Ezekiel 42:3
New International Version
Both in the section twenty cubits from the inner court and in the section opposite the pavement of the outer court, gallery faced gallery at the three levels.

New Living Translation
One block of rooms overlooked the 35-foot width of the inner courtyard. Another block of rooms looked out onto the pavement of the outer courtyard. The two blocks were built three levels high and stood across from each other.

English Standard Version
Facing the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court, and facing the pavement that belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.

Berean Standard Bible
Gallery faced gallery in three levels opposite the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court and opposite the pavement that belonged to the outer court.

King James Bible
Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.

New King James Version
Opposite the inner court of twenty cubits, and opposite the pavement of the outer court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.

New American Standard Bible
Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner courtyard, and opposite the stone pavement which belonged to the outer courtyard, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories.

NASB 1995
Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories.

NASB 1977
Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories.

Legacy Standard Bible
Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories.

Amplified Bible
Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner courtyard, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer courtyard, was gallery (balcony) corresponding to gallery in three stories.

Christian Standard Bible
Opposite the 35 foot space belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery in three tiers.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Opposite the 35 foot space belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery in three tiers.

American Standard Version
Over against the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and over against the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in the third story.

Contemporary English Version
On one side of them was the 10 meters of open space that ran alongside the temple, and on the other side was the sidewalk that circled the outer courtyard. The rooms were arranged in three levels

English Revised Version
Over against the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and over against the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in the third story.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Opposite the inner courtyard was an area that was 35 feet wide, and opposite the pavement of the outer courtyard were corridors facing corridors on all three stories.

Good News Translation
On one side it faced the space 34 feet wide which was alongside the Temple, and on the other side it faced the pavement of the outer courtyard. It was built on three levels, each one set further back than the one below it.

International Standard Version
Opposite the 20 cubits wide inner court, and opposite the paved area that comprised the outer court, there were three stories of galleries that faced each other.

Majority Standard Bible
Gallery faced gallery in three levels opposite the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court and opposite the pavement that belonged to the outer court.

NET Bible
Opposite the 35 feet that belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, gallery faced gallery in the three stories.

New Heart English Bible
Facing the inner court of thirty-four feet five inches, and facing the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery facing gallery in three stories.

Webster's Bible Translation
Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the outer court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.

World English Bible
Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in the three stories.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Opposite the twenty [cubits] that are of the inner court, and opposite the pavement that [is] of the outer court, [is] gallery [with] face toward gallery, in the three [stories].

Young's Literal Translation
Over-against the twenty cubits that are to the inner court, and over-against the pavement that is to the outer court, is gallery over-against gallery, in the three storeys.

Smith's Literal Translation
Over against the twenty which were for the inner enclosure, add over against the tesselated pavement which was to the court without, an offset to the face of an offset in threes.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Over against the twenty cubits of the inner court, and over against the pavement of the outward court that was paved with stone, where there was a gallery joined to a triple gallery.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Opposite the twenty cubits of the interior court, and opposite the layer of pavement stones in the outer court, in that place, there was a portico joined to a triple portico.

New American Bible
Built in rows at three different levels, they stood between the twenty cubits of the inner court and the pavement of the outer court.

New Revised Standard Version
Across the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court, and facing the pavement that belonged to the outer court, the chambers rose gallery by gallery in three stories.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Opposite the gate of the inner court, over against the pavement of the outer court, was gallery above gallery in three stories.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Opposite the door of the inner courtyard and opposite the steps of the outer courtyard of the building, one upon another for each of three stories ”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
over against the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and over against the pavement which belonged to the outer court; with gallery against gallery in three stories.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
ornamented accordingly as the gates of the inner court, and arranged accordingly as the peristyles of the outer court, with triple porticos fronting one another.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Chambers for the Priests
2The building with the door facing north was a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide. 3Gallery faced gallery in three levels opposite the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court and opposite the pavement that belonged to the outer court. 4In front of the chambers was an inner walkway ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long. Their doors were on the north.…

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

Ezekiel 40:16
The gate chambers and their side pillars had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway. The porticos also had windows all around on the inside. Each side pillar was decorated with palm trees.

Ezekiel 41:5-6
Next 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. / 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.

Ezekiel 41:15-16
Next he measured the length of the building facing the temple courtyard at the rear of the temple, including its galleries on each side; it was a hundred cubits. The outer sanctuary, the inner sanctuary, and the porticoes facing the court, / as well as the thresholds and the beveled windows and the galleries all around with their three levels opposite the threshold, were overlaid with wood on all sides. They were paneled from the ground to the windows, and the windows were covered.

Ezekiel 41:26
There were beveled windows and palm trees on the sidewalls of the portico. The side rooms of the temple also had canopies.

Ezekiel 43:5
Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

Ezekiel 44:4
Then the man brought me to the front of the temple by way of the north gate. I looked and saw the glory of the LORD filling His temple, and I fell facedown.

Ezekiel 45:2
Within this area there is to be a section for the sanctuary 500 cubits square, with 50 cubits around it for open land.

Revelation 11:1-2
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there. / But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

Revelation 21:15-17
The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls. / 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 21:12
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.

Revelation 21:25
Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.

Revelation 22:2
down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.


Treasury of Scripture

Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.

the twenty

Ezekiel 41:10
And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side.

the pavement

Ezekiel 40:17,18
Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement…

2 Chronicles 7:3
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

gallery against

Ezekiel 41:15,16
And he measured the length of the building over against the separate place which was behind it, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court; …

Song of Solomon 1:17
The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

Song of Solomon 7:5
Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.

Jump to Previous
Adjoining Belonged Corresponding Court Covered Cubits Faced Facing Floor Gallery Inner Opposite Outer Over-Against Part Pavement Pertained Section Space Square Stone Stories Story Third Three Twenty Utter Ways
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Adjoining Belonged Corresponding Court Covered Cubits Faced Facing Floor Gallery Inner Opposite Outer Over-Against Part Pavement Pertained Section Space Square Stone Stories Story Third Three Twenty Utter Ways
Ezekiel 42
1. The chambers for the priests
13. The use thereof
15. The measures of the outward court














Opposite the twenty cubits
The phrase "opposite the twenty cubits" refers to a specific measurement within the temple complex. In ancient Hebrew architecture, the cubit was a standard unit of measurement, approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters. The "twenty cubits" here likely refers to a designated space within the temple's inner court. This measurement underscores the precision and orderliness of God's design for His dwelling place, reflecting His nature as a God of order and intentionality. Theologically, it reminds us that God is meticulous in His plans, both in the physical construction of His temple and in His spiritual plans for humanity.

that belonged to the inner court
The "inner court" was a sacred area within the temple complex, reserved for the priests and certain sacrificial activities. It symbolizes a place of closer proximity to God's presence, as opposed to the outer court, which was accessible to all Israelites. Historically, the inner court's exclusivity highlights the holiness and separateness required to approach God, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament. Spiritually, it points to the New Testament reality that through Christ, believers are now a royal priesthood with direct access to God (1 Peter 2:9).

and opposite the pavement
The "pavement" refers to the stone flooring of the temple courts. In ancient times, paved areas were often associated with places of significance and reverence. The pavement in the temple courts would have been a place where worshippers gathered, symbolizing the foundation of worship and the communal aspect of faith. This imagery can inspire believers today to consider the foundation of their own worship and the importance of gathering together in community to honor God.

that belonged to the outer court
The "outer court" was the area accessible to all Israelites, including Gentile converts. It represents the inclusivity of God's invitation to worship and fellowship. Historically, the outer court served as a place of teaching and prayer, emphasizing the temple's role as a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7). This inclusivity foreshadows the New Testament message of the Gospel being available to all people, regardless of background or status.

was gallery against gallery
The term "gallery" refers to a series of rooms or walkways, often used for viewing or passage. In the context of the temple, these galleries may have been used for storage or as living quarters for the priests. The repetition of "gallery against gallery" suggests a structured and layered design, reflecting the complexity and beauty of God's creation. It also symbolizes the layers of understanding and revelation available to those who seek God, encouraging believers to delve deeper into their faith.

in three stories
The "three stories" indicate a multi-level structure, showcasing the grandeur and architectural sophistication of the temple. The number three often holds symbolic significance in Scripture, representing completeness and divine perfection. This architectural detail can inspire believers to recognize the depth and richness of God's presence and the completeness found in a relationship with Him. It also serves as a reminder of the triune nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—working in harmony within the believer's life.

(3) Over against the twenty.--See under Ezekiel 42:1. This was the space of twenty cubits (I [Ezekiel 40:44-49]) to the west of the western Temple chambers.

The pavement.--There is but one pavement mentioned in the outer court, that which ran along the inside of the wall. The chamber in question was opposite to the pavement on the north side, as it was opposite to the separate place, &c., on the south--i.e., its length was parallel to both, or east and west. "Utter" again means outer.

Gallery against gallery.--The expression is a difficult one in the original. "Against" is literally, unto the face of, or in front of, and stories is altogether wanting. The meaning seems to be that in each chamber building, on the north and on the south, there was a gallery in the third storey, so placed on the south side of the north building and the north side of the south building that they faced each other.

Verse 3. - Considerable difficulty attaches to the words of this verse. The twenty cubits which were for the inner court (better, the twenty which belonged to the inner court) have been taken by Kliefoth to signify the watchers' coils in the inner court, west of the north door (Ezekiel 40:40-46), and by Plumptre to indicate an inner area of twenty cubits square, round which the galleries in three stories ran. Both of these views, however, have this against them, that they are purely conjectural, the text in Ezekiel 40:40-46 saying nothing about twenty cubits in connection with the priests' chambers, and the text under review making no suggestion of an inner area of twenty cubits, but only of the already well-known "inner court." Hence the opinion of Ewald, Hengstenberg, Keil, Schroder, and Currey has most in its favor, that the "twenty" alongside of which the chamber now alluded to lay, meant the twenty cubits clear space which surrounded the temple on the south, west, and north sides (see Ezekiel 41:12-14), and which could properly be spoken of as "for the inner court," rather as "belonging to the inner court," since it was practically a continuation of the same. The pavement which was for (or, belonged to) the outer court, was manifestly that already described as running along the inside of the outer wall (see Ezekiel 40:17). If, as is likely, this pavement was continued along the north side of the inner court wall, then the priests' chambers must have stood upon it, and been over against it on the east side, as Currey explains; but the easier and more natural supposition is that adopted by Keil, that the second "over against" points to that which faced the chambers on the north, viz. the pavement, as the first marked their boundary on the south. Gallery against gallery (see on Ezekiel 41:15). In three stories; or, in the third story (Revised Version). Whether these galleries existed in each of three stories of the building, or only in the third, cannot be determined. If בַּשְּׁלִשִׁים, "in the thirds" occurs elsewhere only in Genesis 6:16, to denote the chambers or rooms of the third story in the ark, as Smend observes, "the expression might also quite naturally signify three stories, one above another."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Gallery
אַתִּ֥יק (’at·tîq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 862: A ledge, offset in a, building

faced
פְּנֵֽי־ (pə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

gallery
אַתִּ֖יק (’at·tîq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 862: A ledge, offset in a, building

in three levels,
בַּשְּׁלִשִֽׁים׃ (baš·šə·li·šîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Number - ordinal masculine plural
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

opposite
נֶ֣גֶד (ne·ḡeḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5048: A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before

the twenty [cubits]
הָֽעֶשְׂרִ֗ים (hā·‘eś·rîm)
Article | Number - common plural
Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth

that
אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

belonged to the inner
הַפְּנִימִ֔י (hap·pə·nî·mî)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6442: Interior

court
לֶחָצֵ֣ר (le·ḥā·ṣêr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

and opposite
וְנֶ֣גֶד (wə·ne·ḡeḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5048: A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before

the pavement
רִֽצְפָ֔ה (riṣ·p̄āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7531: A hot stone, a tessellated pavement

that
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

belonged to the outer
הַחִֽיצוֹנָ֑ה (ha·ḥî·ṣō·w·nāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2435: The, wall side, exterior, secular

court.
לֶחָצֵ֣ר (le·ḥā·ṣêr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 42:3 Over against the twenty cubits which belonged (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 42:2
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