Ezekiel 42: Holy and Common Apart
The guide measures the priests' chambers and walls all around the temple, separating the holy from the common on every side.
Ezekiel 42 (WEB)
1 Then he brought me out into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the room that was over against the separate place, and which was over against the building toward the north.
2 Before the length of one hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.
3 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.
4 Before the rooms was a walk of ten cubits’ breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the north.
5 Now the upper rooms were shorter; for the galleries took away from these, more than from the lower and the middle, in the building.
6 For they were in three stories, and they didn’t have pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the uppermost was set back more than the lowest and the middle from the ground.
7 The wall that was outside by the side of the rooms, toward the outer court before the rooms, its length was fifty cubits.
8 For the length of the rooms that were in the outer court was fifty cubits: and behold, before the temple were one hundred cubits.
9 From under these rooms was the entry on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court.
10 In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, before the separate place, and before the building, there were rooms.
11 The way before them was like the appearance of the rooms which were toward the north; according to their length so was their breadth: and all their exits were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.
12 According to the doors of the rooms that were toward the south was a door at the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one enters into them.
13 Then he said to me, The north rooms and the south rooms, which are before the separate place, they are the holy rooms, where the priests who are near to Yahweh shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meal offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.
14 When the priests enter in, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments in which they minister; for they are holy: and they shall put on other garments, and shall approach to that which pertains to the people.
15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me out by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it all around.
16 He measured on the east side with the measuring reed five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed all around.
17 He measured on the north side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed all around.
18 He measured on the south side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
20 He measured it on the four sides: it had a wall around it, the length five hundred, and the breadth five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common.
Ezekiel 42 (KJV)
1 Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north.
2 Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.
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.
4 And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors toward the north.
5 Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.
6 For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the building was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.
7 And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.
8 For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits.
9 And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court.
10 The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building.
11 And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.
12 And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them.
13 Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the Lord shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.
14 When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people.
15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.
16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed.
19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
20 He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.
Ezekiel 42 (ASV)
1 Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was over against the building toward the north.
2 Before the length of a hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.
3 Over against the twentycubitswhich belonged to the inner court, and over against the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in the third story.
4 And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits’ breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the north.
5 Now the upper chambers were shorter; for the galleries took away from these, more than from the lower and the middlemost, in the building.
6 For they were in three stories, and they had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the uppermost was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.
7 And the wall that was without by the side of the chambers, toward the outer court before the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.
8 For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were a hundred cubits.
9 And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the outer court.
10 In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, before the separate place, and before the building, there were chambers.
11 And the way before them was like the appearance of the way of the chambers which were toward the north; according to their length so was their breadth: and all their egresses were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.
12 And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door at the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them.
13 Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they are the holy chambers, where the priests that are near unto Jehovah shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; for the place is holy.
14 When the priests enter in, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy: and they shall put on other garments, and shall approach to that which pertaineth to the people.
15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.
16 He measured on the east side with the measuring reed five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
17 He measured on the north side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about.
18 He measured on the south side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
20 He measured it on the four sides: it had a wall round about, the length five hundred, and the breadth five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common.
Summary
The guide leads Ezekiel out into the outer court and shows him the chambers built opposite the separate place and the building toward the north, three stories high with galleries set back at each level. He measures their length and breadth, noting the walk and the doors that face north, and explains their use. These are the holy chambers where the priests who draw near to Yahweh eat the most holy offerings, the grain offering, sin offering, and trespass offering, and where they lay them down, for the place is holy. When the priests enter the holy place they are not to go straight out into the outer court among the people, but must leave there the garments in which they minister, for those garments are holy, and put on other garments before approaching the people. Then the guide brings Ezekiel out and measures the temple area on all four sides with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds on the east, north, south, and west, a perfect square. Around the whole there is a wall to make a separation between the holy and the common. The chapter underscores how carefully the holy is guarded and kept distinct, so that the presence of God is honored and the people are protected from approaching carelessly.
Key Figures
- Ezekiel — The prophet shown the priests’ chambers and the surrounding wall, taught how the holy is to be kept separate from the common.
- The man like bronze — The heavenly guide who measures the chambers and the four sides of the temple area and explains the holy use of each space.
- The ministering priests — Those who draw near to Yahweh, eating the most holy offerings in the holy chambers and changing their garments before approaching the people.
- The surrounding wall — The boundary measured five hundred reeds on each side, set to make a clear separation between the holy and the common.
Key Verse
Ezekiel 42:20 (WEB)
He measured it on the four sides: it had a wall around it, the length five hundred, and the breadth five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common.
Lessons Learned
- God draws a clear line between the holy and the common, teaching his people to honor what is set apart for him.
- The priests' change of garments shows that what touches the holy is not to be treated casually among the people.
- Even the chambers for eating the offerings are arranged with reverent care, for the place itself is holy.
- The wall around the temple guards God's presence and protects the people from approaching without preparation.
- God distinguishes holy from common. The surrounding wall is built “to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common” (Ezekiel 42:20, WEB); God’s presence is set apart.
- The holy is handled with reverence. The priests eat “the most holy things” where “the place is holy” (Ezekiel 42:13, WEB); what belongs to God is treated with fitting care.
- Ministry garments mark a holy calling. Priests must leave their garments “in which they minister; for they are holy” (Ezekiel 42:14, WEB) before mingling with the people, guarding the holy from the common.
- Boundaries protect God’s people. The careful walls and chambers (Ezekiel 42:1-12, WEB) are not arbitrary; they shield a sinful people from approaching a holy God carelessly, anticipating the access Christ secures.
- Why does God place such emphasis on separating the holy from the common (42:20)?
- The priests must change their garments before going out to the people (42:14). What does this teach about the seriousness of holy things?
- How does the careful distinction between holy and common in this chapter shape your understanding of what it means for something to be “set apart” for God?
- These boundaries kept sinful people from approaching God carelessly. How does this help us appreciate the access we now have through Christ (see Hebrews 10:19-22)?
- What in your own life is meant to be set apart, or kept holy, for God, and how might you honor that more carefully?
- The separation teaches Israel, and us, that God is holy and not to be approached casually. The wall is a mercy as much as a barrier, protecting the people while preserving the honor due to God's presence.
- Changing garments signals that contact with the holy carries weight and must not be carried thoughtlessly into ordinary life. Help the group sense the seriousness of handling the things of God.
- Being set apart means belonging wholly to God and treated as no longer common. Encourage the group to think about how this reframes their bodies, time, and worship as holy to the Lord.
- These barriers heighten the wonder that, in Christ, we now have boldness to enter the holy place by his blood (Hebrews 10:19-22). What was once carefully fenced off is opened by our great High Priest.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name something—time, relationships, their own bodies—they sense God calling them to keep holy, and one concrete way to honor it. Keep the tone gracious.