Ezekiel 42 13

Ezekiel 42:13 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.

Ezekiel 42:13 nkjv

Then he said to me, "The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings? the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering?for the place is holy.

Ezekiel 42:13 niv

Then he said to me, "The north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard are the priests' rooms, where the priests who approach the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings?the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings?for the place is holy.

Ezekiel 42:13 esv

Then he said to me, "The north chambers and the south chambers opposite the yard are the holy chambers, where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall put the most holy offerings ? the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering ? for the place is holy.

Ezekiel 42:13 nlt

Then the man told me, "These rooms that overlook the Temple from the north and south are holy. Here the priests who offer sacrifices to the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. And because these rooms are holy, they will be used to store the sacred offerings ? the grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings.

Ezekiel 42 verses

Ezekiel 42 13 meaning

Ezekiel 42:13 details the designated purpose and holiness of specific chambers within the visionary temple given to Ezekiel. It states that the north and south chambers, located before the separate place, are sacred. Their primary function is for the priests, those who approach the Lord, to eat the most holy portions of sacrifices, such as the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. These chambers also serve as storage for these exceedingly sacred items, underscoring their sanctity due to the inherently holy nature of the place itself. The verse defines strict boundaries for priestly conduct concerning holy provisions.

Ezekiel 42 13 Context

Ezekiel 42:13 is part of a detailed prophetic vision given to Ezekiel in exile, depicting a new, idealized temple. Chapters 40-48 describe the structure, measurements, and functions of this future temple, which serves as a blueprint for divine order, holiness, and the restored worship of God. The immediate context of chapter 42 focuses on the detailed description of various chambers and courts within the temple complex, particularly those related to priestly functions. This vision would have offered immense hope and guidance to the Jewish exiles, promising a future restoration where God's presence would dwell amidst a purified people and temple, contrasted with the destruction of the Solomonic temple due to profanation and idolatry. It emphasizes the absolute separation of the sacred from the profane, laying out precise rules to prevent future defilement.

Ezekiel 42 13 Word analysis

• Then said he unto me: The speaker is the angel-guide or the man with the measuring reed (Eze 40:3-4), an emissary revealing divine instruction. This phrase signals the continuation of divine communication and explanation within the visionary context.
• The north chambers and the south chambers: These are lishkot (לְשָׁכֹת), designated rooms. Their directional orientation implies symmetry and a comprehensive arrangement within the vast temple complex, indicating meticulous order and purpose for every part.
• which are before the separate place: Haggizrah (הַגִּזְרָה), often translated as "sacred enclosure" or "separated area." This signifies a zone marking increasing degrees of sanctity, separating the purely sacred areas from less holy ones. The chambers' placement near this boundary underscores their holy function yet maintains specific access restrictions.
• they be holy chambers: Qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ), consecrated and set apart exclusively for God's service. This declaration immediately establishes the sanctity and restricted use of these rooms.
• where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat: Kohanim (כֹּהֲנִים) kara'av (קָרַב) "who draw near" or "approach." This highlights the unique role and ritual purity required of the priests as God's ministers. Eating the sacred provisions was both a privilege and a duty, connecting them intimately to the altar.
• the most holy things: Qodesh qodashim (קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים), signifying the highest degree of sanctity. These were portions of offerings that only authorized priests could eat, and only within a designated holy place. It distinguishes them from "holy things" (qodesh) which had slightly broader access or handling rules.
• there shall they lay their most holy things: This indicates the chambers also served as storage or processing areas, emphasizing the need for sacred preservation and careful handling of these exceedingly holy items. This function maintains ritual purity before and after consumption.
• and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering:
  • meat offering: Minchah (מִנְחָה), a "grain offering" made of flour, oil, and frankincense. It was typically "most holy" (Lev 2:3).
  • sin offering: Chatta'th (חַטָּאת), an offering for unintentional sins and for ritual purification. Its priestly portion was "most holy" (Lev 6:29).
  • trespass offering: Asham (אָשָׁם), an offering for specific transgressions, often involving restitution (e.g., against God's holy things). Its priestly portion was also "most holy" (Lev 7:6). The listing specifies which offerings carry this highest degree of holiness, all of which represent propitiation and consecration.
• for the place is holy: This final clause reiterates and summarizes the reason for all the detailed regulations concerning the chambers. The inherent sanctity of the place necessitates the segregation, specific use, and precise handling of sacred items, establishing a divine order.

Ezekiel 42 13 Bonus section

The detailed regulations concerning the "most holy things" and their consumption by priests serve as a stark reminder of the rigorous standards of purity and holiness required for proximity to God in the Old Covenant. In contrast, the New Testament introduces a new reality: through Christ's singular, ultimate sacrifice, all believers become part of a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9). This does not negate the principle of holiness, but redefines its application. We now approach God not through the eating of material sacrifices in a specific holy chamber, but through the spiritual "consumption" of Christ, who is our ultimate provision and purification (John 6:35, Heb 10:10). Our spiritual "eating" of Christ, remembering His body and blood, and our offering of "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Pet 2:5) are not bound by physical temple chambers but by faith and consecrated living wherever we are.

Ezekiel 42 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 42:13 is a precise articulation of cultic purity and priestly duties within the visionary temple. It reveals the meticulous nature of God's demands for worship, contrasting sharply with the defilement that led to the destruction of the first temple. The "most holy things" represent God's unique ownership and His demand for absolute separation and consecration from anything common or impure. The eating of these provisions by priests signified their communion with God and their sanctified role as His representatives, entrusted with maintaining the sacred boundary between God and His people. This consumption also represented a tangible benefit for the priesthood, sustained by the worship of the community. The specific naming of grain, sin, and trespass offerings—all designated as "most holy"—reinforces their crucial role in atonement, purification, and acknowledging God's provision. The emphasis "for the place is holy" undergirds all these regulations, reflecting a deep theological truth that God's presence sanctifies space, and that space, once sanctified, imposes strict behavioral and ritual requirements on all who enter and use it. This vision aimed to instill a renewed sense of God's majesty, His demand for purity, and the hopeful restoration of true worship among the exiled community.