For they [were] in three [stories], but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore [the building] was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.
For they were in three {H8027} stories, but had not pillars {H5982} as the pillars {H5982} of the courts {H2691}: therefore the building was straitened {H680} more than the lowest {H8481} and the middlemost {H8484} from the ground {H776}.
For the rooms were on three floors, and they didn't have columns like those in the courtyards; therefore space was taken away from the [rooms on the] lower and middle [floors], in comparison with the ground.
For they were arranged in three stories, and unlike the courts, they had no pillars. So the upper chambers were set back further than the lower and middle floors.
For they were in three stories, and they had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the uppermost was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.
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Ezekiel 41:6
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. -
1 Kings 6:8
The door for the middle chamber [was] in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle [chamber], and out of the middle into the third.
Context
Ezekiel 42:6 is a precise architectural detail within the prophet Ezekiel's elaborate vision of a future temple, described from chapter 40 onwards. This extensive blueprint, given by God to Ezekiel, outlines the dimensions, structures, and functions of a highly ordered and holy sanctuary. Specifically, this verse focuses on the construction of the side chambers (or cells) that flanked the temple building, providing insights into their unique support system.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The key term in this verse is "straitened" (KJV), derived from the Hebrew word tsarar (צָרַר), which means to be narrow, compressed, or restricted. This word vividly describes the architectural consequence of the design. The contrast is made with "pillars" (Hebrew: ammud, עַמּוּד), which are common supports for buildings. The absence of these independent ground-up pillars for the upper stories necessitates a different, more space-efficient support method.
Structural Implications and Significance
The verse explains that the side chambers were built in "three stories," but unlike the main courts, their upper levels did not have pillars extending directly from the ground. Instead, the lower walls of these chambers were made thicker, creating internal ledges or offsets. The upper stories were then built upon these ledges, making them progressively "straitened" or narrower than the stories below. This design would have allowed for more foundational stability and perhaps more usable space at the ground level, while still providing vertical chambers. This technical detail illustrates the complexity and detailed nature of the divine blueprint, emphasizing that every component of the temple, even seemingly minor architectural nuances, held specific significance within God's grand design.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 42:6, though technical, offers a glimpse into God's meticulous nature. It reminds us that God pays attention to every detail in His plans, whether for a visionary temple or for our lives. Just as the temple's structure was entirely dependent on divine instruction and provision, so too are believers called to build their lives on a solid, divinely appointed foundation. This echoes the New Testament teaching about Christ as the ultimate foundation, as 1 Corinthians 3:11 states, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." This verse, therefore, speaks to the precision, purpose, and perfect design inherent in God's work.