New American Standard Bible 1995

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Ezekiel

42

:

3

Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Opposite in front of, in sight of, opposite to sub H5048 נֶ֣גֶד ne·ged
the twenty twenty Noun H6242 הָֽעֶשְׂרִ֗ים ha·'es·rim
[cubits] which who, which, that Particle H834 אֲשֶׁר֙ a·sher
belonged to the inner inner Adjective H6442 הַפְּנִימִ֔י hap·pe·ni·mi,
court, enclosure, court Noun H2691 לֶחָצֵ֣ר le·cha·tzer
and opposite in front of, in sight of, opposite to sub H5048 וְנֶ֣גֶד ve·ne·ged
the pavement pavement Noun H7531 רִֽצְפָ֔ה ritz·fah,
which who, which, that Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֖ר a·sher
belonged to the outer outer, external Adjective H2435 הַחִֽיצֹונָ֑ה ha·chi·tzo·v·nah;
court, enclosure, court Noun H2691 לֶחָצֵ֣ר le·cha·tzer
[was] gallery a gallery, porch H863    
corresponding to, into, towards Prepostion H413 אֶל־ el-
to gallery a gallery, porch H863    
in three third (an ord. number) Adjective H7992 בַּשְּׁלִשִֽׁים׃ ba·she·li·shim.
Analysis:

Three: Purposes of God in: Testing, revealing, proving, documenting, victory and if applied to God, holiness

The number "three" is one of the most significant numbers in the Scriptures. Its primary purpose is for the sake of revealing or documenting something as fact (testing to validate something). It is also connected to the outcome of the will of God. One of the most famous occurrences for the number three is found in the book of Jonah, where Jonah is in the belly of the fish "three days and three nights."  A major aspect of the book of Jonah is that the prophet was fleeing from the presence of HaShem. Instead of Jonah going to Nineveh as God had commanded, the prophet desired not to obey this commandment, even if it meant that his relationship with God would be destroyed. HaShem decided to test to see if Jonah preferred to end his relationship with God rather than go to Nineveh. By placing Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, it would be revealed whether it was true that Jonah wanted to end his relationship with God over this commandment to go to Nineveh. It is most significant that immediately after (in the next verse) the reader is informed that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.  What does Jonah do? The text states that Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from within the fish. Hence, the three days and three nights ultimately revealed, proved, or documented that what Jonah said he wanted was not true. One could also say that Jonah was tested for those three days and three nights and the test results showed that he did not want to end his relationship with God and in the end Jonah went to Nineveh.

In a similar manner, Peter rejects Yeshua's statement that he will deny Him. Therefore, Yeshua says to Peter that he will deny Him three times. These three denials prove, document, and reveal to the reader that Yeshua's statement was factual. It is not a coincidence that when Yeshua reinstated Peter after the resurrection, He asked him three times, "do you love Me?” In this context, Yeshua was testing the validity of Peter's statement. 

Yeshua also revealed that He, in a similar manner to Jonah being in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, would be in the belly of the earth three days and three nights and then rise from the dead. In this passage, the number three not only documents the fact that He died, but also the resurrection. It is also very significant that Yeshua rose on the third day.

The number three also relates to victory, as in the completion of God's purposes and plans. In the book of Genesis, one reads about the offering of Isaac. This passage has great theological significance and is one of the first passages which is read in the morning synagogue service each day. This section begins with HaShem commanding Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering on one of the mountains in the land of Moriah. The climax of this portion of Scripture comes about on the third day. It was on the third day that HaShem provided the ram so that Isaac would live. In this passage, Isaac represents the promise (of God) which would have died (ended) had not HaShem acted. There is not a conflict between the two concepts for the number three of victory (the fulfillment of God’s will) and revelation or documentation. Often, it is the climax of what HaShem wants to do, which is simply being revealed or proved with the use of the number three.

Please note that when the number three is applied to God, then it can relate to holiness; whereas the number seven relates to holiness when this number is about man (see explanation for the number seven).

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

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Parallel Verses

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New American Standard Bible 1995 Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories.
King James Bible Opposite Over against the twenty cubits which belonged to were for the inner court, and opposite over against the pavement which belonged to was for the outer utter court, was gallery corresponding to against gallery in three stories.
Hebrew Greek English Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories.