As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through ankle-deep water. As the man went eastwardThe phrase "as the man went eastward" signifies a purposeful movement in a specific direction. In biblical symbolism, the east often represents new beginnings or divine intervention. The Hebrew word for "eastward" is "qedem," which can also imply antiquity or eternity, suggesting a journey towards something ancient yet ever-renewing. This directional movement can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual progress or the unfolding of God's eternal plan. with a measuring line in his hand
The "measuring line" is a tool of precision and order, indicating that God's plans are exact and purposeful. In Hebrew, the word for "line" is "qav," which is used in contexts of construction and design. This imagery suggests that God is the divine architect, measuring out His blessings and judgments with perfect accuracy. The presence of the measuring line underscores the theme of divine order and the meticulous nature of God's work in the world. he measured off a thousand cubits
The act of measuring "a thousand cubits" emphasizes the vastness and abundance of God's provision. The number "thousand" in Hebrew, "eleph," often symbolizes completeness or a large quantity. This measurement indicates a significant distance, suggesting that God's blessings are extensive and far-reaching. The use of "cubits," an ancient unit of measure, connects the vision to the tangible reality of the Israelites, grounding the spiritual message in their everyday experience. and led me through water
The phrase "and led me through water" evokes the image of guidance and protection. Water in the Bible often symbolizes life, cleansing, and the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for "water" is "mayim," which can represent chaos or blessing, depending on the context. Here, the water is a medium through which the prophet is led, indicating a journey of purification and spiritual growth under divine guidance. that was ankle-deep
The description "that was ankle-deep" suggests the initial stages of a spiritual journey. The Hebrew term for "ankle" is "qarqov," which implies a foundation or starting point. This depth of water represents the beginning of immersion into God's presence, a call to wade into the spiritual life. It signifies the first steps of faith, where one begins to experience the refreshing and life-giving nature of God's Spirit, encouraging believers to venture deeper into their relationship with Him. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet of God who receives visions and messages to deliver to the Israelites. In this passage, he is being guided through a vision. 2. The Man with the Measuring LineOften interpreted as an angelic figure or a divine messenger guiding Ezekiel through the vision. The measuring line symbolizes precision and divine order. 3. The TempleThe source of the river in Ezekiel's vision, representing the presence and blessing of God flowing out to the world. 4. The RiverSymbolizes the life-giving and restorative power of God, starting as a trickle and growing deeper and wider. 5. Eastward DirectionIn biblical symbolism, the east often represents new beginnings or the direction from which God's glory comes. Teaching Points God's Provision and AbundanceThe river begins as a small stream but grows deeper and wider, illustrating how God's blessings and provision can start small but increase abundantly in our lives. Spiritual Growth and DepthThe progression from ankle-deep water to deeper levels can symbolize the believer's journey in faith, encouraging us to seek deeper spiritual experiences and understanding. Divine GuidanceJust as Ezekiel is led by the man with the measuring line, believers are guided by the Holy Spirit in their walk with God, ensuring they follow His path and purpose. The Source of LifeThe temple as the source of the river reminds us that true life and restoration come from God alone, urging us to remain connected to Him. Mission and OutreachThe eastward flow of the river signifies the outward movement of God's blessings, challenging us to be channels of His love and grace to the world. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the image of the river in Ezekiel 47:3 inspire you to think about God's provision in your life? 2. In what ways can you seek deeper spiritual growth, moving from "ankle-deep" to deeper waters in your faith journey? 3. How can you be more attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, similar to how Ezekiel was led by the man with the measuring line? 4. What are some practical ways you can be a source of God's life-giving water to those around you? 5. How does the vision in Ezekiel 47:3 connect with the promise of eternal life and healing found in Revelation 22, and how does this impact your hope and perspective on the future? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 2The river flowing from Eden parallels the river in Ezekiel's vision, both symbolizing life and abundance from God. Revelation 22The river of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb echoes Ezekiel's vision, emphasizing the eternal life and healing that come from God. John 7Jesus speaks of living water flowing from within believers, connecting to the life-giving water in Ezekiel's vision. People Amos, Enan, Ezekiel, Israelites, Joseph, TamarPlaces Arabah, Berothah, Brook of Egypt, Damascus, Eneglaim, Engedi, Gilead, Great Sea, Hamath, Hauran, Hazar-enan, Hazer-hatticon, Hethlon, Jordan River, Lebo-hamath, Meribah-kadesh, Most Holy Place, Sibraim, Tamar, ZedadTopics Ankle-deep, Ankles, Caused, Causeth, Cubit, Cubits, East, Eastward, Forth, Led, Line, Measured, Measureth, Measuring, Pass, Reaching, Thousand, WatersDictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 47:1-8 4290 valleys Ezekiel 47:1-12 3290 Holy Spirit, life-giver
5059 rest, eternal Ezekiel 47:3-5 5618 measures, linear Library The River of Life
Waters issued out from under the threshold of the house ... EZEKIEL xlvii. 1. Unlike most great cities, Jerusalem was not situated on a great river. True, the inconsiderable waters of Siloam--'which flow softly' because they were so inconsiderable--rose from a crevice in the Temple rock, and beneath that rock stretched the valley of the Kedron, dry and bleached in the summer, and a rainy torrent during the rainy seasons; but that was all. So, many of the prophets, who looked forward to the better …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
Isaiah lix. 20.--"And the Redeemer shall come unto Zion, and unto them that turn," &c. Doctrines, as things, have their seasons and times. Every thing is beautiful in its season. So there is no word of truth, but it hath a season and time in which it is beautiful. And indeed that is a great part of wisdom, to bring forth everything in its season, to discern when and where, and to whom it is pertinent and edifying, to speak such and such truths. But there is one doctrine that is never out of season, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Fresh Supplies of Power.
"As the Dew." There is another very important bit needed to complete the circle of truth we are going over together in these quiet talks. Namely, the daily life after the act of surrender and all that comes with that act. The steady pull day by day. After the eagle-flight up into highest air, and the hundred yards dash, or even the mile run, comes the steady, steady walking mile after mile. The real test of life is here. And the highest victories are here, too. I recall the remark made by a friend …
S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665 …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ezekiel 47:3 NIVEzekiel 47:3 NLTEzekiel 47:3 ESVEzekiel 47:3 NASBEzekiel 47:3 KJV
Ezekiel 47:3 Commentaries
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