The thickness of the wall, which was for the side chamber without, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side chambers that were within.

EZEKIEL 41:9KJV
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Ezekiel 41:9 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 41:9 mean?

Ezekiel 41:9 describes part of the temple building Ezekiel sees in his vision. The outside wall serving the side chambers is five cubits thick. The verse also mentions an area left beside the chambers, adding another detail to the building’s layout.

A cubit was a measurement based roughly on the length of a forearm. Ezekiel has been watching a man measure the temple, and the measurements help him describe what he sees. After verse 8 gives the height of the raised foundation, verse 9 turns to the outside wall and the remaining space.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 41:9

  • “left” — יָתַר (yatar): This word carries the sense of remaining or being left over. Here, it helps identify a space that remained alongside the chambers.
  • “chamber” — צֵלָע (tselaʿ): This word can mean a side as well as a side chamber. Here, it points to rooms arranged along the side of the main building.

Why Ezekiel 41:9 matters

  • The measurement describes the wall’s thickness, not the size of a room. The KJV says, “The thickness of the wall,” before giving the five-cubit measurement.
  • The verse distinguishes the outer wall from another area connected with the chambers. The phrase “that which was left” introduces that remaining space after the wall measurement.
  • The side chambers belong to the larger building plan. The mention of chambers “within” places the rooms in relation to the surrounding wall and space.

Where else these words appear

“chamber” 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.

“wall” Hebrew H7023 · used in 64 verses

  • Exodus 30:3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.
  • 1 Kings 6:29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
  • Ezekiel 8:8 Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.

“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.

“thickness” 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.