Bible Strands
Ezekiel 40:46
and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the only Levites who may approach the LORD to minister before Him.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The visionary "man" describes the temple's architectural layout to Ezekiel during the vision of the restored sanctuary.
The words — לִשְׁכָּה (lish.Kah) translates to "room" or "chamber," while מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mish.Me.ret) denotes a fixed "charge" or duty of watch.
The thread — The restriction to Zadokite priests for sanctuary ministry appears in Ezekiel 43:19 and Ezekiel 44:15, which limit altar service and sanctuary approach to that lineage.
Why it lands — The text identifies the north-facing chamber as the designated duty station for Zadok's sons, establishing a clear boundary for who may approach the LORD to minister. It requires the reader to recognize that access to the altar is restricted to a specific priestly lineage rather than being open to all Levites.
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 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.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 44:15 But the Levitical priests, who are descended from Zadok and who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, are to approach Me to minister before Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD.
- 1 Kings 2:35 And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.
- Ezekiel 43:19 You are to give a young bull from the herd as a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are of the family of Zadok, who approach Me to minister before Me, declares the Lord GOD.
- Numbers 16:5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses He will bring near to Himself.
- 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.
- Ezekiel 48:11 It will be for the consecrated priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept My charge and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.
- Leviticus 6:12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it.
- Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
- Numbers 16:40 just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
- Ezekiel 42:13 Then the man said to me, “The north and south chambers facing the temple courtyard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. There they will place the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings—for the place is holy.