Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, [there were] chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers [were] upon the pavement.
Then brought {H935} he me into the outward {H2435} court {H2691}, and, lo, there were chambers {H3957}, and a pavement {H7531} made {H6213} for the court {H2691} round about {H5439}: thirty {H7970} chambers {H3957} were upon the pavement {H7531}.
Then he brought me into the outer courtyard. There I saw rooms and paved mosaic flooring made for the courtyard all around its perimeter, and thirty rooms facing the flooring.
Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a pavement laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement,
Then brought he me into the outer court; and, lo, there were chambers and a pavement, made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
-
Revelation 11:2
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months. -
Ezekiel 42:1
¶ Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that [was] over against the separate place, and which [was] before the building toward the north. -
1 Chronicles 9:26
For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in [their] set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. -
2 Chronicles 31:11
¶ Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared [them], -
Ezekiel 10:5
And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard [even] to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. -
1 Chronicles 23:28
Because their office [was] to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; -
Ezekiel 45:5
And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.
Ezekiel 40:17 is a precise architectural detail within the prophet Ezekiel's grand vision of a new temple, described extensively from chapter 40 through 48. This verse specifically describes elements of the outward court, the first major area encountered when entering the visionary temple complex.
Context
The book of Ezekiel was written during the Babylonian exile, a time of immense despair for the Jewish people who had seen their beloved Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple destroyed. Chapters 40-48 present a detailed, prophetic vision of a new temple, a new land, and renewed worship. This vision, given by God to Ezekiel, served as a powerful message of hope and restoration, assuring the exiles that God had not abandoned them and that His presence would once again dwell among His people. The "he" in the verse refers to the angelic guide, described earlier in Ezekiel 40:3 as a man with the appearance of brass, holding a line of flax and a measuring reed, who meticulously measures every part of the temple.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The term "chambers" (Hebrew: לִשְׁכָּה, lishkah) denotes specific rooms or cells, often within a larger complex, designed for particular purposes. In temple contexts, these rooms served various functions, such as housing priests, storing sacred vessels, or holding tithes and offerings. The mention of "thirty chambers" is remarkably specific, reinforcing the exactness of the divine blueprint. The "pavement" (Hebrew: רִצְפָּה, ritzpah) refers to a paved surface or floor, indicating a well-defined and level area within the court.
Practical Application
While Ezekiel's temple vision has various interpretations (literal future temple, symbolic representation of the church, or a spiritual reality), the principles embedded in this verse remain relevant: