Ezekiel 42:13
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.
Original Language Analysis
לִֽשְׁכ֣וֹת
chambers
H3957
לִֽשְׁכ֣וֹת
chambers
Strong's:
H3957
Word #:
3 of 32
a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging)
הַצָּפ֜וֹן
he unto me The north
H6828
הַצָּפ֜וֹן
he unto me The north
Strong's:
H6828
Word #:
4 of 32
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
לִֽשְׁכ֣וֹת
chambers
H3957
לִֽשְׁכ֣וֹת
chambers
Strong's:
H3957
Word #:
5 of 32
a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 32
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
פְּנֵ֣י
which are before
H6440
פְּנֵ֣י
which are before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
9 of 32
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הַגִּזְרָה֒
the separate place
H1508
הַגִּזְרָה֒
the separate place
Strong's:
H1508
Word #:
10 of 32
the figure or person (as if cut out); also an inclosure (as separated)
הֵ֣נָּה׀
H2007
הֵ֣נָּה׀
Strong's:
H2007
Word #:
11 of 32
themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)
לִֽשְׁכ֣וֹת
chambers
H3957
לִֽשְׁכ֣וֹת
chambers
Strong's:
H3957
Word #:
12 of 32
a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging)
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
H6944
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
13 of 32
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 32
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׁ֧ם
H8033
הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים
where the priests
H3548
הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים
where the priests
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
17 of 32
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
18 of 32
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לַֽיהוָ֖ה
unto the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֖ה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
20 of 32
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
H6944
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
21 of 32
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
H6944
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
22 of 32
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
שָׁ֞ם
H8033
יַנִּ֣יחוּ׀
there shall they lay
H3240
יַנִּ֣יחוּ׀
there shall they lay
Strong's:
H3240
Word #:
24 of 32
to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
H6944
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
25 of 32
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
H6944
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים
holy things
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
26 of 32
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
וְהַמִּנְחָה֙
and the meat offering
H4503
וְהַמִּנְחָה֙
and the meat offering
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
27 of 32
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
וְהַחַטָּ֣את
and the sin offering
H2403
וְהַחַטָּ֣את
and the sin offering
Strong's:
H2403
Word #:
28 of 32
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
וְהָאָשָׁ֔ם
and the trespass offering
H817
וְהָאָשָׁ֔ם
and the trespass offering
Strong's:
H817
Word #:
29 of 32
guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
30 of 32
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Cross References
Leviticus 10:17Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?Leviticus 7:6Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy.Ezekiel 40:46And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.Exodus 29:31And thou shalt take the ram of the consecration, and seethe his flesh in the holy place.Leviticus 6:29All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.Leviticus 14:13And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:Deuteronomy 21:5And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:Leviticus 10:3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.Leviticus 24:9And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.
Historical Context
Levitical law precisely defined which portions priests could eat and where (Leviticus 6:16, 26; 7:6; 10:12-13). Most holy things could only be consumed within the sanctuary precincts by male priests—not taken home or shared with family. The grain offering accompanied many sacrifices, representing dedicating life's labor to God. The sin offering addressed ritual impurity and unintentional sins, with specific portions burned on the altar and others eaten by priests (Leviticus 6:24-30). The trespass offering required restitution plus 20% for offenses against God or neighbor (Leviticus 5:14-6:7). These offerings together addressed comprehensive dimensions of covenant relationship. The chambers' storage function protected sacred items from profanation—mixing holy with common incurred divine judgment (Leviticus 10:1-3).
Questions for Reflection
- How does priestly 'eating' of offerings inform your understanding of communion—spiritual feeding on Christ's sacrifice?
- What does the distinction between holy chambers and common areas teach about maintaining spiritual separation in daily life?
- As a believer-priest who 'approaches God,' how seriously do you guard the 'place' (your heart, home, church) as holy?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse specifies the 'holy chambers' threefold purpose:
The phrase 'priests that approach unto the LORD' (Hebrew קְרֵבִים אֶל־יְהוָה, qerebim el-YHWH) emphasizes privileged access requiring special consecration. Three offering types appear: meat/grain offering (תִּנְחָה, minchah—tribute to God), sin offering (חַטָּאת, chatat—purification from ritual impurity), and trespass offering (אָשָׁם, asham—restitution for wrongs). Eating these offerings sacramentally united priests with the sacrifice, symbolizing fellowship with God through substitutionary atonement. The repeated emphasis 'for the place is holy' teaches that holiness isn't merely moral uprightness but consecration to God's purposes. Reformed theology sees Christ our High Priest who 'entered once into the holy place' (Hebrews 9:12) and believers who 'eat' Christ spiritually through faith (John 6:51-58).