Ezekiel Chapter 46 · Verse 19
After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְבִיאֵ֣נִי
After he brought
H935
וַיְבִיאֵ֣נִי
After he brought
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 18
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בַמָּבוֹא֮
me through the entry
H3996
בַמָּבוֹא֮
me through the entry
Strong's:
H3996
Word #:
2 of 18
an entrance (the place or the act); specifically sunset or the west; also (adverb with preposition) towards
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
3 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כֶּ֣תֶף
which was at the side
H3802
כֶּ֣תֶף
which was at the side
Strong's:
H3802
Word #:
5 of 18
the shoulder (proper, i.e., upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anythi
הַלִּשְׁכ֤וֹת
chambers
H3957
הַלִּשְׁכ֤וֹת
chambers
Strong's:
H3957
Word #:
8 of 18
a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging)
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙
into the holy
H6944
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙
into the holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
9 of 18
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים
of the priests
H3548
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים
of the priests
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
11 of 18
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
הַפֹּנ֖וֹת
which looked
H6437
הַפֹּנ֖וֹת
which looked
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
12 of 18
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
צָפ֑וֹנָה
toward the north
H6828
צָפ֑וֹנָה
toward the north
Strong's:
H6828
Word #:
13 of 18
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
שָׁ֣ם
H8033
מָק֔וֹם
and behold there was a place
H4725
מָק֔וֹם
and behold there was a place
Strong's:
H4725
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
Historical Context
Solomon's temple included chambers (1 Kings 6:5-6), as did the second temple (Nehemiah 10:37-39, 13:4-9). These rooms stored tithes, offerings, priestly garments, and vessels. Ezekiel's vision includes extensive chambers (42:1-14), showing that millennial worship infrastructure exceeds previous temples. Proper worship requires practical provisions—a principle seen in tabernacle construction (Exodus 25-31, 35-40) where God prescribed every detail.
Questions for Reflection
- What does detailed temple architecture teach about God's care for worship logistics?
- How do practical provisions (chambers, storage) facilitate sacred worship?
- What is the relationship between sacred space and God's presence?
Analysis & Commentary
After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward—Ezekiel is shown לִשְׁכֹּת הַקֹּדֶשׁ (lishkôt haqqōdesh, 'the holy chambers') for כֹּהֲנִים (kōhănîm, 'priests'), located פְּאַת־יָם (pĕʾat-yām, 'the west side').
These chambers served functional purposes in temple service—storage, preparation, priestly meals. The detailed architecture demonstrates that worship requires proper facilities. Form follows function; sacred space designed for sacred purposes. New Testament parallel: church buildings aren't inherently holy, but gathering spaces facilitate corporate worship. What makes space sacred is God's presence and people's devotion, not architecture—though thoughtful design honors God.