And the doors of the side chambers were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south: and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about.

EZEKIEL 41:11KJV
Know the Bible

Ezekiel 41:11 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 41:11 mean?

Ezekiel 41:11 describes how the doors of the temple’s side chambers were positioned: one door faced north and another faced south, both opening into a space five cubits wide that surrounded the temple. This verse gives specific architectural details about the temple Ezekiel saw in his vision.

In this part of Ezekiel, the prophet is being shown a detailed vision of a future temple by a heavenly guide. The verse focuses on the layout of the side rooms and their entrances, emphasizing the careful and organized structure of the temple. The mention of the five-cubit-wide space highlights the precision in the design and the importance of every part of the temple’s construction.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 41:11

  • "doors" (פֶּתַח, pethach): This word refers to entrances or doorways, showing that the side chambers had designated ways to enter and exit, not just open spaces.
  • "chambers" (צֵלָע, tsela): This term often means side rooms or cells, indicating these were smaller rooms built alongside the main temple structure.
  • "left" (נָתַן, nathan): Here, it is used in a form that means "the place that was left" or "the space remaining," pointing to the area surrounding the main building, not just a direction.
  • "breadth" (רֹחַב, rochav): This word means width, and its use here underlines the exact measurement (five cubits) of the space around the temple, showing attention to detail in the vision.

Why Ezekiel 41:11 matters

  • This verse helps readers visualize the temple’s layout, showing that every part, even the side rooms and their entrances, was planned with care and purpose.
  • The specific measurements and directions connect to the larger theme in Ezekiel 40–48, where the prophet’s vision stresses order, holiness, and separation in the temple’s design.
  • Understanding these details can clear up confusion about the temple’s structure and the importance of each space, showing that nothing in God’s house was random or overlooked.

Where else these words appear

“south” Hebrew H1864 · used in 14 verses

  • Deuteronomy 33:23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
  • Ezekiel 20:46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
  • Ezekiel 40:44 And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.

“chambers” Hebrew H6763 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
  • Exodus 36:25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,
  • 1 Kings 6:16 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.

“left” Hebrew H3240 · used in 73 verses

  • Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
  • Judges 3:1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
  • Psalms 119:121 AIN. I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.

“breadth” Hebrew H7341 · used in 89 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 6:20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
  • Ezekiel 41:2 And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits.