God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 40:46
46The room that faces north is for the priests who serve at the altar. These priests are Zadok’s descendants. They are the only Levites who are able to come near the Lord and serve him.”
Ezekiel 40:46 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)and the room facing north is for the priests who guard the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who are the only Levites who may draw near to the Lord to minister before him.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the Lord to minister to him."
- New King James Version (NKJV)The chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the Lord to minister to Him.”
Context of Ezekiel 40:46
44Outside the gateways to the inner courtyard were the rooms for the singers in the inner courtyards. One room was at the side of the north gateway. It faced south. The other room was at the side of the south gateway. It faced north. 45The man said to me, “This room that faces south is for the priests who serve in the temple. The room that faces north is for the priests who serve at the altar. These priests are Zadok’s descendants. They are the only Levites who are able to come near the Lord and serve him.” 47The man measured the courtyard. It was a perfect square—175 feet long and 175 feet wide. And the altar was in front of the temple. 48Then the man brought me to the entrance hall of the temple and measured its recessed walls. They were 9 feet on each side. The gateway was 24½ feet wide, and the walls on each side were 5 feet wide.
Read all of Ezekiel 40Ezekiel 40:46 word by word
וְהַלִּשְׁכָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר פָּנֶ֙יהָ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַצָּפ֔וֹן לַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ הֵ֣מָּה בְנֵֽי־צָד֗וֹק הַקְּרֵבִ֧ים מִבְּנֵֽי־לֵוִ֛י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה לְשָׁרְתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the chamberלִשְׁכָּהlishkâh · chamberH3957
- whose prospectפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- towardדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: directionH1870
- the northצָפוֹןtsâphôn tsâphôn · northH6828
- for the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- the keepersשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
- of the chargeמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתmishmereth · chargeH4931
- of the altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
- the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Zadokצָדוֹקtsâdôq · ZadokH6659
- of Leviלֵוִיlêvîy · LeviH3878
- which come nearקָרֵבqârêb · approachingH7131
- to the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- to ministerשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
Cross-references for Ezekiel 40:46
- Ezekiel 44:15“ ‘But the priests who are Levites and descendants of Zadok took care of my holy place when the Israelites wandered away from me. They may come near me and serve me, and they may stand in my presence. They may bring fat and blood to me, declares the Almighty Lord.
- Leviticus 6:12The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out. The priest will burn wood on it every morning. He will lay the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offering.
- Numbers 18:5“You must be in charge of the work done at the holy place and at the altar. Then I won’t show my anger against the Israelites again.
- Ezekiel 43:19Give a young bull to the priests as an offering for sin. These priests are Zadok’s descendants, men from the tribe of Levi, who can come near me and serve me.
- Ezekiel 48:11This land that has been set apart will belong to the priests who are descendants of Zadok. They took care of my holy place. They didn’t wander away with the Israelites as the Levites did.
- 1 Kings 2:35The king then appointed Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to replace Joab as commander of the army. King Solomon also replaced Abiathar with the priest Zadok.
- Leviticus 10:3Moses said to Aaron, “This is exactly what the Lord said: ‘I will show my holiness among those who come to me. I will show my glory to all the people.’ ” Aaron was speechless.
- Numbers 16:5Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him, who is holy, and who it is that he will allow to come near him. Only the person the Lord chooses will be allowed to come near him.
- Ephesians 2:13But now through Christ Jesus you, who were once far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 40:46
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 46The position of the “chamber” looking to the north commanded a view of the brasen altar and the sacrifices, which were prepared at the north side of the altar. The sons of Zadok - The priests were all descended from one or other of the two sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar. David distributed the priestly offices between the families of Zadok, the representative of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, the representative of Ithamar 1 Chronicles 24:3. From the time of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 46The Lord finally rewarded Zadok's loyalty (see Ezekiel 44:15). He decreed that only Zadok's descendants could approach the Lord to serve him. Only those chosen by the Lord and fit to enter the holy space could access God in this temple.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4646. Zadok--lineally descended from Aaron. He had the high priesthood conferred on him by Solomon, who had set aside the family of Ithamar because of the part which Abiathar had taken in the rebellion of Adonijah (1Ki 1:7; 2:26, 27).Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 40:46
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 40
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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