Ezekiel 41:16
The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the door, cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered;
Original Language Analysis
הַסַּ֛ף
The door posts
H5592
הַסַּ֛ף
The door posts
Strong's:
H5592
Word #:
1 of 17
a vestibule (as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or wine)
הָ֠אֲטֻמוֹת
and the narrow
H331
הָ֠אֲטֻמוֹת
and the narrow
Strong's:
H331
Word #:
3 of 17
to close (the lips or ears); by analology to contract (a window by bevelled jambs)
סָבִ֑יב
round about
H5439
סָבִ֑יב
round about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
5 of 17
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
לִשְׁלָשְׁתָּ֔ם
on their three stories
H7969
לִשְׁלָשְׁתָּ֔ם
on their three stories
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
6 of 17
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
נֶ֧גֶד
over against
H5048
נֶ֧גֶד
over against
Strong's:
H5048
Word #:
7 of 17
a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
הַסַּ֛ף
The door posts
H5592
הַסַּ֛ף
The door posts
Strong's:
H5592
Word #:
8 of 17
a vestibule (as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or wine)
עֵ֖ץ
with wood
H6086
עֵ֖ץ
with wood
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
10 of 17
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
סָבִ֑יב
round about
H5439
סָבִ֑יב
round about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
11 of 17
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
סָבִ֑יב
round about
H5439
סָבִ֑יב
round about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
12 of 17
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙
and from the ground
H776
וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙
and from the ground
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
13 of 17
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
14 of 17
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
Cross References
1 Kings 6:4And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.Ezekiel 40:25And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.Ezekiel 40:16And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.1 Kings 6:15And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the cieling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.
Historical Context
Ancient temple architecture used narrow windows for security and climate control. Wood paneling in arid regions was extremely expensive, imported from Lebanon. The vision's lavish detail emphasizes God's worthiness of supreme honor.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you balance external excellence in worship with internal spiritual authenticity?
- What does the costly adornment of God's dwelling place teach about giving Him your best rather than your leftovers?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories—the architectural elements combine function and beauty. The challonot atumot (חַלּוֹנוֹת אֲטֻמוֹת, narrow/recessed windows) provided light while maintaining privacy and security, allowing illumination without exposure to profane gaze.
Cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows—the Hebrew sechuphe etz (שְׂחֻפֵה עֵץ, paneled with wood) recalls Solomon's temple's cedar and cypress paneling (1 Kings 6:15). Such costly adornment demonstrates that God deserves humanity's finest craftsmanship and materials. The church, as God's temple, should likewise pursue excellence in worship while remembering that true beauty is spiritual holiness (1 Peter 3:3-4).