The Meaning of Ezekiel 40:16 Explained

Ezekiel 40:16

KJV: And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.

YLT: and narrow windows are unto the little chambers, and unto their posts at the inside of the gate all round about -- and so to the arches -- and windows all round about are at the inside, and at the post are palm-trees.

Darby: And there were closed windows to the chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the projections; and the windows round about were inward; and upon each post were palm-trees.

ASV: And there were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches; and windows were round about inward; and upon each post were palm-trees.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And [there were] narrow  windows  to the little chambers,  and to their posts  within  the gate  round about,  and likewise to the arches:  and windows  [were] round about  inward:  and upon [each] post  [were] palm trees. 

What does Ezekiel 40:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

There were shuttered windows or alcoves in the exterior walls of the guardrooms and vestibule, perhaps creating cupboards for storing the utensils. [1] Representations of palm trees decorated the doorframes, one on each side of each door ( Ezekiel 40:26). Palm trees were symbols of beauty, fruitfulness, salvation, glory, and the millennial age (cf. Leviticus 23:40; 1 Kings 6:29; 1 Kings 6:32; 1 Kings 6:35; 1 Kings 7:36; 2 Chronicles 3:5; Song of Solomon 7:7; Psalm 92:12-14; Nehemiah 8:15; Zechariah 14:16-21).
"The entire gate system resembled the multiple entry gates archaeologists discovered from the Solomonic period. There were several guard rooms (cf1Kings24 [2]:28; 2 Chronicles 12:11), or alcoves, on either side of the inner part of the Solomonic gate." [3]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 40

1  The time, manner, and end of the vision of the city and temple
6  The description of the east gate of the outer court
20  of the north gate
24  of the south gate
27  of the south gate of the inner court
32  of the east gate
35  and of the north gate
39  Eight tables
44  The chambers
48  The porch of the house

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 40:16 mean?

And [There] [were] window [frames] beveled in the gate chambers and in their [intervening] archways on the inside of the gateway all around and likewise in the vestibules And [There] [were] windows around on the inside and on each gatepost [were] palm trees
וְחַלֹּנ֣וֹת אֲטֻמ֣וֹת אֶֽל־ הַתָּאִ֡ים וְאֶל֩ אֵלֵיהֵ֨מָה לִפְנִ֤ימָה לַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ סָבִ֣יב ׀ סָבִ֔יב וְכֵ֖ן לָאֵֽלַמּ֑וֹת וְחַלּוֹנ֞וֹת סָבִיב֙ לִפְנִ֔ימָה וְאֶל־ אַ֖יִל תִּמֹרִֽים

וְחַלֹּנ֣וֹת  And  [There]  [were]  window  [frames] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common plural
Root: חַלֹּון 
Sense: window (piercing of the wall).
אֲטֻמ֣וֹת  beveled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine plural
Root: אָטַם  
Sense: to shut, shut up, close.
הַתָּאִ֡ים  the  gate  chambers 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: תָּא  
Sense: chamber, guardroom.
וְאֶל֩  and  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֵלֵיהֵ֨מָה  their  [intervening]  archways 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אַיִל 
Sense: ram.
לִפְנִ֤ימָה  on  the  inside 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adverb
Root: פְּנִימָה  
Sense: toward the inside, within, faceward.
לַשַּׁ֙עַר֙  of  the  gateway 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
סָבִ֔יב  around 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
וְכֵ֖ן  and  likewise 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
לָאֵֽלַמּ֑וֹת  in  the  vestibules 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֵילָם  
Sense: porch, vestibule, portico.
וְחַלּוֹנ֞וֹת  And  [There]  [were]  windows 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common plural
Root: חַלֹּון 
Sense: window (piercing of the wall).
סָבִיב֙  around 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
לִפְנִ֔ימָה  on  the  inside 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adverb
Root: פְּנִימָה  
Sense: toward the inside, within, faceward.
וְאֶל־  and  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אַ֖יִל  each  gatepost  [were] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַיִל 
Sense: ram.
תִּמֹרִֽים  palm  trees 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: תִּמֹרָה  
Sense: palm tree figure (as ornament).