Ezekiel / Chapter 42

Ezekiel 42

20 verses • Westminster Leningrad Codex

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Ezekiel 42 describes the priests' chambers — sacred rooms on the north and south sides of the Temple building, within the restricted area. These chambers serve two essential priestly functions: the priests eat the most holy offerings there, and they change their garments there before and after ministering in the inner court. The chapter concludes with the measuring guide taking Ezekiel outside the entire Temple complex to measure its outer perimeter — five hundred rods on each side, forming a massive square. The purpose of the wall enclosing this square is stated explicitly: 'to separate the holy from the common.'

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

This chapter bridges Ezekiel's architectural concerns with his deepest theological conviction — the absolute distinction between the holy (qodesh) and the common (chol). The priests' chambers are not mere storage rooms; they are liturgical transition zones where priests shift between sacred and ordinary states. The garment-change requirement (v. 14) reflects the priestly understanding that holiness is contagious — sacred garments that have absorbed the holiness of the inner court would 'transmit holiness' to the common people if worn outside (cf. 44:19, Leviticus 6:27). The final measurement — five hundred rods per side — creates an enormous sacred precinct far larger than any historical Temple compound, underscoring the visionary and eschatological character of Ezekiel's Temple. The closing statement in verse 20 is the theological thesis of the entire Temple vision: the wall exists to separate the holy from the common. We rendered the priestly purity vocabulary with precision, distinguishing qodesh (holy), chol (common), and the spatial theology that drives the entire architectural design.

Translation Friction

The Hebrew text of verses 1-9 describing the chamber layout is among the most difficult in the book, with spatial references that have resisted clear reconstruction for centuries. The relationship between the chambers, the restricted area (gizrah), and the outer court requires careful handling — we followed the most commonly accepted spatial interpretation while noting the uncertainties. The measurement in verse 16 presents a textual variant: the MT reads 'five hundred rods' (qannim), while the LXX reads 'five hundred cubits.' The difference is enormous — five hundred rods would create a precinct of roughly 5,250 feet (1,600 m) per side, while five hundred cubits would be only about 875 feet (267 m). We follow the MT reading ('rods') as the more difficult and likely original reading, noting the variant.

Connections

The holy/common distinction connects to the foundational priestly theology of Leviticus 10:10 ('You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean'). The garment-change requirement connects to Exodus 28-29 (priestly vestments), Leviticus 6:10-11, 16:23-24 (garment changes during service), and Ezekiel 44:17-19. The massive outer wall measurement prepares for the glory's return in chapter 43 — the glory cannot return until the sacred space is fully defined and the boundary between holy and common is architecturally enforced.

Ezekiel 42:1

וַיּוֹצִאֵ֗נִי אֶל־הֶחָצֵר֙ הַחִ֣יצוֹנָ֔ה הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַצָּפ֑וֹן וַיְבִאֵ֣נִי אֶל־הַלִּשְׁכָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נֶ֧גֶד הַגִּזְרָ֛ה וַאֲשֶׁר־נֶ֧גֶד הַבִּנְיָ֛ן אֶל־הַצָּפֽוֹן׃

Then he led me out into the outer court by way of the north and brought me to the chambers that were opposite the restricted area and opposite the building on the north side.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The tour transitions from the Temple building itself to the priestly chambers in the outer court area. The lishkah ('chamber, room') here refers to a complex of priestly rooms, not a single chamber. Their position — opposite the gizrah ('restricted area') and the western building described in 41:12 — places them in the zone between the inner and outer courts on the north side.
Ezekiel 42:2

אֶל־פְּנֵ֥י אֹ֛רֶךְ אַמּ֥וֹת הַמֵּאָ֖ה פֶּ֣תַח הַצָּפ֑וֹן וְהָרֹ֖חַב חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אַמּֽוֹת׃

Along the length of one hundred cubits was the north entrance, and the width was fifty cubits.

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The chamber complex measured one hundred cubits long by fifty cubits wide (approximately 170 by 85 feet / 52 by 26 m). These are substantial structures — not small side rooms but a significant architectural block dedicated to priestly functions.
Ezekiel 42:3

נֶ֣גֶד הָעֶשְׂרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֙ לֶחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔י וְנֶ֥גֶד רִצְפָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֶחָצֵ֣ר הַחִיצוֹנָ֑ה אַתִּ֛יק אֶל־פְּנֵ֥י אַתִּ֖יק בַּשְּׁלִשִֽׁים׃

Opposite the twenty cubits of the inner court and opposite the pavement of the outer court, gallery faced gallery on three levels.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The chamber complex had three stories (ba-shelishim, 'in the thirds'), with galleries (attiqim) facing each other across a central corridor or courtyard. The 'twenty cubits' refers to the open space between the Temple building and the chambers (see 41:10). The three-story design mirrors the side chambers of the Temple itself (41:6).
Ezekiel 42:4

וְלִפְנֵ֨י הַלְּשָׁכ֜וֹת מַהֲלַ֣ךְ עֶ֣שֶׂר אַמּ֗וֹת רֹ֚חַב אֶל־הַפְּנִימִ֔ית דֶּ֖רֶךְ אַמָּ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת וּפִתְחֵיהֶ֖ם לַצָּפֽוֹן׃

In front of the chambers was a walkway ten cubits wide leading inward, with a passage of one cubit. Their entrances faced north.

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. A ten-cubit (approximately 17 feet / 5.2 m) wide walkway ran along the front of the chambers — a generous corridor for priestly movement between the chambers and the court. The 'one cubit' passage (derek ammah echat) is puzzling; it may refer to the width of individual doorways into the chambers, or to a step or threshold. The text is difficult, and interpretations vary.
Ezekiel 42:5

וְהַלְּשָׁכ֥וֹת הָעֶלְיוֹנֹ֖ת קְצֻר֑וֹת כִּי־יוֹכְל֨וּ אַתִּיקִ֜ים מֵהֵ֗נָּה מֵהַתַּחְתּוֹנ֛וֹת וּמֵהַתִּֽכֹנ֖וֹת בִּנְיָֽן׃

The upper chambers were narrower, because the galleries took more space from them than from the lower and middle chambers of the building.

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Like the side chambers of the Temple (41:7), the upper chambers were affected by the structural design — but here the relationship is reversed. The galleries (attiqim) consumed more floor space on the upper levels, making the upper chambers narrower (qetsurot, 'shortened/reduced') than those below. This contrasts with the Temple side chambers, which widened as they went up.
Ezekiel 42:6

כִּ֤י מְשֻׁלָּשׁוֹת֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְאֵ֤ין לָהֵן֙ עַמּוּדִ֔ים כְּעַמּוּדֵ֖י הַחֲצֵר֑וֹת עַל־כֵּ֣ן נֶאֱצַ֗ל מֵהַתַּחְתּוֹנ֛וֹת וּמֵהַתִּיכֹנ֖וֹת מֵהָאָֽרֶץ׃

They were on three levels but had no columns like the columns of the outer courts. Therefore the upper level was set back from the lower and middle levels from the ground up.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The absence of supporting columns (ammudim) in the chamber complex — unlike the colonnaded outer courts — meant that the upper stories relied on the lower walls for support and were set back (ne'etsal, 'withdrawn, reduced') to maintain structural integrity. This is a practical engineering observation embedded in the visionary description.
Ezekiel 42:7

וְגָדֵ֤ר אֲשֶׁר־לְחוּצָה֙ לְעֻמַּ֣ת הַלְּשָׁכ֔וֹת דֶּ֛רֶךְ הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַחִיצוֹנָ֖ה אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַלְּשָׁכ֑וֹת אָרְכּ֖וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אַמָּֽה׃

The wall on the outside, parallel to the chambers toward the outer court in front of the chambers, was fifty cubits long.

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. A wall (gader) ran along the outer court side of the chamber complex, fifty cubits (approximately 85 feet / 26 m) long. This wall separated the priestly chambers from the general outer court area, maintaining the boundary between zones of different holiness.
Ezekiel 42:8

כִּי־אֹ֣רֶךְ הַלְּשָׁכ֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֶחָצֵ֥ר הַחִיצוֹנָ֖ה חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֛ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַהֵיכָ֖ל מֵאָ֥ה אַמָּֽה׃

The row of chambers along the outer court was fifty cubits long, while those facing the Temple were one hundred cubits long.

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Two rows of chambers are distinguished: the shorter row facing the outer court (fifty cubits) and the longer row facing the Temple (one hundred cubits). The inner row, closer to the sanctuary, was twice as long — reflecting the greater need for priestly service space near the holy precinct.
Ezekiel 42:9

וּמִתַּ֖חַת הַלְּשָׁכ֣וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה הַמֵּבִ֣יא מֵהַקָּדִ֗ים בְּבֹא֤וֹ לָהֵ֙נָּה֙ מֵהֶחָצֵ֖ר הַחִצוֹנָֽה׃

Below these chambers was an entrance on the east side, for entering them from the outer court.

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Access to the priestly chambers from the outer court was through an entrance on the east side at the lower level. This ground-level entrance controlled who could enter the priestly zone — only authorized priests would pass through.
Ezekiel 42:10

בְּרֹ֙חַב֙ גֶּ֣דֶר הֶחָצֵ֔ר דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַקָּדִ֔ים אֶל־פְּנֵ֥י הַגִּזְרָ֖ה וְאֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַבִּנְיָ֑ן לְשָׁכ֖וֹת׃

Along the width of the court wall on the east side, facing the restricted area and facing the building, were chambers.

KJV The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. A corresponding set of chambers existed on the east side, positioned along the court wall opposite the restricted area (gizrah) and the western building (41:12). This creates a symmetrical arrangement of priestly chambers on multiple sides of the Temple.
Ezekiel 42:11

וְדֶ֣רֶךְ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם כְּמַרְאֵ֤ה הַלְּשָׁכוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַצָּפ֔וֹן כְּאָרְכָּ֣ן כֵּ֣ן רָחְבָּ֔ן וְכֹ֥ל מוֹצָאֵיהֶ֖ן וּכְמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶ֑ן וּכְפִתְחֵיהֶֽן׃

The walkway in front of them was like the appearance of the chambers on the north side — the same length and width, with all their exits, arrangements, and entrances identical.

KJV And 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The south chambers mirror the north chambers exactly — same dimensions, same layout, same entrances. The word mishpeteihen ('their arrangements' or 'their designs') is a technical architectural term here, referring to the floor plan and structural specifications.
Ezekiel 42:12

וּכְפִתְחֵ֣י הַלְּשָׁכ֗וֹת אֲשֶׁר֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַדָּר֔וֹם פֶּ֖תַח בְּרֹ֣אשׁ דָּ֑רֶךְ דֶּ֗רֶךְ בִּפְנֵ֧י הַגְּדֶ֛רֶת הֲגִינָ֖ה דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַקָּדִֽים בְּבוֹאָֽן׃

Like the entrances of the chambers on the south side, there was an entrance at the beginning of the passageway, the passageway directly in front of the corresponding wall, on the east side as one enters.

KJV And 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The description of the south chambers' entrance mirrors the north side arrangement (v. 9). The entrance was on the east, at the beginning of a protected passageway (derek) running along the wall (gederah). The term haginah is rare and obscure — possibly 'protective wall' or 'corresponding wall.' The precise spatial arrangement is difficult to reconstruct from the Hebrew.
Ezekiel 42:13

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֡י לִשְׁכ֣וֹת הַצָּפוֹן֩ לִשְׁכ֨וֹת הַדָּר֜וֹם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַגִּזְרָ֗ה הֵ֚נָּה לִשְׁכ֣וֹת הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֹאכְלוּ־שָׁ֧ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־קְרוֹבִ֥ים לַיהוָ֖ה קָדְשֵׁ֣י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים שָׁ֞ם יַנִּ֣יחוּ ׀ קָדְשֵׁ֣י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים וְהַמִּנְחָה֙ וְהַחַטָּ֣את וְהָאָשָׁ֔ם כִּ֥י הַמָּק֖וֹם קָדֹֽשׁ׃

Then he said to me, "The north chambers and the south chambers that face the restricted area — these 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 offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering — because the place is holy."

KJV Then 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.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים qodshei ha-qodashim
"the most holy offerings" — most holy things, holiest offerings, sacred donations of the highest degree

When applied to offerings rather than to the inner sanctuary, this phrase designates the highest grade of sacred food — portions of sacrifices that may only be eaten by priests within the Temple precinct. The same superlative construction as 'the Most Holy Place' but applied to sacrificial categories.

Translator Notes

  1. This verse identifies the primary function of the priestly chambers: consuming the most holy offerings (qodshei ha-qodashim). In the Levitical system, certain portions of the grain offering (minchah), sin offering (chattat), and guilt offering (asham) were allocated to the priests as sacred food, to be eaten only within the holy precinct (Leviticus 6:16, 6:26, 7:6). The phrase 'priests who approach the LORD' (ha-kohanim asher qerovim la-YHWH) restricts this privilege to the Zadokite priests (cf. 40:46).
  2. The declaration 'the place is holy' (ha-maqom qadosh) is not merely a label but a functional statement: because the place carries holiness, the holy food can be properly consumed there without profanation.
Ezekiel 42:14

בְּבֹאָ֣ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים וְלֹא־יֵצְא֤וּ מֵהַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַחִיצוֹנָ֔ה וְשָׁ֞ם יַנִּ֣יחוּ בִגְדֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ יְשָׁרְת֣וּ בָהֶ֔ן כִּ֥י קֹ֖דֶשׁ הֵ֑נָּה וְלָבְשׁוּ֙ בְּגָדִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְקָרְב֖וּ אֶל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָעָֽם׃

When the priests enter, they must not go out from the holy area into the outer court without first leaving there the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They must put on other garments before approaching the area open to the people.

KJV When 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. This verse establishes the garment-change protocol: priests cannot wear their sacred vestments into the common areas of the outer court. The rationale is explicitly stated — ki qodesh hennah ('for they are holy'). In priestly theology, holiness is transferable: sacred garments that have been in contact with the altar and the holy offerings carry that holiness, and contact with common persons or spaces would either desecrate the garments or transmit unsanctioned holiness to the people (cf. 44:19, Leviticus 6:27). The priests must change into ordinary clothes before entering the public zone.
  2. This same principle explains why the high priest changed garments during the Yom Kippur ritual (Leviticus 16:23-24) — different levels of holiness required different vestments.
Ezekiel 42:15

וְכִלָּ֗ה אֶת־מִדּוֹת֙ הַבַּ֣יִת הַפְּנִימִ֔י וְהוֹצִיאַ֗נִי דֶּ֚רֶךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר אֲשֶׁ֥ר פָּנָ֖יו דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַקָּדִ֑ים וּמְדָד֖וֹ סָבִ֥יב ׀ סָבִֽיב׃

When he had finished measuring the interior of the Temple complex, he led me out through the gate that faced east and measured all around the outside.

KJV Now 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The measuring tour transitions from interior to exterior. Having completed all internal measurements (chapters 40:5-42:14), the guide now takes Ezekiel outside through the east gate — the primary liturgical entrance — to measure the total perimeter of the sacred precinct. This outward movement reverses the inward journey that began at 40:6.
Ezekiel 42:16

מָדַ֛ד ר֥וּחַ הַקָּדִ֖ים בִּקְנֵ֣ה הַמִּדָּ֑ה חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת קָנִ֛ים בִּקְנֵ֥ה הַמִּדָּ֖ה סָבִֽיב׃

He measured the east side with the measuring rod — five hundred rods by the measuring rod.

KJV He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The east side of the outer perimeter measured five hundred rods (qannim). At six long cubits per rod, this equals 3,000 cubits or approximately 5,100 feet (1,560 m) — nearly a mile. This is an enormous sacred precinct, far larger than any historical Temple compound (Solomon's Temple Mount was roughly 500 by 300 cubits). The scale underscores the visionary and eschatological character of this Temple.
  2. The LXX reads 'five hundred cubits' instead of 'five hundred rods,' which would yield a much smaller (and historically plausible) measurement of approximately 850 feet (260 m). Most scholars who interpret the vision as a realistic blueprint prefer the LXX reading; those who see it as eschatological vision follow the MT. We render the MT as received.
Ezekiel 42:17

מָדַ֥ד ר֛וּחַ הַצָּפ֖וֹן חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת קָנִ֑ים בִּקְנֵ֥ה הַמִּדָּ֖ה סָבִֽיב׃

He measured the north side — five hundred rods by the measuring rod.

KJV He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The north side matches the east side exactly — five hundred rods. The sacred precinct is a perfect square, reflecting the same geometric perfection seen in the inner court (40:47) and the Most Holy Place (41:4).
Ezekiel 42:18

אֵ֛ת ר֥וּחַ הַדָּר֖וֹם מָדָ֑ד חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת קָנִ֖ים בִּקְנֵ֥ה הַמִּדָּֽה׃

He measured the south side — five hundred rods by the measuring rod.

KJV He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The third side confirms the square pattern. The use of ruach ('wind/direction') for compass points is characteristic of Ezekiel's directional vocabulary — literally 'the wind of the south,' reflecting the association of wind direction with geographic orientation.
Ezekiel 42:19

סָבַ֖ב אֶל־ר֣וּחַ הַיָּ֑ם מָדַ֛ד חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת קָנִ֖ים בִּקְנֵ֥ה הַמִּדָּֽה׃

He turned to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod.

KJV He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The Hebrew uses ruach ha-yam ('the wind of the sea') for west — the Mediterranean Sea lies to the west of Israel, so 'seaward' and 'westward' are synonymous in Hebrew geographic terminology. All four sides are now measured: five hundred rods each, confirming a perfect square.
Ezekiel 42:20

לְאַרְבַּ֨ע רוּח֜וֹת מְדָד֗וֹ ח֤וֹמָה לוֹ֙ סָבִ֣יב ׀ סָבִ֔יב אֹ֚רֶךְ חֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וְרֹ֖חַב חֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹֽל׃

He measured it on all four sides. It had a wall all around — five hundred rods long and five hundred rods wide — to separate the holy from the common.

KJV He 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.

Notes & Key Terms 3 terms

Key Terms

קֹדֶשׁ qodesh
"the holy" — holiness, sacred, set apart, consecrated

The state of being set apart for God — here applied to the entire Temple precinct as sacred space distinct from the surrounding territory.

חֹל chol
"the common" — common, ordinary, profane, unconsecrated

Not 'evil' but 'not holy' — the ordinary state of things outside the sacred precinct. The priestly worldview divides all reality into qodesh and chol, with the Temple wall as the physical boundary between them.

הַבְדִּיל havdil
"to separate" — to separate, to distinguish, to divide, to set apart

The same verb used in Genesis 1:4, 6, 14, 18 for God's creative acts of separation. In priestly theology, separation is a creative act — it establishes order and makes holiness possible.

Translator Notes

  1. This verse is the theological climax of the Temple measurement chapters. The purpose of the entire architectural complex — every gate, every chamber, every wall — is summarized in four Hebrew words: lehavdil bein ha-qodesh le-chol ('to separate the holy from the common'). The verb havdil ('to separate, to distinguish') is the same verb used in Genesis 1:4 when God separated light from darkness — the act of creating order from chaos. The Temple wall performs the same cosmic function: it separates sacred order from common disorder.
  2. The word chol ('common, ordinary, profane') does not mean 'evil' or 'sinful.' It simply means 'not holy' — the ordinary state of things. The wall's purpose is not to keep evil out but to keep holiness in, protecting the sacred space from contamination by what is merely ordinary.
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