Ezekiel 47:12 kjv
And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
Ezekiel 47:12 nkjv
Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
Ezekiel 47:12 niv
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."
Ezekiel 47:12 esv
And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
Ezekiel 47:12 nlt
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing."
Ezekiel 47 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 47:12 | And by the river on the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall his fruit fail: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. | Theme of year-round sustenance and healing |
| Genesis 2:9 | And the LORD God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. | Edenic description of fruitfulness |
| Psalm 1:3 | And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. | Prosperity tied to proximity to life-giving water |
| Psalm 23:2 | He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. | Water as a source of life and refreshment |
| Psalm 104:16 | The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; | Trees as a source of life, divinely sustained |
| Proverbs 3:18 | She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. | Wisdom as life-giving and fruitful |
| Isaiah 4:2 | In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. | Messianic prophecy linking fruitfulness to a coming deliverer |
| Isaiah 55:1 | Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. | Invitation to partake in abundant spiritual nourishment |
| Jeremiah 17:7-8 | Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, nor shall cease from yielding fruit. | Dependence on God ensures unfailing sustenance |
| Zechariah 14:8 | And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the east sea, and half of them toward the west sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. | Parallel imagery of life-giving waters emanating from a holy place |
| Matthew 13:4-9 | Hearken, O ye poor of the Lord's heritage. Hearken, ye children of the Lord. What hath he done? his horn hath he exalted among all his people, a praise for all his saints; even for the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. | Parable of the Sower - spiritual fruit from fertile ground |
| John 4:10 | Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. | Jesus as the source of "living water" leading to eternal life |
| John 7:37-38 | In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. | Belief in Jesus as the source of spiritual rivers |
| Revelation 7:16 | They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. | Eternal state of complete satisfaction and absence of want |
| Revelation 22:2 | In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. | Direct fulfillment and expansion of Ezekiel's vision in the New Jerusalem |
| Revelation 22:14 | Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. | Access to life and fruit through obedience |
Ezekiel 47 verses
Ezekiel 47 12 Meaning
This verse describes the abundance and variety of fruit that will grow year-round on the trees along the river, a direct result of the healing waters flowing from the temple. The "fruit" is not just literal produce but symbolizes sustenance, health, and vitality, mirroring God's blessings upon His people and land.
Ezekiel 47 12 Context
Ezekiel chapter 47 describes a vision of a temple with a river flowing from its sanctuary, bringing life and fertility to a previously desolate land. This chapter is part of Ezekiel's extensive prophecies concerning the future restoration of Israel. The vision of the river and its life-giving properties contrasts sharply with the historical and present state of desolation and spiritual barrenness the Israelites experienced due to their disobedience. The abundance of year-round fruit symbolizes God's complete restoration and provision for His people in the future, a tangible sign of His renewed covenant and presence. This imagery offers hope and a promise of blessing, indicating a profound transformation of both the land and its inhabitants, ultimately pointing towards the eternal kingdom.
Ezekiel 47 12 Word Analysis
- "And by the river on the bank thereof, on this side and on that side,"
- This prepositional phrase sets the location for the prolific trees. "Bank" (Hebrew: tselah) can also mean "side," emphasizing the abundance extending to both margins of the river.
- "shall grow" (Hebrew: yachaliyu - a future tense verb indicating inevitable production)
- Implies continuous and guaranteed growth.
- "all trees for meat,"
- "Trees" (etzim) encompasses all kinds of fruit-bearing trees. "Meat" (ma'achal) means "food" or "nourishment."
- This signifies complete sustenance from the land.
- "whose leaf shall not fade,"
- "Leaf" (alleh) refers to the foliage. "Fade" (katzab) implies withering or ceasing.
- This describes perpetual vitality and enduring freshness.
- "neither shall his fruit fail:"
- "Fruit" (piri) signifies the yield. "Fail" (tamoth) means to cease, end, or be completed, meaning the fruit will never be absent.
- This highlights an unbroken cycle of production.
- "it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months,"
- "Bring forth" (tahli'iy - to cause to produce) emphasizes active and consistent yielding.
- "New fruit" (chidash piri) means fresh, renewed produce.
- "According to his months" (chidshey hodesh) denotes a monthly cycle of ripening, signifying an astonishingly abundant and continuous supply.
- "because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary:"
- "Waters" (mayim) are essential for life. "Issued" (yatsu) denotes flowing forth.
- "Sanctuary" (Hebrew: miqdash) refers to the holy place, the temple.
- This is the source of the miraculous fruitfulness – the divine presence.
- "and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine."
- Repeats "meat" (ma'akal) for nourishment.
- "Leaf" (alleh) is specified for "medicine" (Hebrew: rapha' - healing or remedy).
- This underscores a dual provision: sustenance and complete restoration.
Ezekiel 47 12 Bonus Section
The imagery of year-round fruit production, yielding fruit "according to his months," highlights a complete overcoming of seasonal limitations. This speaks to the perfection and completeness of God's future provision and restoration, unlike the agricultural cycles known to the ancient world which were subject to seasons of scarcity. The dual provision of "meat" for sustenance and "medicine" for healing indicates a holistic restoration. This goes beyond mere physical nourishment to include the healing of all that has been wounded by sin and desolation. Scholars often interpret this fruitfulness and healing as symbolic of the spiritual nourishment and complete redemption believers receive through Christ, who is the true source of life and healing, and whose provision is unending.
Ezekiel 47 12 Commentary
The imagery of the trees bearing fruit year-round with leaves for medicine powerfully conveys the restorative and sustaining power of God's presence. This future abundance is not merely agricultural but speaks to spiritual health, completeness, and eternal well-being flowing directly from God's dwelling place. The perpetual fruit signifies unbroken fellowship and provision, while the medicinal leaves point to the complete healing of all that is broken – the land, the people, and even spiritual maladies. This vision is a rich foreshadowing of the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 22, where the tree of life yields its fruit perpetually, and its leaves bring healing to the nations, indicating the ultimate fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophetic vision in the eternal reign of God through Christ.