Ezekiel 42:4
in Ezekiel 42In front of the chambers was an inner walkway ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long. Their doors were on the north.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits’ breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the 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.
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This verse in Ezekiel 42
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Or, In the front “of the chambers” was a gangway “of ten cubits” breadth (leading) “inward,” a path “of one cubit, and their doors toward the north.” The “gangway” had stairs to the upper stories, while along the north front of the building there was a kerb of one cubit, as before the guard-chambers Eze 40:12, on which kerb the north doors (leading to the basement) opened. Others follow the Septuagint “And opposite the chambers a walk 10 cubits in width to 100 cubits in length.”
This site's exposition
northward into the outer court
on Ezekiel 42:1-8
The guide brings the prophet to the chambers opposite the courtyard, where gallery faced gallery, the upper chambers smaller because the galleries took more space. An inner walkway ten cubits wide ran before the doors. The measurements stand as the text gives them, a hundred cubits and fifty.
This site's exposition
an inner walkway ten cubits wide
Albert Barnes reads the walkway as a passage leading inward, with stairs to the upper stories. The Septuagint gives different figures here. Matthew Henry turns the walk into a picture of fellowship, recalling the promise to Joshua of a place to walk among those standing (Zechariah 3:7).
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And before the treasury, there was a walkway ten cubits wide, looking inward, with the doors facing north." There was also before the treasury, or the halls, or the chambers, a walkway of ten cubits in width, looking towards the interior of the road of one cubit.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But man is made for society, and Christians for the communion of saints; and the duties of that communion we must make conscience of, and the privileges and pleasures of that communion we must take the comfort of. It is promised to Joshua, who was high priest in the second temple, that God will give him places to walk in among those that stand by, Zech. iii.
A way - Before the galleries probably, was a ledge of one cubit broad, running the whole length from east to west, called here a way, though not designed for any to walk on it.
And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits' breadth inward,.... That is, within side, or between the two rows of chambers, there was a walk of this breadth, for those that lodged in the chambers to walk in for their pleasure and profit, and to converse with one another.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A walk of ten cubits’ breadth inward - This seems to have been a sort of parapet.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלִפְנֵ֨י | velifnei | and [was] <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| הַלְּשָׁכ֜וֹת | haleshakhot | the rooms | H3957 → | 47 times |
| מַהֲלַךְ֩ | mahalakh | a passage of | H4109 → | |
| עֶ֨שֶׂר | ʾeser | ten | H6235 → | 176 times |
| אַמּ֥וֹת | ʾamot | cubits | H520 → | 247 times |
| רֹ֙חַב֙ | rochav | breadth | H7341 → | 101 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הַפְּנִימִ֔ית | hapenimit | the inner [court] | H6442 → | 32 times |
| דֶּ֖רֶךְ | derekh | a way of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| אַמָּ֣ה | ʾamah | a cubit | H520 → | 247 times |
| אֶחָ֑ת | ʾechat | one | H259 → | 971 times |
| וּפִתְחֵיהֶ֖ם | ufitcheihem | and entrances their | H6607 → | 164 times |
| לַצָּפֽוֹן׃ | latzafon | [were] to the north | H6828 → | 153 times |
וְלִפְנֵ֨יand [was] <to> before
velifneiH6440 →2123 times
הַלְּשָׁכ֜וֹתthe rooms
haleshakhotH3957 →47 times
מַהֲלַךְ֩a passage of
mahalakhH4109 →
עֶ֨שֶׂרten
ʾeserH6235 →176 times
אַמּ֥וֹתcubits
ʾamotH520 →247 times
רֹ֙חַב֙breadth
rochavH7341 →101 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
הַפְּנִימִ֔יתthe inner [court]
hapenimitH6442 →32 times
דֶּ֖רֶךְa way of
derekhH1870 →707 times
אַמָּ֣הa cubit
ʾamahH520 →247 times
אֶחָ֑תone
ʾechatH259 →971 times
וּפִתְחֵיהֶ֖םand entrances their
ufitcheihemH6607 →164 times
לַצָּפֽוֹן׃[were] to the north
latzafonH6828 →153 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
it leads to
- Luke 13:23–30
“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Matthew 16:24–25
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
- Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of…
- Isaiah 35:8
And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.
- Luke 13:23–30
Through
Luke 13:24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
it leads to
- Matthew 7:13–14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
- 2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
- 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.
- Matthew 7:13–14
About Ezekiel
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Ezekiel; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.