Then he said to me, “This chamber which faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to me, This room, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the house;
- KJV And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
- BSB Then the man said to me: “The chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple,
- NASB Then he said to me, “This is the chamber which faces south, intended for the priests who are responsible for the temple;
- NLT And the man said to me, “The room beside the north inner gate is for the priests who supervise the Temple maintenance.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
One chamber was assigned to the priests who keep charge of the temple itself. God orders his house with appointed servants and clear duties.
Overview
The guide explains that this south-facing room belongs to priests responsible for the care of the house. The assigning of specific duties reflects the order of God's worship under the law (Numbers 18:5). It foreshadows Christ our great High Priest, who perfectly keeps charge of God's house, the church (Hebrews 3:6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Chr 9:23So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of Yahweh’s house, even the house of the tent, by wards.
- Ps 134:1A Song of Ascents. Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, who stand by night in Yahweh’s house!
- Lev 8:35You shall stay at the door of the Tent of Meeting day and night seven days, and keep Yahweh’s command, that you don’t die: for so I am commanded.”
- Rev 1:6and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- Num 18:5“You shall perform the duty of the sanctuary and the duty of the altar, that there be no more wrath on the children of Israel.
- Mal 2:4–7You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says Yahweh of Armies.
- 2 Chr 13:11and they burn to Yahweh every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also set the show bread in order on the pure table; and the lamp stand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening; for we keep the instruction of Yahweh our God, but you have forsaken him.
- Num 3:38Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
- Ezek 8:5Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now the way toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes the way toward the north, and saw, northward of the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
- Num 3:32Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.
- Num 3:27–28Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
- 1 Tim 6:20Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge;
- 1 Chr 6:49But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 40:45 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.