Ezekiel 41:7 The 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.

◄ Ezekiel 41:7 ►

New International Version
The side rooms all around the temple were wider at each successive level. The structure surrounding the temple was built in ascending stages, so that the rooms widened as one went upward. A stairway went up from the lowest floor to the top floor through the middle floor.

New Living Translation
Each level was wider than the one below it, corresponding to the narrowing of the Temple wall as it rose higher. A stairway led up from the bottom level through the middle level to the top level.

English Standard Version
And it became broader as it wound upward to the side chambers, because the temple was enclosed upward all around the temple. Thus the temple had a broad area upward, and so one went up from the lowest story to the top story through the middle story.

Berean Standard Bible
The 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.

King James Bible
And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.

New King James Version
As one went up from story to story, the side chambers became wider all around, because their supporting ledges in the wall of the temple ascended like steps; therefore the width of the structure increased as one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the middle one.

New American Standard Bible
And the side chambers surrounding the temple were wider at each successive story. Because the structure surrounding the temple went upward by stages on all sides of the temple, for that reason the width of the temple increased as it went higher; and so one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the second story.

NASB 1995
The side chambers surrounding the temple were wider at each successive story. Because the structure surrounding the temple went upward by stages on all sides of the temple, therefore the width of the temple increased as it went higher; and thus one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the second story.

NASB 1977
And the side chambers surrounding the temple were wider at each successive story. Because the structure surrounding the temple went upward by stages on all sides of the temple, therefore the width of the temple increased as it went higher; and thus one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the second story.

Legacy Standard Bible
The side chambers surrounding the house were wider at each successive story. Because the structure surrounding the house went upward by stages on all sides of the house, therefore the width of the house increased as it went higher; and thus one went up from the lowest story to the highest by way of the second story.

Amplified Bible
The side chambers became wider at each successive level as they encompassed the temple. Because the structure surrounding the temple went higher by stages on all sides of the temple, for that reason the width of the temple increased as it went higher; and thus one went up from the lowest story to the highest one by way of the second story.

Christian Standard Bible
The side rooms surrounding the temple widened at each successive story, for the structure surrounding the temple went up by stages. This was the reason for the temple’s broadness as it rose. And so, one would go up from the lowest story to the highest by means of the middle one.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The side rooms surrounding the temple widened at each successive story, for the structure surrounding the temple went up by stages. This was the reason for the temple’s broadness as it rose. And so, one would go up from the lowest story to the highest by means of the middle one.

American Standard Version
And the side-chambers were broader as they encompassed the house higher and higher; for the encompassing of the house went higher and higher round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house continued upward; and so one went up from the lowest chamber to the highest by the middle chamber.

Contemporary English Version
The walls of the temple were thicker at the bottom than at the top, which meant that the storage rooms on the top level were wider than those on the bottom level. Steps led from the bottom level, through the middle level, and into the top level.

English Revised Version
And the side-chambers were broader as they encompassed the house higher and higher; for the encompassing of the house went higher and higher round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house continued upward; and so one went up from the lowest chamber to the highest by the middle chamber.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The side rooms grew wider all the way around as they went up, story after story. The surrounding structure went from story to story all around the temple. The structure grew wider as it went higher. A stairway went from the first story through the second story to the third story.

Good News Translation
And so the Temple walls, when seen from the outside, seemed to have the same thickness all the way to the top. Against the Temple's outer wall, on the outside of the rooms, two wide stairways were built, so that it was possible to go from the lower story to the middle and the upper stories.

International Standard Version
The side chambers surrounding the Temple were wider at each successive story, because the surrounding structure ascended by proportional increments as it rose, ascending to the highest story by going up successively from the lowest.

Majority Standard Bible
The 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.

NET Bible
The side chambers surrounding the temple were wider at each successive story; for the structure surrounding the temple went up story by story all around the temple. For this reason the width of the temple increased as it went up, and one went up from the lowest story to the highest by the way of the middle story.

New Heart English Bible
And the side chambers were broader as they encompassed the house at each successive story, for the structure encompassing the house went upward all around the house. Therefore the breadth of the house increased as it went up, and so one went up from the lowest story to the highest by the way of the middle room.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side-chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward around the house; therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.

World English Bible
The side rooms were wider on the higher levels, because the walls were narrower at the higher levels. Therefore the width of the house increased upward; and so one went up from the lowest level to the highest through the middle level.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it has become wider when one has turned even higher toward the side-chambers, for the encompassment of the house [is] even higher all around the house: therefore the breadth of the house [goes] upwards, and so the lower [story] goes up to the higher by the middle.

Young's Literal Translation
And a broad place and a turning place still upwards are to the side-chambers, for the turning round of the house is still upwards all round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house is upwards, and so the lower one goeth up unto the higher by the midst.

Smith's Literal Translation
It was broad and turned round upwards, upwards to the sides: for the circuit of the house, upwards, upwards round about, round about to the house: for this the breadth of the house upwards, and thus the lowest will go up upon the highest to the middle.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was a broad passage round about, going up by winding stairs, and it led into the upper loft of the temple all round: therefore was the temple broader in the higher parts: and so from the lower parts they went to the higher by the midst.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And there was a broad circular path, rising upward by winding, and it led to the cenacle of the temple by a circular course. As a result, the temple was wider in the higher parts. And so, from the lower parts, they rose up to the higher parts, in the center.

New American Bible
A broad passageway led up the side chambers, for the house was enclosed all the way up and all the way around. Thus the temple was widened by the ascent that went from the lowest story through the middle one to the highest story.

New Revised Standard Version
The passageway of the side chambers widened from story to story; for the structure was supplied with a stairway all around the temple. For this reason the structure became wider from story to story. One ascended from the bottom story to the uppermost story by way of the middle one.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the side rooms rose higher, so that they encircled the house from above, thus enlarging the house from above; and from the lowest rooms they went up to the middle rooms, and from the middle rooms to the highest rooms.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the partitions were joined above that encircled the house above, that enlarged the house from above, and from beneath; they would be going up to the middle ones, and from the middle ones to the upper rooms

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the side-chambers were broader as they wound about higher and higher; for the winding about of the house went higher and higher round about the house; therefore the breadth of the house continued upward; and so one went up from the lowest row to the highest by the middle.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the breadth of the upper side was made according to the projection out of the wall, against the upper one round about the house, that it might be enlarged above, and that men might go up to the upper chambers from those below, and from the ground-sills to the third story.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Outside the Temple
…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. 8I saw that the temple had a raised base all around it, forming the foundation of the side rooms. It was the full length of a rod, six long cubits.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Kings 6:8
The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the temple. A stairway led up to the middle level, and from there to the third floor.

1 Kings 6:10
He built chambers all along the temple, each five cubits high and attached to the temple with beams of cedar.

1 Kings 6:5-6
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.

1 Kings 6:15-16
He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypress boards. / 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 6:31-35
For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, Solomon constructed doors of olive wood with five-sided doorposts. / The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold. / In the same way he made four-sided doorposts of olive wood for the sanctuary entrance. ...

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

2 Chronicles 3:5
He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains.

2 Chronicles 3:11-13
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. / So the total wingspan of these cherubim was twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main room.

2 Chronicles 3:7
He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

2 Chronicles 3:3-4
The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard. / The portico at the front, extending across the width of the temple, was twenty cubits long and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

Revelation 21:16
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.

Revelation 21:17
And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.

Revelation 21:18
The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass.

Revelation 21:19-21
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. / And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

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

Treasury of Scripture

And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the middle.

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.

Matthew 13:32
Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

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Breadth Broader Chamber Chambers Continued Encompassed Encompassing Higher Highest House Increased Lowest Middle Midst Round Second Side Side-Chambers Sides Stages Story Structure Successive Surrounding Temple Upward Way Wider Width Winding Wound

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Ezekiel 41

1. The measures, parts, chambers, and ornaments of the temple

Berean Study Bible

The side chambers
The Hebrew term for "side chambers" is "צֵלָע" (tsela), which can also mean "rib" or "side." This architectural feature suggests a supportive and protective function, much like ribs protect vital organs. In the context of the temple, these chambers symbolize the layers of spiritual growth and protection that surround the core of divine worship. Historically, these chambers were used for storage and priestly activities, indicating the practical and sacred functions intertwined in temple service.

surrounding the temple
The phrase emphasizes the encompassing nature of these chambers, suggesting a holistic approach to worship where every aspect of life is integrated around the central focus of God's presence. The temple, being the heart of Israel's spiritual life, was literally and figuratively surrounded by structures that supported its function, reflecting the idea that all aspects of life should orbit around one's relationship with God.

were wider at each successive level
This architectural detail signifies growth and expansion. The Hebrew concept of "wider" (רָחַב, rachab) often implies abundance and blessing. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for the believer's journey, where each level of spiritual maturity brings greater capacity for understanding and experiencing God's presence.

because the structure surrounding the temple ascended by stages
The phrase "ascended by stages" (עָלָה, alah) indicates a progressive journey upward. This mirrors the spiritual ascent of believers, who are called to grow in holiness and understanding. The physical ascent in the temple's architecture serves as a metaphor for the spiritual ascent in the life of faith, where each step brings one closer to God.

This was the reason for the upward layout
The "upward layout" reflects intentional design, both in the physical temple and in God's plan for spiritual growth. The Hebrew word for "reason" (טַעַם, ta'am) can also mean "purpose" or "taste," suggesting that there is a divine purpose and beauty in the way God structures both His temple and His people's spiritual journeys.

the temple was wider at the top
This architectural feature symbolizes the culmination of spiritual growth. As one ascends, the space becomes more expansive, representing the broadening of understanding and the fullness of life found in God. The temple's design points to the ultimate goal of spiritual ascent: a deeper, more expansive relationship with the divine.

and so one ascended from the lowest level to the highest by the middle level
The journey from the "lowest level to the highest" signifies the believer's spiritual pilgrimage. The "middle level" serves as a transitional space, a place of growth and preparation. This reflects the Christian life, where believers are continually moving from one stage of faith to another, always striving toward the ultimate goal of union with God. The temple's design is a powerful reminder of the progressive nature of spiritual growth and the hope of reaching the fullness of God's presence.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) And there was an enlarging.--The description in this verse is difficult to understand, and has called out much variety of opinion. The main facts are clear: that there was an increase in the width of each storey of the side chambers by the distance which the wall receded, as is expressly said in 1Kings 6:6; but whether there was a corresponding recession in the thickness of the outer wall of the chambers is not stated. It is also plain that the side chambers surrounded the house; and that the two upper storeys were reached by a winding staircase (w [Ezekiel 40:44-49]). It is impossible to enter into more detail without a careful discussion of the words in the original, the meaning of some of which is disputed.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - In the side chambers an enlarging took place as they went up, i.e. the floorage of the second story exceeded that of the first, and the floorage of the third that of the second; though how this was effected can only be conjectured. If the chambers were built against the temple wall, then probably the wall at each story went in, say a cubit or a cubit and a half from the outside, so as to admit the beams; or, if the chambers were built against an outside wall, a similar recession of the wall from the inside may have taken place. In either ease, the (interior) breadth of the house, i.e. of the side chambers, would be upward, and would increase from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst. Plumptre, after Kliefoth, suggests that the increasing size of the chambers in the three stories may have been due to projecting galleries. Ewald, taking "house" as "the temple," supposes that it gradually became bigger. i.e. broader, as it rose, which could be the case only if the side chambers were built against the temple wall, and the increased width of the stories was scoured By projecting galleries or corridors. Greater obscurity attaches to the second clause, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers, which the Authorized Version and some expositors regard as an indication that Ezekiel's temple had a spiral staircase like that in Solomon's temple (see 1 Kings 6:8); and probably some such mode of passing from story to story did exist in Ezekiel's temple; yet the clause, when properly rendered, does not refer to this. The Revised Version reads, "And the side chambers were broader as they encompassed the house higher and higher; for the encompassing of the house went higher and higher round about the house; therefore the breadth of the house continued upward; and so one went up (most likely by a spiral stair) from the lowest chamber to the highest by the middle chamber."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

surrounding
מֽוּסַב־ (mū·saḇ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4141: Perhaps encompassing, surrounding

the temple
הַ֠בַּיִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

widened at each successive level,
וְֽרָחֲבָ֡ה (wə·rā·ḥă·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7337: To be or grow wide or large

because the structure surrounding the temple
סָבִ֤יב ׀ (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

ascended by stages
לַבַּ֔יִת (lab·ba·yiṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

corresponding to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the narrowing of the temple wall
רֹֽחַב־ (rō·ḥaḇ-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7341: Breadth, width

as it rose upward.
לְמָ֑עְלָה (lə·mā·‘ə·lāh)
Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4605: The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top

And so
וְכֵ֧ן (wə·ḵên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

a stairway went up
יַעֲלֶ֥ה (ya·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from the lowest
הַתַּחְתּוֹנָ֛ה (hat·taḥ·tō·w·nāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8481: Lower, lowest

story
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

to the highest
הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֖ה (hā·‘el·yō·w·nāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 5945: An elevation, lofty, as title, the Supreme

through the middle one.
לַתִּיכוֹנָֽה׃ (lat·tî·ḵō·w·nāh)
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8484: Central

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 41:7 The side chambers were broader as they (Ezek. Eze Ezk)