And the side chambers [were] three, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which [was] of the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.
And the side {H6763} chambers {H6763} were three {H7969}, one over another {H6763}, and thirty {H7970} in order {H6471}; and they entered {H935} into the wall {H7023} which was of the house {H1004} for the side chambers {H6763} round about {H5439}, that they might have hold {H270}, but they had not hold {H270} in the wall {H7023} of the house {H1004}.
There were three floors of side-rooms, thirty on each floor; and the wall around the house was terraced, so that the side-rooms rested on the terraces and were not supported on [the vertical parts of] the wall.
The side rooms were arranged one above another in three levels of thirty rooms each. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be fastened into the wall of the temple itself.
And the side-chambers were in three stories, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which belonged to the house for the side-chambers round about, that they might have hold therein, and not have hold in the wall of the house.
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1 Kings 6:10
And [then] he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house [with] timber of cedar. -
1 Kings 6:5
And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, [against] the walls of the house round about, [both] of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about: -
1 Kings 6:6
The nethermost chamber [was] five cubits broad, and the middle [was] six cubits broad, and the third [was] seven cubits broad: for without [in the wall] of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that [the beams] should not be fastened in the walls of the house. -
Ezekiel 40:17
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. -
1 Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Context
Ezekiel 41:6 is part of the prophet Ezekiel's extensive and incredibly detailed vision of a new temple, which he received while in Babylonian exile (starting in Ezekiel 40). This visionary temple, often referred to as Ezekiel's Temple, is described with meticulous architectural precision, down to its dimensions, gates, and various chambers. The vision served as a powerful message of hope and restoration for the exiled Israelites, pointing to a future time when God's presence would dwell among them in a renewed and holy sanctuary, far grander than Solomon's Temple or the Second Temple.
Meaning and Key Themes
This verse specifically describes the side chambers, or 'cells,' that surrounded the main temple building. It states they were arranged in "three, one over another" (implying three stories or levels) and "thirty in order," likely referring to the number of chambers on each level or in a continuous sequence around the structure. The most significant detail is the description of how these chambers were attached: "they entered into the wall which was of the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house."
This unique architectural feature means the side chambers were supported by ledges or offsets built into the outer wall of the temple itself. However, their beams or supporting structures did not penetrate or compromise the structural integrity of the inner, sacred wall of the main temple building. This design ensured that the holy core of the temple remained untouched and distinct from the surrounding ancillary chambers.
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "side chambers" is tsela (צֶלַע), which can also mean "rib" or "side," emphasizing their attachment to the main structure. The phrase "had not hold" uses the Hebrew verb 'ahaz (אָחַז), meaning "to grasp," "take hold," or "seize." Its use here reinforces the idea that the main wall's integrity and sacredness remained untouched, as no structural element from the chambers was allowed to directly penetrate or weaken it.
Practical Application
The intricate details of Ezekiel's temple vision, including Ezekiel 41:6, offer profound spiritual lessons: