Ezekiel 41:6
New International Version
The side rooms were on three levels, one above another, thirty on each level. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports were not inserted into the wall of the temple.

New Living Translation
These side rooms were built in three levels, one above the other, with thirty rooms on each level. The supports for these side rooms rested on exterior ledges on the Temple wall; they did not extend into the wall.

English Standard Version
And the side chambers were in three stories, one over another, thirty in each story. There were offsets all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side chambers, so that they should not be supported by the wall of the temple.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
The side chambers were in three stories, one above the other, thirty chambers in each story; they rested on ledges which were for the side chambers all around, that they might be supported, but not fastened to the wall of the temple.

New American Standard Bible
The side chambers were in three stories, one above another, and thirty in each story; and the side chambers extended to the wall which stood on their inward side all around, so that they could be attached, but not be attached to the wall of the temple itself.

NASB 1995
The side chambers were in three stories, one above another, and thirty in each story; and the side chambers extended to the wall which stood on their inward side all around, that they might be fastened, and not be fastened into the wall of the temple itself.

NASB 1977
And the side chambers were in three stories, one above another, and thirty in each story; and the side chambers extended to the wall which stood on their inward side all around, that they might be fastened, and not be fastened into the wall of the temple itself.

Legacy Standard Bible
The side chambers were in three stories, one above another, and thirty in each story; and the side chambers extended to the wall which stood on their inward side all around, that they might be fastened, and not be fastened into the wall of the house itself.

Amplified Bible
The side chambers were three stories [high], one above another, and thirty chambers in each story; and the side chambers extended to the wall which stood on their inward side all around, so that they would be attached, but not attached to the wall of the temple itself.

Christian Standard Bible
The side rooms were arranged one above another in three stories of thirty rooms each. There were ledges on the wall of the temple all around to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be in the temple wall itself.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The side rooms were arranged one above another in three stories of 30 rooms each. There were ledges on the wall of the temple all around to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be in the temple wall itself.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
There were three levels of rooms, with 30 rooms on each level, and they rested on ledges that were attached to the temple walls, so that nothing was built into the walls.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The rooms were arranged on three different stories. There were 30 rooms on each story. These rooms had supports all the way around the temple wall, but these supports were not fastened to the temple wall.

Good News Translation
These rooms were in three stories, with thirty rooms on each floor. The Temple's outer wall on each floor was thinner than on the floor below, so that the rooms could rest on the wall without being anchored into it.

International Standard Version
The side chambers consisted of three stories, each above the other, with 30 chambers in each story. The side chambers extended out from the wall that faced the inside of the chambers where the chambers were fastened together, but the chamber walls were not fastened directly into the Temple walls themselves.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
The side chambers were in three stories, one above the other, thirty in each story. There were offsets in the wall all around to serve as supports for the side chambers, so that the supports were not in the wall of the temple.

New Heart English Bible
The side-rooms were in three stories, one over another, thirty in each story. And there were offsets all around the wall to serve as supports for the side-rooms, so that the supports were not supported by the wall of the house.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 around, that they might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.

World English Bible
The side rooms were in three stories, one over another, and thirty in each story. They entered into the wall which belonged to the house for the side rooms all around, that they might be supported and not penetrate the wall of the house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the side-chambers [are] side-chamber by side-chamber, thirty-three times; and they are entering into the wall—which the house has for the side-chambers all around—to be taken hold of, and they are not taken hold of by the wall of the house.

Young's Literal Translation
And the side-chambers are side-chamber by side-chamber, three and thirty times; and they are entering into the wall -- which the house hath for the side-chambers all round about -- to be taken hold of, and they are not taken hold of by the wall of the house.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the ribs, side to side, three and thirty times; and entering into the wall which was to the house to the sides round about, round about, to be holding, and they shall not be holding in the wall of the house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the side chambers one by another, were twice thirty-three: and they bore outwards, that they might enter in through the wall of the house in the sides round about, to hold in, and not to touch the wall of the temple.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the side chambers were side by side, and twice thirty-three. And they projected outward, so that they might enter along the wall of the house, on the sides all around, in order to contain, but not touch, the wall of the temple.

New American Bible
There were thirty side chambers, chamber upon chamber in three stories; terraces on the outside wall of the temple enclosing the side chambers provided support, but there were no supports for the temple wall itself.

New Revised Standard Version
The side chambers were in three stories, one over another, thirty in each story. There were offsets all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side chambers, so that they should not be supported by the wall of the temple.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the side rooms were one over another, thirty-three in order; and they entered into the wall of the house for the side rooms round about, that they might hold fast, but they were separated from the wall.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the side partitions, partition on partition, thirty three of them, and the side partitions entered into the wall of the house in a circle that were enclosed and separate from the wall
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the side-chambers were one over another, three and thirty times; and there were cornices in 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the sides were twice ninety, side against side; and there was a space in the wall of the house at the sides round about, that they should be for them that take hold of them to see, that they should not at all touch the walls of the house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Outside the Temple
5Next he measured the wall of the temple to be six cubits thick, and the width of each side room around the temple was four cubits. 6The 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. 7The side rooms surrounding the temple widened at each successive level, because the structure surrounding the temple ascended by stages corresponding to the narrowing of the temple wall as it rose upward. And so a stairway went up from the lowest story to the highest, through the middle one.…

Cross References
1 Kings 6:5-10
Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuary, Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple, in which he constructed the side rooms. / The bottom floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits, and the third floor seven cubits. He also placed offset ledges around the outside of the temple, so that nothing would be inserted into its walls. / The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built. ...

1 Kings 6:16
He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.

1 Kings 6:36
Solomon built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and one row of trimmed cedar beams.

1 Kings 7:2-3
He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows of cedar pillars supporting the cedar beams. / The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars—forty-five beams, fifteen per row.

1 Kings 7:12
The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 3:9
The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.

2 Chronicles 3:11-12
The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub. / The wing of the second cherub also measured five cubits and touched the wall of the temple, while its other wing measured five cubits and touched the wing of the first cherub.

2 Chronicles 4:9
He made the courtyard of the priests and the large court with its doors, and he overlaid the doors with bronze.

2 Chronicles 4:11
Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:

2 Chronicles 4:22
the wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers of pure gold; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place as well as the doors of the main hall.

Revelation 21:12-14
The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates. / There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. / The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Revelation 21:16-17
The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height. / And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.

Revelation 21:19-20
The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, / the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

Revelation 21:22
But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Revelation 21:25-26
Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there. / And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

thirty in order.

and they

1 Kings 6:6,10
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…

have held [heb] be holden

1 Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

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Belonged Chambers Entered Extended Fastened Hold House Inserted Inward Offsets Order Rooms Round Serve Side Side-Chambers Stood Stories Story Supported Supports Temple Therein Thirty Three Times Wall
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Belonged Chambers Entered Extended Fastened Hold House Inserted Inward Offsets Order Rooms Round Serve Side Side-Chambers Stood Stories Story Supported Supports Temple Therein Thirty Three Times Wall
Ezekiel 41
1. The measures, parts, chambers, and ornaments of the temple














The side chambers
The Hebrew term for "side chambers" is "צֵלָע" (tsela), which can also mean "rib" or "side." These chambers were integral to the temple's structure, providing additional space for various functions, possibly storage or living quarters for priests. The design reflects the meticulous planning and divine order that God intended for His dwelling place, emphasizing the importance of holiness and separation in worship.

were in three stories
The concept of "three stories" indicates a tiered structure, which was common in ancient Near Eastern architecture. This design not only maximized space but also symbolized completeness and divine perfection, as the number three often represents in biblical numerology. The three levels could also signify the increasing levels of holiness as one ascends, paralleling the spiritual journey of drawing closer to God.

one above another
This phrase highlights the vertical arrangement of the chambers, suggesting a hierarchy or progression. In a spiritual sense, it can be seen as an allegory for spiritual growth, where believers are called to ascend in their faith and understanding, building upon foundational truths to reach higher levels of spiritual maturity.

thirty in each story
The number thirty may have symbolic significance, often associated with dedication and maturity in the Bible. For instance, Jesus began His ministry at the age of thirty. The repetition of this number in each account underscores the completeness and sufficiency of God's provision for His temple, ensuring that every need is met with divine precision.

There were offsets all around the temple
The "offsets" or "recesses" provided structural support, ensuring stability without compromising the integrity of the temple walls. This architectural feature demonstrates God's wisdom in design, allowing for expansion and support without burdening the core structure. Spiritually, it can remind believers of the importance of having a strong foundation in faith, with Christ as the cornerstone, allowing for growth and support in the community of believers.

to serve as supports for the side chambers
The supports were crucial for maintaining the integrity of the chambers, symbolizing the need for a strong foundation in one's spiritual life. Just as these supports upheld the chambers, so too must believers rely on the support of Scripture, prayer, and fellowship to sustain their spiritual journey.

so that they would not be supported by the wall of the temple itself
This detail emphasizes the independence of the chambers from the temple walls, ensuring that the sacred space of the temple remained unburdened. It reflects the principle that while believers are part of the body of Christ, they must also cultivate their personal relationship with God, not relying solely on external structures or institutions for their spiritual support. This independence within unity is a hallmark of a mature faith community.

(6) Three, one over another, and thirty in order.--Literally, three (and that) thirty times--i.e., there were three storeys of chambers one above the other, and this was repeated thirty times, giving thirty chambers in each storey, or ninety in all. These chambers were exactly like those surrounding Solomon's Temple, except that they were one cubit narrower, and the description of them is made clearer by a comparison with 1Kings 6:5-10. The Greek version says that there was a space between these chambers and the wall of the house, and several interpreters have followed this explanation; but this is quite inconsistent with the language of the original, and would involve an inner wall for the chambers, of which there is no mention, and for which no space is allowed.

Entered into the wall . . . but they had not hold.--More exactly, they came upon the wall. The "house" cannot without violence be understood of anything but the Temple itself. The construction was the same as in Solomon's Temple (1Kings 6:6), the wall receding with each storey of the chambers, thus leaving a ledge on which the beams should rest, "that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house."

Nothing is said of the distribution of these chambers, but, as will be seen by the plan, a uniform size requires that they should be placed twelve on each side, and six at the end of the Temple.

Verse 6. - The side chambers were three, one over another, and thirty in order; literally, side chamber over side chamber, three and thirty times; which means that they were ranged in three stories of thirty each; in this, again, agreeing, as to number and position, with the chambers in Solomon's temple (see Josephus, 'Ant.,' 8:03. 2). It is not needful to alter the text, as Bottcher, Hitzig, Havernick, and Ewald propose to do, in order to make it read, with the LXX., "chamber against chamber, thirty and (this) three times," on the ground that אֵל and not עַל is the preposition, because in Ezekiel אֵל often stands for עַל (Ezekiel 18:6; Ezekiel 31:12; Ezekiel 40:2). How the chambers were arranged along the three sides is not stated; but most likely there were twelve threes on each of the longer sides, the north and the south, and six threes on the shorter or western side. Like the chambers in Solomon's temple (1 Kings 6:6). those in Ezekiel's were not fastened to "the wall of the house," i.e. of the temple proper; the only question is whether they were built against the temple wall, as Kliefoth, Keil, Smend, and Schroder suppose, or, as Ewald and Dr. Currey seem to think, against another wall, five cubits thick (ver. 9), which ran parallel to the temple wall, and which, having been built expressly for the support of the side chambers, might properly enough be said to be "of the house," i.e. belonging to it. In the former case the chambers would doubtless be fastened to the temple wall by means of "ledges," "holds," "rebates," as in the temple of Solomon: in the latter case, as Ewald translates, there would be "a light passage between the wall of the house and the side chambers around."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The side rooms
וְהַצְּלָעוֹת֩ (wə·haṣ·ṣə·lā·‘ō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6763: A rib, a side, a, timber, plank

were arranged one
צֵלָ֨ע (ṣê·lā‘)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6763: A rib, a side, a, timber, plank

above
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

another
צֵלָ֜ע (ṣê·lā‘)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6763: A rib, a side, a, timber, plank

in three levels
שָׁל֧וֹשׁ (šā·lō·wōš)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

of thirty rooms each.
וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (ū·šə·lō·šîm)
Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural
Strong's 7970: Thirty, thirtieth

There were ledges
וּ֠בָאוֹת (ū·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

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

the wall
בַּקִּ֨יר (baq·qîr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7023: A wall

of the temple
לַבַּ֧יִת (lab·ba·yiṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

to serve as
לִהְי֣וֹת (lih·yō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

supports
אֲחוּזִ֑ים (’ă·ḥū·zîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 270: To grasp, take hold, take possession

for the side rooms,
לַצְּלָע֛וֹת (laṣ·ṣə·lā·‘ō·wṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6763: A rib, a side, a, timber, plank

so that the supports
אֲחוּזִ֖ים (’ă·ḥū·zîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 270: To grasp, take hold, take possession

would not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be [fastened] into
יִהְי֥וּ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the wall
בְּקִ֥יר (bə·qîr)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7023: A wall

of the temple itself.
הַבָּֽיִת׃ (hab·bā·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 41:6 The side chambers were in three stories (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 41:5
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