« | Ezekiel 42 | » |
1 Then he brought me out into the outer court, by the way toward the north; and he brought me into the chamber which [was] opposite the separating courtyard, and which [was] opposite the building toward the north.
2 Facing the length, [which was] one hundred cubits (the width was fifty cubits), was the north door.
3 Opposite the inner court of twenty [cubits,] and opposite the pavement of the outer court, [was] gallery against gallery in three [stories.]
4 In front of the chambers, toward the inside, [was] a walk ten cubits wide, at a distance of one cubit; and their doors faced north.
5 Now the upper chambers [were] shorter, because the galleries took away [space] from them more than from the lower and middle stories of the building.
6 For they [were] in three [stories] and did not have pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore [the upper level] was shortened more than the lower and middle levels from the ground up.
7 And a wall which [was] outside ran parallel to the chambers, at the front of the chambers, toward the outer court; its length [was] fifty cubits.
8 The length of the chambers toward the outer court [was] fifty cubits, whereas that facing the temple [was] one hundred cubits.
9 At the lower chambers [was] the entrance on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court.
10 Also [there were] chambers in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, opposite the separating courtyard and opposite the building.
11 [There was] a walk in front of them also, and their appearance [was] like the chambers which [were] toward the north; they [were] as long and as wide as the others, and all their exits and entrances [were] according to plan.
12 And corresponding to the doors of the chambers that [were] facing south, as one enters them, [there was] a door in front of the walk, the way directly in front of the wall toward the east.
13 Then he said to me, "The north chambers [and] the south chambers, which [are] opposite the separating courtyard, [are] the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings -- the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering -- for the place [is] holy.
14 "When the priests enter them, they shall not go out of the holy [chamber] into the outer court; but there they shall leave their garments in which they minister, for they [are] holy. They shall put on other garments; then they may approach [that] which [is] for the people."
15 Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the gateway that faces toward the east, and measured it all around.
16 He measured the east side with the measuring rod, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.
17 He measured the north side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.
18 He measured the south side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
19 He came around to the west side [and] measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
20 He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred [cubits] long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.