Ezekiel 47 11

Ezekiel 47:11 kjv

But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

Ezekiel 47:11 nkjv

But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt.

Ezekiel 47:11 niv

But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.

Ezekiel 47:11 esv

But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.

Ezekiel 47:11 nlt

But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty.

Ezekiel 47 verses

Ezekiel 47 11 meaning

Ezekiel 47:11 describes the specific exceptions to the life-giving, healing power of the river flowing from the Temple. While the river transforms the Dead Sea into a flourishing body of water, making it teem with life, certain marshy and swampy areas bordering this revived sea will not experience this transformation. Instead, they are designated to remain saline and infertile, serving as areas "given over to salt," implying a state of perpetual barrenness and desolation, untouched by divine restoration.

Ezekiel 47 11 Context

Ezekiel 47:11 is embedded within the climactic vision of the new Temple and land, beginning in chapter 40. Following detailed descriptions of the Temple's architecture and the divine glory returning to it (Eze 40-44), Ezekiel is shown a miraculous river flowing from the Temple altar. This river rapidly deepens, becoming an unstoppable, life-giving torrent. It flows eastward, transforming the barren Arabah Valley and flowing into the notoriously saline Dead Sea. Verse 9 states that wherever this river goes, the waters are healed, bringing an abundance of fish and diverse life. Verse 10 describes the establishment of fisheries along the river's path, symbolizing a restored, vibrant ecosystem.

Verse 11 then provides a critical caveat: not all parts of the landscape will partake in this radical healing. Specifically, "its swamps and marshes," likely the low-lying, poorly drained areas immediately bordering the newly freshened sea, are excluded from the healing. They will remain saline, marking a boundary to the divine restoration. This boundary underscores God's sovereignty, providing a striking contrast to the surrounding abundant life, possibly representing pockets of human unresponsiveness, enduring consequences of sin, or simply the divine decree that sets limits even to boundless grace in the present age. Historically, this vision offered hope to the exiled Israelites of future restoration and spiritual renewal, promising a transformation of their desolate homeland.

Ezekiel 47 11 Word analysis

• But: ve' (וְ) - a conjunction meaning "and," but here functioning adversatively, setting up a contrast with the preceding verses' emphasis on healing and life. It signals a boundary or exception.

• its: Referring to the larger area surrounding the river and the Dead Sea which is undergoing transformation.

• swamps: geva'ot (גֵּבָאוֹת) - Plural, often rendered "marshy places," "pits," or "ponds." These are low-lying areas where water collects and remains stagnant, distinct from the dynamic river and its main currents.

• and marshes: uvidchaw (וּבִדְצָיו) - Literally, "and its marshlands" or "boggy places." This term specifically denotes muddy, boggy, or watery depressions that might be less accessible or naturally hold saline water, suggesting an even more pronounced unsuitability for fresh, flowing water. The combination emphasizes various kinds of unproductive, waterlogged terrain.

• will not be healed: lo' yeiraphe'u (לֹא יֵרָפְאוּ) - The negative particle lo' ("not") combined with the Nifal imperfect plural of rapha' ("to heal," "to restore," "to make healthy"). This is a definitive statement that these areas will explicitly be excluded from the life-giving, transformative power seen elsewhere. It implies a perpetual state of sickness or brokenness in these specific regions.

• they will be given over: natunim (נְתוּנִים) - Pual participle plural of natan ("to give," "to place," "to appoint"). This passive form suggests a divine decree or consequence; these areas are definitively "appointed" or "left" to their destiny. It's not accidental, but an intentional setting aside.

• to salt: lemelach (לְמֶלַח) - Literally, "for salt" or "as salt." In the biblical context, "salt" is often associated with desolation, barrenness, and divine judgment (as seen in the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah or the practice of sowing salt on conquered cities to render them infertile). Here, it signifies the persistent, incurable sterility and desolation of these particular areas.

• Its swamps and marshes will not be healed: This phrase directly counterpoints the widespread healing described in verse 9. It establishes a clear exception, indicating that while God's restorative power is immense, it is not indiscriminately applied to every single spot. The stagnation and unresponsiveness inherent in "swamps and marshes" are left untouched.

• They will be given over to salt: This completes the declaration of non-healing with a pronouncement of enduring barrenness. Being "given over to salt" is a vivid metaphor for permanent desolation and lack of fertility, contrasting starkly with the abundant life and fruitful trees described just verses before. It points to a fixed, unchangeable state, by divine decree, setting them apart as perpetually unproductive.

Ezekiel 47 11 Bonus section

The "swamps and marshes" represent the limits of healing within this eschatological vision, an unusual detail given the otherwise total triumph of life. Some scholars propose these areas might also serve as a boundary marker, delineating the sacred, life-giving space from other regions, possibly implying that God's immediate kingdom extends to certain, but not all, reaches.

The "salt" imagery here also forms a potent polemic against human efforts to bring life or against pagan fertility rites. Human attempts to cultivate extremely saline and stagnant areas would be futile. Only divine intervention brings life to the Dead Sea itself, and even that intervention acknowledges certain impassable boundaries, emphasizing divine control and the particularity of His grace rather than a chaotic, all-consuming force. This nuance points to a discernment in God's restorative work.

Ezekiel 47 11 Commentary

Ezekiel 47:11 serves as a stark yet profound counterpoint to the glorious vision of life and healing wrought by God's river. While the river radically transforms the barren Dead Sea, giving life to all it touches (v.9-10), this verse sets a specific boundary. The "swamps and marshes" represent pockets of resistance or areas designated by divine decree to remain in their original state of desolation. The repeated "will not be healed" and "given over to salt" underscores a deliberate, sovereign exclusion from the pervasive spiritual vitality.

Theological interpretations suggest these untouched areas could symbolize:

1. Unrepentant hearts: Even amidst widespread spiritual revival and access to God's grace, there will always be those who remain hard-hearted, resistant to transformation, and barren in faith.
2. Moral corruption: Parts of life or society that steadfastly reject divine standards and remain spiritually dead, beyond the scope of this particular renewal.
3. Divine boundaries: God, in His sovereignty, chooses where His transformative power will manifest. Not everything is uniformly restored in the present age, maintaining a tension between redemption and fallenness until the ultimate consummation.
4. A reminder of judgment: The salty, desolate areas might serve as a perpetual reminder of what lies outside of God's grace, contrasting sharply with the abundance within it.

This verse offers a realistic perspective within a highly idealistic vision. While God's power to heal and restore is boundless, its application is purposeful. It challenges the idea of universal, automatic spiritual restoration for all.

Example: Just as fertile ground receives and transforms, while hard, clayey soil might reject it. Even a flourishing garden may have small, intractable patches. Spiritually, one can witness widespread revival, yet encounter individuals or areas within the "body" that remain stubbornly unresponsive to the life-giving flow of God's Spirit and word.