Ezekiel 47 10

Ezekiel 47:10 kjv

And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

Ezekiel 47:10 nkjv

It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many.

Ezekiel 47:10 niv

Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds?like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.

Ezekiel 47:10 esv

Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.

Ezekiel 47:10 nlt

Fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea. All the way from En-gedi to En-eglaim, the shores will be covered with nets drying in the sun. Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean.

Ezekiel 47 verses

Ezekiel 47 10 meaning

Ezekiel 47:10 presents a prophetic vision of unparalleled transformation and abundance. It describes a future where the desolate and lifeless Dead Sea will be completely revitalized by a river flowing from the temple, becoming so fresh and teeming with diverse fish that fishermen will line its shores from one end (En Gedi) to the other (En Eglaim), spreading their nets and harvesting vast quantities of fish. This incredible bounty is explicitly compared to the prolific catch of the Mediterranean Sea, underscoring the miraculous and supernatural extent of this divine restoration, where death yields to overflowing life, all stemming from God's active presence.

Ezekiel 47 10 Context

Ezekiel 47:10 is an integral part of the grand temple vision of Ezekiel chapters 40-48, which describes a restored Israel, a new temple, and a reorganized land in the Messianic era. Specifically, this verse elaborates on the miraculous river first mentioned in 47:1, which flows from the temple eastward. This river dramatically grows in depth and width, becoming a powerful life-giver. Its path takes it to the Dead Sea (historically known as the Salt Sea or Sea of Arabah), a body of water notoriously sterile due to its high salinity. For the prophet Ezekiel and his audience, largely exiles in Babylon, this vision offered a profound message of hope, assurance of divine presence, and complete restoration for their desolate land and their covenant relationship with God. The Dead Sea's transformation from a symbol of judgment and death into a source of unparalleled life and productivity was the ultimate sign of God's regenerative power, reversing the very conditions of creation's curse.

Ezekiel 47 10 Word analysis

• It shall be that fishermen (וְהָיָה דַּוָּגִים – wĕhāyāh dawwāgîm):

  • וְהָיָה (wĕhāyāh): A prophetic idiom "And it shall be," signalling a divinely assured future event.
  • דַּוָּגִים (dawwāgîm): "Fishermen," emphasizing an active human presence benefiting from the miraculous transformation, signaling flourishing economic activity.

• will stand by it (יַעַמְדוּ עָלָיו – yaʿămədû ʿālāyw):

  • יַעַמְדוּ (yaʿămədû): "They will stand," denoting an established, continuous, and successful engagement.
  • עָלָיו (ʿālāyw): "By it," referring to the waters of the now-fresh Dead Sea.

• from En Gedi to En Eglaim (מֵעֵין גֶּדִי וְעַד עֵין עֶגְלַיִם – mêʿên Gedî wĕʿad ʿÊyn ʿEg layim):

  • מֵעֵין גֶּדִי (mêʿên Gedî): "From En Gedi," a fertile oasis and spring on the western Dead Sea shore, indicating the southwestern limit.
  • וְעַד עֵין עֶגְלַיִם (wĕʿad ʿÊyn ʿEg layim): "And to En Eglaim," an unknown location, likely on the northern or eastern shore. Its pairing with En Gedi defines the entire geographical expanse of the Dead Sea, from one end to the other, completely transformed.

• they will spread their nets (מִשְׁרְוֹת – mišrĕwôṯ):

  • מִשְׁרְוֹת (mišrĕwôṯ): Describes the action of "spreading out nets," illustrating successful and routine fishing activity, made possible by divine grace.

• their fish will be of a great many kinds (דָּגָה תִּהְיֶה לָהֶם לְמִינָהּ הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד – dāgāh tihyeh lāhem ləmînāh harbêh meʾōd):

  • דָּגָה תִּהְיֶה לָהֶם (dāgāh tihyeh lāhem): "There will be fish for them."
  • לְמִינָהּ (ləmînāh): "Of its kind," signifying not just quantity, but a rich biological diversity and a thriving, balanced ecosystem.
  • הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד (harbêh meʾōd): "Very many," a strong superlative stressing an immense quantity.

• like the fish of the Great Sea, very many (כְּדְגַת הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד – kidgaṯ hayyām haggādôl harbêh meʾōd):

  • כְּדְגַת (kidgaṯ): "Like the fish of," introducing a crucial comparison.
  • הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל (hayyām haggādôl): "The Great Sea," refers to the Mediterranean Sea, renowned in antiquity for its vastness, depth, and abundant, varied marine life. This comparison underscores the unimaginable, supernatural level of blessing and vitality bestowed upon the formerly barren Dead Sea.
  • הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד (harbêh meʾōd): Repeatedly emphasizes extraordinary, unprecedented abundance, solidifying the miraculous nature of the prophecy.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim": This phrase geographically delineates the full extent of the Dead Sea, portraying a scenario where the entire body of water, from north to south, is uniformly transformed and actively utilized by thriving human industry. It speaks to total renewal and widespread prosperity.
  • "they will spread their nets, their fish will be of a great many kinds": This highlights both the sustained activity of the beneficiaries and the quality of the blessing. The successful spreading of nets implies unfailing catches, and the emphasis on "many kinds" illustrates not mere survival, but a vibrant, diverse ecosystem restored to a state beyond natural capacity.
  • "like the fish of the Great Sea, very many": This hyperbolic comparison serves to stress the extraordinary and miraculous nature of the transformation. It moves beyond mere abundance to unimaginable plenty, drawing a parallel to the most fertile and life-filled sea known, setting a standard of divine blessing that far exceeds normal expectations.

Ezekiel 47 10 Bonus section

The imagery of fishing in Ezekiel 47:10 not only signifies physical sustenance and economic prosperity but also holds deep symbolic value, foreshadowing later spiritual applications. In the New Testament, Jesus calls His disciples to be "fishers of men," echoing this Old Testament theme of drawing many into new life from spiritual barrenness. The "great many kinds" of fish could represent the diverse peoples of all nations that will be gathered into God's kingdom during the eschatological age, a spiritual harvest enabled by the living water, which is the Spirit of God and the Word of God, flowing from His dwelling place. This transformation from death to teeming life underscores the absolute and comprehensive nature of God's redemptive work, touching every aspect of existence – land, sea, and humanity.

Ezekiel 47 10 Commentary

Ezekiel 47:10 masterfully conveys God's power to reverse desolation and bring forth super-abundant life from the very presence of His holy temple. The Dead Sea, a biblical symbol of judgment and sterility, is depicted as being miraculously transformed into an oceanic source of life and provision, populated by active fishermen across its entire breadth. This prophecy reassures the exilic community, offering a vision of radical physical and spiritual restoration, demonstrating that God's grace can reclaim and reanimate even the most seemingly hopeless situations. The abundance of diverse fish, likened to the rich harvests of the Mediterranean, symbolizes an overwhelming plenitude of God's blessings, pointing to a future era of unmatched prosperity and vitality, all initiated and sustained by divine intervention through the life-giving flow of His Spirit.