And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court.

EZEKIEL 42:9KJV
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Ezekiel 42:9 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 42:9 mean?

Ezekiel 42:9 describes how someone could reach a group of rooms in the temple Ezekiel sees in his vision. The KJV places an entrance below these rooms, on the east side, approached from the outer courtyard.

Ezekiel is describing the building as he sees it, with a man guiding him through the vision. The phrase “from under these chambers” places the entrance in relation to the rooms above, while “as one goeth” pictures a person approaching them.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 42:9

  • “chambers” — לִשְׁכָּה (lishkah): This word can refer to a room set aside for a particular use. The rooms belong to the temple complex rather than to an ordinary house.
  • “utter” — חִיצוֹן (chitson): This word means “outer.” The KJV spelling “utter” identifies the courtyard as the one farther out in the complex.

Why Ezekiel 42:9 matters

  • The rooms had a role connected with the priests’ work. Later, Ezekiel 42:13 says priests would eat certain holy portions in these rooms and leave those portions there.
  • The description helps locate the rooms within a larger arrangement of courts and buildings. The entrance is given in relation to both the chambers and the “utter court,” giving a reader a way to picture their position in the temple complex.

Where else these words appear

“entry” Hebrew H3996 · used in 24 verses

  • Deuteronomy 11:30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?
  • 2 Kings 16:18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.
  • Proverbs 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

“them” Hebrew H2007 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
  • Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
  • Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

“utter” Hebrew H2435 · used in 24 verses

  • 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 10:5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
  • Ezekiel 42:3 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.

“chambers” Hebrew H3957 · used in 41 verses

  • 1 Samuel 9:22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
  • Nehemiah 13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
  • Ezekiel 40:46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.