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 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 42 | The cleansing chambers are described in relation to priestly duties. | Ezekiel 42:1-14 (Holiness for Priests) |
| Leviticus 6 | Instructions for the purification of priests before service. | Lev 6:27 (Atonement for Sanctified Meat) |
| Leviticus 8 | The consecration and purification of Aaron and his sons. | Lev 8:6 (Washing with Water) |
| Leviticus 10 | Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized offering leading to their death. | Lev 10:1-2 (Unlawful Fire) |
| Exodus 29 | The consecration of the altar and priests. | Ex 29:14 (Flesh of the Ram) |
| Exodus 30 | The laver for cleansing the priests. | Ex 30:18-21 (Bronze Laver for Washing) |
| Numbers 3 | Instructions regarding the cleansing and duties of the Levites. | Num 3:38-39 (Wardens of the Sanctuary) |
| 1 Corinthians 6 | Exhortation to holiness and spiritual cleansing for believers. | 1 Cor 6:19-20 (Body as Temple of Holy Spirit) |
| Hebrews 7 | Jesus as the High Priest, perfected and superior. | Heb 7:26-27 (Priest for Us, without blemish) |
| 1 Peter 1 | Called to be holy because God is holy. | 1 Pet 1:15-16 (Be Holy, for I am Holy) |
| Revelation 21 | The New Jerusalem with no temple, for God and the Lamb are its temple. | Rev 21:22 (No Temple therein) |
| Hebrews 9 | Christ's superior sacrifice and entrance into the heavenly sanctuary. | Heb 9:11-14 (Christ entered the sanctuary) |
| Isaiah 52 | Those who carry the vessels of the Lord must be pure. | Isa 52:11 (Depart, be ye clean) |
| Psalm 24 | Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? The pure in hands and heart. | Ps 24:3-4 (Ascend the Hill, clean hands) |
| Matthew 5 | The beatitude of the pure in heart. | Matt 5:8 (Pure in Heart) |
| Ezekiel 44 | Priestly regulations and limitations in the restored temple. | Ezek 44:17-19 (Linen garments) |
| Haggai 2 | The holiness transferred by touching a holy thing. | Hag 2:12-13 (Consecrated flesh) |
| Numbers 18 | Priests' and Levites' responsibilities and portions. | Num 18:3 (Trusty work) |
| Malachi 3 | The Lord will purify the sons of Levi. | Mal 3:3 (Purge like a refiner) |
| 1 John 3 | Anyone who has this hope purifies himself. | 1 Jn 3:3 (Purifies himself) |
| John 17 | Jesus' prayer for the sanctification of his disciples. | John 17:17 (Sanctify them) |
Ezekiel 42 verses
Ezekiel 42 13 Meaning
The cleansing rites of the priests are to be completed in the northern cells before they go out to the greater outer court, signifying the holiness required to approach God's presence and minister.
Ezekiel 42 13 Context
This verse is part of the extensive visionary material in Ezekiel 40-48, which describes a new temple and its proper functioning. Chapter 42 specifically details the chambers surrounding the inner court, delineating their purposes, particularly for the priests. The northern chambers, mentioned here, are designated for the priests to eat the most holy offerings and to put off their vestments used in ministering in the holy of holies, before venturing into the public spaces of the sanctuary or the outer courts. This sequence underscores the concept of holiness escalating towards the divine presence and the strict separation required for those who serve. The historical context involves the Babylonian exile, and Ezekiel's vision is a prophetic blueprint for a future restored Israel and its worship.
Ezekiel 42 13 Word Analysis
- "The priests' chambers": Refers to the specific rooms designated for the priestly class within the temple complex. These were not ordinary dwellings but functional spaces tied to sacred duties.
- "these": A demonstrative pronoun pointing to the chambers previously described, particularly those on the north side.
- "shall be the place": Indicates the intended purpose or function of these chambers.
- "to put off": Signifies the removal of something. In this context, it means to take off the priestly garments.
- "where the ministers of the house": Refers to the priests who perform service in the sanctuary, the "house" being the temple.
- "shall put off their garments": This points to the ritual cleansing and divestment of specific clothing after ministering in the holiest areas. This was essential due to the sacred nature of the offerings and the sanctity of the space.
- "wherein they ministered": Highlights that these are vestments used during actual service within the holy parts of the sanctuary, thus having absorbed a degree of sanctity and needing careful handling and removal.
- "and put on other garments": After removing the ministerial vestments, the priests were to don different, presumably ordinary or at least non-sacred, garments before leaving the immediate vicinity of the holy precincts. This emphasizes the need for separation between the act of sacred ministry and entering common areas.
- "before they go out": This temporal and spatial marker is crucial. It sets a specific sequence: minister, divest, don new garments, then depart the restricted holy areas.
- "to the outer court": Specifies the destination outside the inner sanctum, indicating the transition from the most sacred zone to less sacred or public spaces within the temple complex.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "the priests' chambers, these shall be the place to put off": This phrase establishes a location and its primary function—a place for the removal of specific items, linked directly to the priesthood.
- "where the ministers of the house shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and put on other garments": This group elaborates on the specific act of changing clothes, detailing which garments are removed (those used in ministry) and what replaces them (other garments). This highlights the transitional ritual.
- "before they go out to the outer court": This final phrase contextualizes the entire process spatially and temporally, showing it's a necessary step for egress from the holiest areas into the public domain of the temple complex.
Ezekiel 42 13 Bonus Section
The emphasis on "other garments" suggests a system where specific clothing was reserved for specific functions or locations within the temple. This concept of varied attire for different roles is seen throughout scripture, from the high priest's ornate vestments to the common priestly attire and even the linen garments described for temple servants. The wisdom behind such a regulation likely involved preventing the contamination of the sacred and the unauthorized transference of holiness. This detailed zoning and clothing protocol in Ezekiel's vision mirrors the careful instructions given in the Mosaic Law for the tabernacle and its priesthood, emphasizing continuity of God’s standards for worship.
Ezekiel 42 13 Commentary
This verse provides a critical detail regarding the logistical and spiritual protocols for the priesthood. The cleansing chambers serve as a transition zone. The priests must remove the sacred garments they wore while handling holy offerings, symbolizing a separation from the immediate sacred work and the prevention of carrying sacredness into secular spaces. This meticulous procedure underscores the profound holiness associated with God's presence and the divine service. It’s about maintaining the sanctity of God's dwelling and ensuring that those who represent God to the people do so with utmost purity and prescribed protocol. This reflects the broader biblical theme that God’s holiness demands a distinctness in all associated with His service.