« | Ezekiel 42 | » |
1 Then he led me north to the outer court, bringing me to some chambers on the north that lay across the free area and which were also across from the building.
2 Their length was a hundred cubits on the north side, and they were fifty cubits wide.
3 Across the twenty cubits of the inner court and the pavement of the outer court, there were three parallel rows of them on different levels.
4 In front of the chambers, to the inside, was a walk ten cubits broad and a wall of one cubit; but the entrances of the chambers were on the north.
5 The outermost chambers were the lowest, for the system of levels set them at a level lower than the closest chambers and those in between;
6 for they were in three rows and had no foundations to conform with the foundations of the courts, therefore they were on a lower terrace of the ground than the closest and the middle chambers.
7 On the far side there was a wall running parallel to the chambers along the outer court; its length before these chambers was fifty cubits,
8 for the length of the chambers belonging to the outer court was fifty cubits, but along its entire length the wall measured one hundred cubits.
9 Below these chambers there was the way in from the east, so that one could enter from the outer court
10 where the wall of the court began. To the south along the side of the free area and the building there were also chambers,
11 before which was a passage. These looked like the chambers to the north, just as long and just as wide, with the same exits and plan and entrances.
12 Below the chambers to the south there was an entrance at the beginning of the way which led to the back wall, by which one could enter from the east.
13 He said to me, "The north and south chambers which border on the free area are the sanctuary chambers; here the priests who draw near to the LORD shall eat the most sacred meals, and here they shall keep the most sacred offerings: cereal offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings; for it is a holy place.
14 When the priests have once entered, they shall not leave the holy place for the outer court until they have left here the clothing in which they ministered, for it is holy. They shall put on other garments, and then approach the place destined for the people."
15 When he had finished measuring the inner temple area, he brought me out by way of the gate which faces east and measured all the limits of the court.
16 He measured the east side: five hundred cubits by his measuring rod. Then he turned
17 and measured the north side: five hundred cubits by the measuring rod. He turned
18 to the south and measured five hundred cubits by the measuring rod.
19 Then he turned to the west and measured five hundred cubits by the measuring rod.
20 Thus he measured it in the four directions, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide. It was surrounded by a wall, to separate the sacred from the profane.
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU)
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU) is a highly respected English translation of the Bible known for its rigorous adherence to the original languages of Scripture. First published in 1995 by the Lockman Foundation, the NASU is an update of the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which was originally completed in 1971. The NASU seeks to improve upon the NASB by enhancing readability and modernizing the language while maintaining the translation’s reputation for being one of the most literal translations available. This makes the NASU a preferred choice for serious Bible study, preaching, and teaching.
A key feature of the NASU is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation philosophy. The translators aimed to produce a text that is as close as possible to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. This approach ensures that the NASU captures the precise meaning and structure of the original texts, providing readers with a highly accurate and reliable representation of the Scriptures. The use of formal equivalence makes the NASU particularly valuable for those who desire a deep and detailed understanding of the Bible, including scholars, theologians, and students of the Word.
In updating the NASB, the NASU made several important changes to improve clarity and readability. While maintaining the accuracy and literalness of the translation, the NASU incorporates modern English expressions and smoother sentence structures. This makes the text more accessible to contemporary readers without compromising the precision that the NASB is known for. The NASU also includes updated cross-references and footnotes, which provide additional context and insights, further aiding in the study and understanding of the biblical text.
Despite its many strengths, the NASU has faced some criticism. Some readers and scholars argue that the translation’s emphasis on literalness can sometimes result in a text that feels stiff or less fluid than more dynamic translations. Additionally, while the NASU’s updated language makes it more accessible, some feel that it could go further in adapting to contemporary usage without losing its accuracy. Nevertheless, the New American Standard Updated Version remains a highly esteemed translation, valued for its fidelity to the original texts and its usefulness for in-depth study and precise interpretation of the Bible.