Ezekiel 41:5

5 When he measured the wall of the temple, it was nine feet, and the side chambers that went all the way around the temple were six feet.

Ezekiel 41:5 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 41:5

After he measured the wall of the house six cubits
Or a reed, three yards and a half thick: this was the wall of the holy of holies, or which divided that from the holy place, and was not in the second temple; or rather the wall of the temple, the whole house or building, both of the holy place, and of the most holy, which were contiguous: such a strong wall is the Lord to his church, and especially will be in the latter day, when salvation will be for walls and bulwarks against all enemies, and to preserve from all hurt and danger, ( Isaiah 26:1 ) ( 60:18 ) ( Zechariah 2:5 ) , the New Jerusalem also will have a wall great and high, and made of a precious stone, ( Revelation 21:12 Revelation 21:18 ) : and the breadth of every side chamber four cubits round about the house
on every side;
or, "of every rib" ^F25; as ribs are to the body, so were these side chambers or buildings to the fabric, as Ben Melech observes, who interprets them of beams: adjoining to the above wall were chambers all around the holy place and the most holy on each side, north and south; for there could be none on the east, that being the entrance into the holy, and so into the most holy place; and the floor of these chambers were four cubits, or two yards and a foot broad; that is, those of the lower storey: these were for the priests, where they lodged, and laid up and ate their most holy things, and put their garments in which they ministered; see ( Ezekiel 42:13 Ezekiel 42:14 ) , and design, as the chambers everywhere do, particular congregated churches; where such as are made priests to God by Christ have a place, and communion with God in holy things; and appear in the righteousness of Christ, and in the beauties of holiness.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (eluh) "costae", Piscator, Cocceius, Starckius.

Ezekiel 41:5 In-Context

3 Then he went into the inner room, and he measured the arches on both sides of the entrance; they were each three feet. The entrance was nine feet wide, and its depth was ten and a half feet.

4 When he measured the length of the inner room, it was thirty feet, and the width of the side adjoining the main hall was also thirty feet. He said to me, "This is the most holy place."

5 When he measured the wall of the temple, it was nine feet, and the side chambers that went all the way around the temple were six feet.

6 Now these side chambers adjoined each other, thirty chambers in three stories. The side chambers had a ledge in the temple wall all the way around to serve as supports, but these supports were not inserted into the temple wall itself.

7 A wide ramp ascended stage by stage to the side chambers all the way around the temple. In this way, the ascent stage by stage all around the temple added to the temple's width. One ascended from the foundation to the top by way of the middle story.