Ezekiel 41 7

Ezekiel 41:7 kjv

And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.

Ezekiel 41:7 nkjv

As one went up from story to story, the side chambers became wider all around, because their supporting ledges in the wall of the temple ascended like steps; therefore the width of the structure increased as one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the middle one.

Ezekiel 41:7 niv

The side rooms all around the temple were wider at each successive level. The structure surrounding the temple was built in ascending stages, so that the rooms widened as one went upward. A stairway went up from the lowest floor to the top floor through the middle floor.

Ezekiel 41:7 esv

And it became broader as it wound upward to the side chambers, because the temple was enclosed upward all around the temple. Thus the temple had a broad area upward, and so one went up from the lowest story to the top story through the middle story.

Ezekiel 41:7 nlt

Each level was wider than the one below it, corresponding to the narrowing of the Temple wall as it rose higher. A stairway led up from the bottom level through the middle level to the top level.

Ezekiel 41 verses

Ezekiel 41 7 meaning

Ezekiel 41:7 describes a peculiar architectural feature of the visionary temple's side chambers: they progressively widened as they ascended, floor by floor. This meant the upper stories of the side chambers were broader than the lower ones, and this upward expansion in width was continuous, contributing to the overall height and breadth of the entire structure around the main house of the temple. It details a specific and unusual design that impacts the perception and structural integrity of this divine blueprint.

Ezekiel 41 7 Context

Ezekiel chapters 40-48 contain a detailed vision of a new temple and its associated complex, land division, and liturgical regulations. This vision was given to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, many years after the destruction of Solomon's temple and prior to the building of the Second Temple. Chapter 41 specifically describes the measurements and layout of the main house of the temple and its surrounding structures, including the side chambers. The entire vision offers a future hope of God's renewed dwelling among His people, with precise, divinely ordained architectural and ceremonial plans. The meticulous details, like those in verse 7, underscore the sacredness, perfection, and ultimate realization of God's restored presence and order. This is not just a building; it is a manifestation of divine glory and design.

Ezekiel 41 7 Word analysis

• And there was an enlarging: Hebrew: וְהָרְחָבָה (v'ha-rᵉḥavah). Rᵉḥavah means "widening," "broadening," "enlargement." This word introduces the key characteristic of the side chambers. It implies a deliberate, rather than accidental, expansion.

• and a winding about: Hebrew: וְנָסוֹב (v'nasov). This word suggests something that revolves, encircles, or "winds about." In architectural context, it describes the way the structure progresses upward, perhaps suggesting a spiral-like movement in how the width increases. Some interpret this as ramps or spiral staircases providing access, but here it more strongly refers to the form of the upward progression of the building's dimensions.

• still upward: This phrase emphasizes continuity and direction. The widening is not merely at one level but continues in an ascending manner. This indicates a progressive and deliberate architectural design.

• to the side chambers: Hebrew: אֶל־הַצְּלָעוֹת (el-hatz-tzᵉla'ot). Tzᵉla'ot literally means "ribs" or "sides," here referring to the rooms built onto the sides of the main temple structure. These chambers were functionally important for storing offerings, priests' vestments, and providing spaces for priestly activities. The widening impacts these essential rooms.

• for the winding about was still upward to the height of the house round about: This clause provides the reason or explanation for the widening. The upward winding design was integral to the entire height of the surrounding structure of the house (the temple building itself). It wasn't just the side chambers getting wider, but the entire configuration of side chambers connected to the main wall that expanded upwards.

• therefore the breadth of the house was still upward: This summarizes the consequence and reaffirms the primary detail. "Breadth of the house" refers to the lateral dimension. The repetition of "still upward" solidifies the idea of a continuous, expanding structure that culminates at the highest point with its broadest extent. This implies a tapering inward as one descends, or more commonly, a broadening as one ascends, providing stability or increased floor space in the upper levels, which is unusual for ancient construction.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "an enlarging, and a winding about still upward": This phrase captures the dynamic, ascending, and expanding nature of the side chambers' construction. It suggests a building that isn't uniform but grows in dimension as it reaches higher, a unique and potentially symbolic structural marvel.
  • "to the height of the house round about": This indicates the comprehensive impact of this design on the entire temple edifice. It's not a localized quirk but an overarching structural principle applied to the perimeter, affecting its perceived grandeur and scale.
  • "therefore the breadth of the house was still upward": This conclusive statement underscores that the design principle leads to an upwardly expanding temple in terms of its width. This architectural innovation signifies the magnificent and expansive nature of God's future dwelling.

Ezekiel 41 7 Bonus section

The progressive widening of the side chambers upwards is structurally innovative. Ancient architecture typically designed structures to narrow as they ascended to ensure stability and reduce the load-bearing requirements of lower walls. This visionary temple in Ezekiel reverses that principle. This might be achieved through cantilevered structures, different load-bearing walls for each level, or by implying the side chambers themselves stepped back, but each step was wider than the one below, allowing the total breadth of the associated structure to increase. It also creates a sense of greater light and spaciousness on the upper levels. Symbolically, this unique upward broadening could suggest that the glory and accessibility of God's presence, unlike earthly structures which diminish with height, expand and become more encompassing in this ultimate, divinely ordained sanctuary. It's a structure built to hold an increasing measure of glory.

Ezekiel 41 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 41:7 details a remarkable and architecturally unusual feature of the visionary temple: its side chambers widened with each ascending story. This means the temple was broader at its top than at its base, or at least the supporting side structures around the central sanctuary were. Such a design could enhance stability by distributing weight or allowing for larger, more open spaces at higher elevations, contrary to typical pyramid-like construction where structures narrow at the top. The meticulous description points to divine precision and a deliberate departure from conventional earthly architecture, signifying God's ultimate plan and order. The temple's progressive outward and upward expansion can symbolize the ever-increasing glory of God, the expanding presence of His Spirit, or the boundless nature of His future dwelling among His people, continually ascending in grandeur and majesty.