Ezekiel 47:3
in Ezekiel 47As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through ankle-deep water.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles.
KJV
And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.
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This verse in Ezekiel 47
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The ancles - This may coincide with the step gained in the baptism of Cornelius Acts 10, and the opening of the Church to the Gentiles. The dispersion which had followed the martyrdom of Stephen Act 11:19, had carried believers into various countries, and so paved the way for the foundation of Gentile Churches.
This site's exposition
led me through ankle-deep water
on Ezekiel 47:3-5
The man with “a measuring line in his hand” goes eastward in four stages of “a thousand cubits”, and the water deepens at each one. The prophet is led through “ankle-deep water”, then “knee-deep water”, then “waist-deep water”, until it becomes “a river that I could not cross”, “deep enough for swimming”.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Further, what says He? "And there was a river flowing on the right, and from it arose beautiful trees; and whosoever shall eat of them shall live for ever." This meaneth, that we indeed descend into the water full of sins and defilement, but come …
(Verse 3) When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles (or passed through water of remission).
The Medieval Church1 voice
After these things, the intellect comes to behold that which in Ezekiel the Prophet is indicated by the apparition of the torrent, which depicts the figure of the three stages of soul that draw nigh to things divine, and beyond the third there is no …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And when the man that had the line in his hand,....
Then they walked along on the bank of the river on the other side, a thousand cubits more, and then, to try the depth of it, they waded through it the second time, and it was up to their knees,
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
An appointment of the borders of the land of Canaan, which was to be divided by lot to the tribes of Israel and the strangers that sojourned among them,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He measured a thousand cubits - the waters were to the Ankles; a thousand more, - the waters were to the Knees; a thousand more, - they became a River that could not be forded. The waters were risen, and they were waters to Swim in. I. This may be applied to the gradual discoveries of the plan of salvation, - 1. In the patriarchal ages. 2. In the giving of the law. 3. In the ministry of John the Baptist. And, 4. In the full manifestation of Christ by the communication of the Holy Ghost. II. This vision may be applied also to the growth of a believer in the grace and knowledge of God. There is - 1. The seed of the kingdom. 2. The blade from that seed. 3. The ear out of that blade. And, 4. The full corn in that ear. III. It may be applied to the discoveries a penitent believer receives of the mercy of God in his salvation. He is - 1. A little child, born of God, born from above, and begins to taste the bread of life, and live on the heavenly food. 2. He grows up and increases in stature and strength, and becomes a young man. 3. He becomes matured in the Divine life, and has his spiritual senses exercised so as to become a father in Christ. In other words, the grace of God appears to come drop by drop; it is given as it can be used; it is a seed of light, and multiplies itself. The penitent at first can scarcely believe the infinite goodness of his Maker; he however ventures to follow on with the conducting angel, the minister of the Gospel, in his descriptions of the plenitude of that salvation, provided in that living Temple in which alone the well-spring of life is to be found. 4. In thus following on to know the Lord he finds a continual increase of light and life, till at last he is carried by the streams of grace to the ocean of eternal mercy; then “Plunged in the Godhead’s deepest sea, And lost in his immensity.” IV. […]
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּצֵאת־ | betzet- | when went out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| הָאִ֥ישׁ | haish | the man | H376 → | 1663 times |
| קָדִ֖ים | kadim | east | H6921 → | 69 times |
| וְקָ֣ו | vekav | and a measuring-line | H6957 → | |
| בְּיָד֑וֹ | beyado | [was] in hand his | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| וַיָּ֤מָד | vaiyamod | and he measured out | H4058 → | 51 times |
| אֶ֙לֶף֙ | ʾelef | a thousand | H505 → | 505 times |
| בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה | baamah | by the cubit | H520 → | 247 times |
| וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֥נִי | vaiyaavireni | and he made pass me | H5674 → | 556 times |
| בַמַּ֖יִם | vamayim | in the waters | H4325 → | 581 times |
| מֵ֥י | mei | waters of | H4325 → | 581 times |
| אָפְסָֽיִם׃ | ʾafesayim | ankles | H657 → |
בְּצֵאת־when went out
betzet-H3318 →1067 times
הָאִ֥ישׁthe man
haishH376 →1663 times
קָדִ֖יםeast
kadimH6921 →69 times
וְקָ֣וand a measuring-line
vekavH6957 →
בְּיָד֑וֹ[was] in hand his
beyadoH3027 →1618 times
וַיָּ֤מָדand he measured out
vaiyamodH4058 →51 times
אֶ֙לֶף֙a thousand
ʾelefH505 →505 times
בָּֽאַמָּ֔הby the cubit
baamahH520 →247 times
וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֥נִיand he made pass me
vaiyaavireniH5674 →556 times
בַמַּ֖יִםin the waters
vamayimH4325 →581 times
מֵ֥יwaters of
meiH4325 →581 times
אָפְסָֽיִם׃ankles
ʾafesayimH657 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 24:49And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
it leads to
- Acts 1:4
And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- Joel 2:28–32
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
- Acts 1:4
Through
Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
it leads to
- Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
- Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 4:31
After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
- Mark 16:17
Through
Revelation 11:1Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.
it leads to
- Revelation 21:15
The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 21:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this chapter
About Ezekiel
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Ezekiel; Epistle of Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter XI; Isaac of Nineveh, ASCETICAL HOMILIES 18; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.