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.

Then said {H559} he unto me, The north {H6828} chambers {H3957} and the south {H1864} chambers {H3957}, which are before {H6440} the separate place {H1508}, they be holy {H6944} chambers {H3957}, where the priests {H3548} that approach {H7138} unto the LORD {H3068} shall eat {H398} the most {H6944} holy things {H6944}: there shall they lay {H3240} the most {H6944} holy things {H6944}, and the meat offering {H4503}, and the sin offering {H2403}, and the trespass offering {H817}; for the place {H4725} is holy {H6918}.

Then he said to me, "The north and south [blocks of] rooms in front of the separated yard are the holy rooms where the cohanim who approach ADONAI will eat the especially holy things. This is where they will put the especially holy things - the grain offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings; for the place is holy.

Then the man said to me, “The north and south chambers facing the temple courtyard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. There they will place the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings—for the place is holy.

Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they are the holy chambers, where the priests that are near unto Jehovah shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; for the place is holy.

Ezekiel 42:13 describes specific chambers within the visionary temple complex shown to the prophet Ezekiel. These "north chambers" and "south chambers" are designated as profoundly sacred spaces, serving a dual purpose for the priests who minister before the LORD.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is part of Ezekiel's elaborate vision of a new temple (chapters 40-48), given to him during the Babylonian exile. This vision provided hope for Israel's future restoration and emphasized a renewed commitment to God's holiness and proper worship. The meticulous details about the temple's layout and functions, including these holy chambers, underscored God's desire for order, purity, and separation in His dwelling place, contrasting sharply with the defilement that led to the destruction of the first temple. The concept of "most holy things" and specific offerings like the meat offering (grain offering), sin offering, and trespass offering, draws heavily from the Mosaic Law, which prescribed how priests were to handle and consume portions of these sacrifices.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Holiness and Separation: The repeated assertion "for the place is holy" emphasizes the absolute sanctity of God's presence and everything associated with His worship. These chambers are set apart for sacred use only.
  • Priestly Duties and Provision: The chambers serve as designated areas where priests could eat the portions of the "most holy things" (sacrifices too sacred for consumption outside these specific areas) and store offerings. This highlights God's provision for His servants and the sacred nature of their ministry.
  • Order and Purity in Worship: The precise instructions for these chambers reflect God's demand for meticulous order and purity in approaching Him. Every aspect of worship, from the space to the actions within it, must reflect His holiness.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "most holy things" translates the Hebrew qodesh qodeshim (קֹדֶשׁ קֳדָשִׁים), literally "holiness of holinesses" or "holy of holies." This intensifies the concept of sanctity, indicating something supremely sacred, reserved for God and those designated to serve Him in specific ways. The priests "approach unto the LORD" (Hebrew: qarab), signifying a drawing near that requires ritual purity and authorization, underscoring the privilege and responsibility of their role.

Reflection and Application

While the physical temple described by Ezekiel awaits its fulfillment, the principles of holiness, reverence, and dedicated service remain profoundly relevant. For believers today, who are called a "royal priesthood," this verse reminds us:

  • The Call to Holiness: Just as the chambers and offerings were holy, so too are believers called to live holy lives, set apart for God's purposes.
  • Reverence in Approaching God: Though we now have direct access to God through Christ our High Priest, we are still to approach Him with reverence and awe, recognizing His supreme holiness.
  • Sacredness of Service: Our spiritual "offerings"—our worship, our lives, our service—are to be presented to God with purity and dedication, recognizing that all we do for Him is sacred.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Leviticus 7:6

    Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it [is] most holy.

  • Leviticus 10:17

    Wherefore 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?

  • Ezekiel 40:46

    And 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.

  • Numbers 18:9

    This shall be thine of the most holy things, [reserved] from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, [shall be] most holy for thee and for thy sons.

  • Numbers 18:10

    In the most holy [place] shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.

  • Leviticus 6:29

    All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it [is] most holy.

  • Exodus 29:31

    And thou shalt take the ram of the consecration, and seethe his flesh in the holy place.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back