A read out device for reading out a data word from a memory cell is described. The read out device has memory cells, inputs for input variables for selecting a memory cell and a hierarchical arrangement of multiplexers having N hierarchical levels. The control inputs of the multiplexers of a hierarchical level are connected to an input, the inputs of the hierarchical arrangement of multiplexers are connected to the outputs of the memory cells and the number of memory cells is less than 2N.