Ezekiel 40:43
New International Version
And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.

New Living Translation
There were hooks, each 3 inches long, fastened all around the foyer walls. The sacrificial meat was laid on the tables.

English Standard Version
And hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened all around within. And on the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid.

Berean Standard Bible
The double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.

King James Bible
And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.

New King James Version
Inside were hooks, a handbreadth wide, fastened all around; and the flesh of the sacrifices was on the tables.

New American Standard Bible
And the double hooks, one hand width in length, were installed in the house all around; and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

NASB 1995
The double hooks, one handbreadth in length, were installed in the house all around; and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

NASB 1977
And the double hooks, one handbreadth in length, were installed in the house all around; and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

Legacy Standard Bible
The double hooks, one handbreadth in length, were installed in the house all around; and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

Amplified Bible
The double hooks, one hand width in length were installed in the house all around. The meat of the offering was [to be placed] on the tables.

Christian Standard Bible
There were three-inch hooks fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be laid on the tables.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There were three-inch hooks fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be laid on the tables.

American Standard Version
And the hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened within round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the oblation.

English Revised Version
And the hooks, an handbreadth long, were fastened within round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the oblation.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Double-pronged hooks, three inches long, were attached to the wall all around the room, and the tables were for the meat of the animals.

Good News Translation
Ledges 3 inches wide ran around the edge of the tables. All the meat to be offered in sacrifice was placed on the tables.

International Standard Version
Double hooks, a single handbreadth in length, were installed all around in this portion of the temple area.

Majority Standard Bible
The double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.

NET Bible
There were hooks three inches long, fastened in the house all around, and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

New Heart English Bible
The hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened within all around: and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

Webster's Bible Translation
And within were hooks, a hand broad, fastened around: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.

World English Bible
The hooks, a hand width long, were fastened within all around. The meat of the offering was on the tables.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the boundaries [are] one handbreadth, prepared within all around: and the flesh of the offering [is] on the tables.

Young's Literal Translation
And the boundaries are one handbreadth, prepared within all round about: and on the tables is the flesh of the offering.

Smith's Literal Translation
And stalls one hand-breadth set up in the house round about, round about: and upon the tables the flesh of the oblation.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the borders of them were of one handbreadth, turned inwards round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And their edges were one palm in width, turned inward all around. And the flesh of the oblation was on the tables.

New American Bible
on shelves the width of one hand, fixed all around the room; but on the tables themselves was the meat for the sacrifices.

New Revised Standard Version
There were pegs, one handbreadth long, fastened all around the inside. And on the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And within were hooks, a hand broad, fastened round about; and upon the tables they placed the flesh of the offerings.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And their edges were a handbreadth going around, and they were laying upon the table the flesh of offerings
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the slabs, a handbreadth long, were fastened within round about; and upon the tables was to be the flesh of the offering.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they shall have within a border of hewn stone round about of a span broad, and over the tables above screens for covering them from the wet and from the heat.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eight Tables for Sacrifices
42There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offering, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit high. On these were placed the utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices. 43The double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.

Cross References
Leviticus 1:9
The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Exodus 27:3
Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans.

2 Chronicles 4:16
and the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other articles. All these objects that Huram-abi made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD were of polished bronze.

1 Kings 7:40
Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished all the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of the LORD:

Leviticus 6:28
The clay pot in which the sin offering is boiled must be broken; if it is boiled in a bronze pot, the pot must be scoured and rinsed with water.

Numbers 4:14
and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

2 Kings 16:14-15
He also took the bronze altar that stood before the LORD from the front of the temple (between the new altar and the house of the LORD) and he put it on the north side of the new altar. / Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, as well as the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings of all the people of the land. Splatter on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar to seek guidance.”

Leviticus 1:13
The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Exodus 38:3
He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.

1 Samuel 2:13-14
or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh.

Leviticus 7:30-31
With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD. / The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons.

Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Revelation 1:6
who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.


Treasury of Scripture

And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

hooks.

Leviticus 1:6,8
And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces…

Leviticus 8:20
And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat.

Jump to Previous
Attached Boundaries Breadth Broad Double Edges Fastened Flesh Hand Handbreadth Hooks House Installed Length Oblation Offering Offerings Prepared Round Tables Wide Within
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Attached Boundaries Breadth Broad Double Edges Fastened Flesh Hand Handbreadth Hooks House Installed Length Oblation Offering Offerings Prepared Round Tables Wide Within
Ezekiel 40
1. The time, manner, and end of the vision of the city and temple
6. The description of the east gate of the outer court
20. of the north gate
24. of the south gate
27. of the south gate of the inner court
32. of the east gate
35. and of the north gate
39. Eight tables
44. The chambers
48. The porch of the house














The double-pronged hooks
The Hebrew word used here is "שְׁפַתַּיִם" (shephatayim), which refers to hooks or pegs. These hooks were likely used for hanging the sacrificial animals or parts thereof. In the context of the temple, these hooks symbolize the preparation and orderliness required in worship. They remind us of the meticulous care God desires in our approach to Him, emphasizing that worship is not haphazard but intentional and reverent.

each a handbreadth long
The term "handbreadth" is derived from the Hebrew "טֶפַח" (tephach), a unit of measurement approximately equal to four inches or the width of a hand. This specific measurement indicates precision and uniformity in the temple's design, reflecting God's nature of order and detail. It serves as a reminder that every aspect of our worship and service to God should be measured and intentional, reflecting His glory and majesty.

were attached all around the inside of the room
The phrase suggests a comprehensive and encompassing arrangement. The hooks being "all around" signifies the completeness and sufficiency of God's provision for the sacrificial system. It illustrates that God has made full provision for atonement and worship, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who fulfills and completes the sacrificial system.

The tables
The Hebrew word "שֻׁלְחָן" (shulchan) refers to tables or platforms. These tables were essential for the preparation of offerings, symbolizing the place where the sacred meets the practical. In a broader sense, they represent the altar of our hearts, where we prepare and present our lives as living sacrifices to God, as encouraged in Romans 12:1.

were for the flesh of the offerings
The "flesh of the offerings" refers to the sacrificial meat prepared for offerings. This phrase highlights the centrality of sacrifice in the worship of God. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were a means of atonement and communion with God. For Christians, this points to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate offering for sin, fulfilling the requirements of the law and opening the way for eternal communion with God.

(43) Hooks.--This is a word of doubtful meaning, found elsewhere only in Psalm 68:13, where it is translated pots. It certainly designates something "within" the porch, and therefore could not have been anything attached to the tables which were "without." Our translators, following the ancient Chaldee paraphrast, have probably given the true sense, hooks, upon which the flesh of the victims was hung after it had been prepared upon the tables.

Verse 43. - The hooks. The word שְׁפַתַּיִם occurs again only in Psalm 68:13, where it signifies "sheepfolds," or "stalls;" its older form (מִשְׁפְתַיִם) appearing in Genesis 49:14 and Judges 5:16. As this sense is unsuitable, recourse must be had to its derivation (from שָׁפַת, "to put, set, or fix"), which suggests as its import here either, as Ewald, Kliefoth, Hengstenberg, Havernick, and Smend, following the LXX. and Vulgate, prefer, "ledges," or "border guards," on the edge of the tables, to keep the instruments or flesh from falling off; or, as Kimchi, Gesenius, Furst, Keil, Schroder, and Plumptre, after the Chaldean paraphrast, explain, "pegs" fastened in the wall for hanging the slaughtered caresses before they were flayed. In favor of the first meaning stand the facts that the second clause of this verse speaks of" tables," not of "walls," and that the measure of the shephataim is one of breadth rather than of length; against it are the considerations that the dual form, shephataim, fits better to a forked peg than to a double border, and that the shephataim are stated to have been fastened "in the house" (ba-baith), which again suits the idea of a peg fastened in the outer wall of the porch, rather than of a border fixed upon a table. The last clause of this verse is rendered by Ewald, after the LXX., "and over the tables" (obviously those standing outside of the porch) "were covers to protect them from rain and from drought;" and it is conceivable that coverings might have been advantageous for both the wooden tables and the officiating priests; only the Hebrew must be changed before it can yield this rendering.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The double-pronged hooks,
וְהַֽשְׁפַתַּ֗יִם (wə·haš·p̄at·ta·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - md
Strong's 8240: Perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps

each a
אֶחָ֛ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

handbreadth [long],
טֹ֧פַח (ṭō·p̄aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2948: A spread of the hand, a palm-breadth, a corbel

were fastened
מוּכָנִ֥ים (mū·ḵā·nîm)
Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3559: To be erect

all around
סָבִ֣יב ׀ (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

the inside of the room,
בַּבַּ֖יִת (bab·ba·yiṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

and the flesh
בְּשַׂ֥ר (bə·śar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

of the offering
הַקָּרְבָֽן׃ (haq·qā·rə·ḇān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7133: Something brought near the altar, a sacrificial present

was to be placed on
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the tables.
הַשֻּׁלְחָנ֖וֹת (haš·šul·ḥā·nō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7979: A table, a meal


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 40:43 The hooks a handbreadth long were fastened (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 40:42
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