick, and the open area between the side rooms of the temple
On the south side along the length of the wall of the outer court were chambers adjoining the courtyard and opposite the building,
But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.