Bible Strands
Ezekiel 40:45
Then the man said to me: “The chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The vision-receiver listens as the measuring man addresses him directly within the newly revealed sanctuary complex. The speaker identifies a specific architectural space during the detailed orientation of the inner court.
The words — The Hebrew הַלִּשְׁכָּה הַדְּרוֹמִית (ha.lish.kah ha.da.ro.mit) literally translates to "the south room" or "the chamber facing south." This designation marks a fixed duty station rather than a general gathering area.
The thread — The assignment of priestly chambers echoes the Levitical guard duties outlined in 1 Chronicles 9:23 and the mandated vigilance at the Tent of Meeting in Leviticus 8:35. The night service motif also resonates with the summons in Psalms 134:1 for those who minister in the house of the LORD.
Why it lands — The text assigns a specific chamber to priests responsible for temple oversight, establishing a clear boundary of sacred duty. It requires the reader to recognize that access to holy spaces is strictly regulated by divine instruction rather than human preference.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 9:23 So they and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the Tent.
- Leviticus 8:35 You must remain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and keep the LORD’s charge so that you will not die, for this is what I have been commanded.”
- Psalms 134:1 A song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD!
- Numbers 3:27 From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites.
- Numbers 3:32 The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he oversaw those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.
- Numbers 3:38 Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
- Numbers 18:5 And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.
- 1 Chronicles 6:49 But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
- 2 Chronicles 13:11 Every morning and every evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the rows of showbread on the ceremonially clean table, and every evening they light the lamps of the gold lampstand. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have forsaken Him.
- Ezekiel 8:5 “Son of man,” He said to me, “now lift up your eyes to the north.” So I lifted up my eyes to the north, and in the entrance north of the Altar Gate I saw this idol of jealousy.