Ezekiel 46:23

KJV

And [there was] a row [of building] round about in them, round about them four, and [it was] made with boiling places under the rows round about.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there was a row {H2905} of building round about {H5439} in them, round about {H5439} them four {H702}, and it was made {H6213} with boiling places {H4018} under the rows {H2918} round about {H5439}.

Complete Jewish Bible

There was a wall around each of the four, with open stoves all around the bases of the walls.

Berean Standard Bible

Around the inside of each of the four courts was a row of masonry with ovens built at the base of the walls on all sides.

American Standard Version

And there was a wall round about in them, round about the four, and boiling-places were made under the walls round about.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 46:23 provides a highly specific architectural detail within the prophet's grand vision of the future temple, describing circular rows of building equipped with designated "boiling places." These areas were meticulously designed for the preparation of sacrificial meat, underscoring the divine emphasis on order, purity, and proper procedure in the worship of God. The verse highlights God's comprehensive provision for every aspect of the restored sacrificial system, ensuring that all rituals could be performed with precision and reverence in the presence of His glory.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 46:23 is situated within the latter half of the book of Ezekiel (chapters 40-48), which presents an elaborate and highly detailed vision of a new temple. This section follows Ezekiel's prophecies of judgment and restoration, culminating in a blueprint for Israel's future worship. Specifically, chapter 46 details the regulations for the prince, the offerings, and the specific locations for priests to prepare sacrifices. Verse 23, with its description of "boiling places" and "rows of building," is part of the meticulous architectural and functional specifications of the temple's outer court, where the priests would cook the portions of the sacrifices that were to be eaten, ensuring the sanctity and order of the entire sacrificial system. The precise nature of these descriptions emphasizes the divine origin and importance of the vision.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The vision of the temple was given to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national despair for the Israelites. Stripped of their land, temple, and monarchy, they desperately needed a message of hope and restoration. The meticulous details of this visionary temple served not as a literal architectural plan for an immediate build, but as a symbolic promise of God's enduring presence, His commitment to a renewed covenant, and the re-establishment of pure worship. The "boiling places" reflect the ancient Israelite sacrificial system, where certain offerings (like peace offerings) involved communal meals, and priests consumed portions, necessitating designated, ritually clean areas for preparation, distinct from common use. This vision provided spiritual sustenance and a blueprint for a future defined by God's holiness and order, contrasting sharply with the defiled temple that led to the exile.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, within the broader temple vision, contributes to several overarching themes in Ezekiel. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Order and Holiness**, illustrating God's demand for absolute precision and purity in worship, down to the practical details of preparing sacrificial meals. The meticulous design reflects God's own orderly and holy nature. Secondly, it speaks to **Restoration and God's Enduring Presence**, offering a tangible vision of a future where God's glory returns to dwell among His people, as described in [Ezekiel 43:4](/ezekiel/43-4 "Ezekiel 43:4 - The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple"). The functional elements like boiling places highlight the practical reality of a fully operational worship system. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Sacrificial Worship**, demonstrating the centrality of offerings in the renewed covenant relationship, and God's provision for every aspect of this sacred practice, as seen in the detailed regulations for offerings throughout [Ezekiel 45-46](/ezekiel/45 "Ezekiel 45 - Ordinances for the Prince and Levites").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **row (Hebrew, _ṭûwr'_):** From an unused root meaning "to range in a regular manner," this term (H2905) denotes a structured line or series, often referring to a wall or a row of building. In Ezekiel 46:23, it describes the architectural arrangement of the building, implying a systematic and ordered construction, not a haphazard collection of structures. This highlights the precise and intentional design of the visionary temple, where every element has its designated place and function within the divine blueprint.
* **boiling places (Hebrew, _mᵉbashshᵉlâh'_):** Derived from the verb "to boil" or "to cook," this feminine noun (H4018) specifically refers to a cooking hearth or a place designated for boiling. Its inclusion in the temple vision signifies the practical necessity of preparing the meat from certain sacrifices, such as the peace offerings, which were consumed by the priests and worshippers. This detail underscores the functional aspect of the temple, designed not only for ritual but also for the practicalities of sacred meals and priestly duties, ensuring ritual purity and proper handling of holy food.
* **made (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_):** This primitive root (H6213) is a broad and versatile verb meaning "to do" or "to make." In the context of Ezekiel 46:23, it indicates that these structures, including the boiling places, were deliberately constructed or fashioned according to a specific design. It emphasizes the intentionality and divine agency behind the temple's creation, implying that every detail was purposed and brought into being to fulfill God's will for worship and communion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And [there was] a row [of building] round about in them":** This phrase describes a circular or surrounding architectural feature, indicating a continuous or encircling structure within the temple complex. The term "row" suggests an ordered, perhaps tiered or layered, arrangement of building, emphasizing the structured and systematic nature of the divine blueprint.
* **"round about them four":** This specifies the presence of four such encircling rows or structures. Given the context of the temple vision, these likely refer to four distinct, perhaps corner, areas within the outer court where these facilities were located, maintaining symmetry and order. This detail further underscores the meticulous and comprehensive nature of the temple's design, ensuring ample and designated space for all necessary functions.
* **"and [it was] made with boiling places under the rows round about":** This clause reveals the specific function of these structures. "Boiling places" were integrated into these rows, signifying designated areas for cooking sacrificial meat. The phrase "under the rows" might suggest these cooking areas were situated beneath or within the lower parts of these circular structures, perhaps for practical reasons of ventilation or containment, or simply indicating their integral placement within the overall design. This detail highlights the practical provision for the sacrificial system, ensuring that the preparation of holy food was done in a ritually clean and orderly manner.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 46:23, like much of the temple vision, primarily employs **Detailed Description** and **Precision** as literary devices. The meticulous enumeration of architectural elements, down to the specific function of "boiling places" and their arrangement in "rows round about," serves to convey the divine blueprint's absolute exactitude and comprehensive nature. This extreme detail underscores the importance of order and holiness in God's presence. Furthermore, the **Repetition** of "round about" (Hebrew _çâbîyb_) creates a sense of enclosure and completeness, emphasizing the self-contained and perfectly ordered nature of these specific areas within the larger temple complex. This repetition also contributes to the visionary, almost hypnotic, quality of Ezekiel's descriptions, drawing the reader into the prophet's experience of divine revelation. The entire vision, including this verse, functions as **Symbolism**, representing God's desire for a restored, pure, and holy relationship with His people, where every aspect of worship is consecrated and meticulously ordered.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 46:23, with its focus on "boiling places" for sacrificial meat, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous concern for the details of worship and His provision for communion with His people. The very existence of these practical, yet ritually significant, areas within the visionary temple underscores that true worship is not merely spiritual sentiment but also involves tangible acts of obedience and careful adherence to divine instruction. God's holiness demands order and purity in every aspect of approaching Him, even in the preparation of food. This attention to detail reflects God's character as a God of order, who desires His people to approach Him with reverence and intentionality, ensuring that every aspect of their service is acceptable and contributes to a holy environment for His presence. The provision for these places also speaks to God's desire for fellowship, as many sacrifices culminated in shared meals, symbolizing restored relationship and sustenance in His presence.

* [Leviticus 6:28](/leviticus/6-28 "Leviticus 6:28 - Sanctity of Sin Offering Vessels")
* [Leviticus 7:15](/leviticus/7-15 "Leviticus 7:15 - Eating of the Peace Offering")
* [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the physical temple and its sacrificial system are no longer operational, having been fulfilled in Christ, the principles embedded in Ezekiel 46:23 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This verse calls us to consider the meticulousness with which God approaches worship and our relationship with Him. It challenges us to move beyond casual or haphazard approaches to our faith, inviting us to cultivate intentionality, reverence, and purity in every aspect of our spiritual lives. Just as every detail of the visionary temple was designed for holiness, so too should our lives, as "living sacrifices," be consecrated to God. This means thoughtfully preparing our hearts for corporate worship, engaging in personal devotion with discipline, and striving for holiness in our daily conduct, recognizing that God desires not just our presence, but our wholehearted and ordered devotion. It reminds us that our spiritual "boiling places"—the areas where we prepare ourselves to meet God—should be places of purity, intentionality, and reverence, reflecting the seriousness with which God views our communion with Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of the visionary temple, including the "boiling places," challenge my own approach to worship and spiritual discipline?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be approaching God with less intentionality or reverence than He desires, and how can I cultivate greater purity and order?**
* **Considering that our bodies are now temples of the Holy Spirit, how can I ensure that my "boiling places"—the practical areas of my life—are consecrated for God's purposes?**

### FAQ
**What was the primary purpose of the "boiling places" described in Ezekiel's temple vision?**

Answer: The primary purpose of the "boiling places" (Hebrew: _mᵉbashshᵉlâh_) was to provide designated, ritually clean areas for the priests to cook and prepare the meat portions of certain sacrifices, particularly the peace offerings. According to Mosaic Law, specific parts of these offerings were to be consumed by the priests and the worshiper who brought the sacrifice. These boiling places ensured that the sacred meat was handled and prepared according to divine regulations, maintaining the purity and sanctity required for all aspects of temple service and consumption of holy food, as detailed in passages like [Leviticus 7:15](/leviticus/7-15 "Leviticus 7:15 - Eating of the Peace Offering").

**How does the meticulous detail of Ezekiel's temple vision, including these "boiling places," relate to Christian worship today?**

Answer: While the physical temple and its sacrificial system are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the principles conveyed through Ezekiel's meticulous vision remain highly relevant for Christian worship. The divine emphasis on order, purity, and intentionality in the temple's design underscores God's holiness and His desire for reverent worship. For believers today, this translates into a call for spiritual discipline, intentionality in approaching God, and a pursuit of holiness in all aspects of life. We are called to offer ourselves as "living sacrifices" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices")), and our corporate worship should reflect order, reverence, and a focus on God's glory, as encouraged in [1 Corinthians 14:40](/1_corinthians/14-40 "1 Corinthians 14:40 - Let All Things Be Done Decently and in Order"). The detailed provision for every aspect of worship in Ezekiel's vision reminds us that God cares deeply about how we approach Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 46:23, with its detailed description of "boiling places" for sacrificial meat, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. The meticulous provisions for preparing sacrifices in the visionary temple point forward to the perfect and singular sacrifice of Jesus, which completely and eternally atoned for sin, eliminating the need for further animal sacrifices. Christ is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose body was the ultimate "boiling place" where the wrath of God against sin was consumed, making full reconciliation possible. Furthermore, the New Testament reveals that believers, individually and corporately, become the new temple where God's Spirit dwells ([1 Corinthians 3:16](/1_corinthians/3-16 "1 Corinthians 3:16 - You Are God's Temple")). The emphasis on purity and order in the Old Testament temple now translates into the call for believers to live holy lives, offering spiritual sacrifices of praise, prayer, and service ([Hebrews 13:15-16](/hebrews/13-15 "Hebrews 13:15-16 - Sacrifices of Praise and Good Deeds")). Through Christ, we have direct access to God's presence, not through physical rituals in a temple with "boiling places," but through the [new and living way](/hebrews/10-20 "Hebrews 10:20 - The New and Living Way") opened by His shed blood, enabling us to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith ([Hebrews 10:22](/hebrews/10-22 "Hebrews 10:22 - Draw Near with a True Heart")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.