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 41:11KJVWhat 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.