Ezekiel 47:5 kjv
Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
Ezekiel 47:5 nkjv
Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.
Ezekiel 47:5 niv
He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in?a river that no one could cross.
Ezekiel 47:5 esv
Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.
Ezekiel 47:5 nlt
Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through.
Ezekiel 47 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 47:5 | "Then he measured a thousand cubits, and the water was ankle-deep." | The initial measurement and shallow depth |
| Ezekiel 47:6 | "Again he measured a thousand cubits, and the water was knee-deep." | Increasing depth, symbolizing growth |
| Ezekiel 47:7 | "Again he measured a thousand cubits, and it was waist-high." | Further increase, signifying greater empowerment |
| Ezekiel 47:8 | "Again he measured a thousand cubits, and it was a river that I could not cross." | Uncrossable depth, representing overwhelming abundance |
| Revelation 22:1 | "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal..." | Echoes the imagery of a life-giving river |
| John 7:38 | "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’" | Christ’s promise of abundant spiritual life |
| Psalm 46:4 | "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God..." | The river as a source of joy and divine blessing |
| Isaiah 8:6 | "the people who walk in darkness have seen a great light..." | The river bringing light and life to barren places |
| Amos 5:24 | "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" | The river symbolizing God's justice and righteousness |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you..." | The spreading influence of God’s power |
| Genesis 2:10 | "A river watering the garden flowed from Eden..." | The river’s source connected to paradise |
| Jeremiah 17:13 | "the spring of the living waters." | The source of divine life |
| Zechariah 14:8 | "On that day living waters shall flow from Jerusalem..." | Prophetic connection to Jerusalem and life |
| 1 Corinthians 10:4 | "...and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ." | The river as a spiritual sustenance |
| Matthew 13:23 | "But the seed on good soil represents those who hear the word and understand it..." | The river nourishing growth and fruitfulness |
| Revelation 21:10 | "...and he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God..." | Vision of a heavenly, life-giving city |
| John 4:14 | "but whoever drinks from the water I give him will never thirst again." | Water that satisfies eternally |
| Ezekiel 1:20 | "Wherever the Spirit went, the living beings went, also the wheels." | Connection to the Spirit's movement |
| Psalm 36:8 | "They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights." | Divine provision and pleasure |
| Joel 3:18 | "And in that day it shall come to pass that the mountains shall drip with sweet wine..." | Prophetic imagery of abundance and blessing |
Ezekiel 47 verses
Ezekiel 47 5 Meaning
Ezekiel 47:5 describes the mystical river flowing from the threshold of the temple, becoming progressively deeper. The water’s movement signifies God's life-giving presence and the spread of His kingdom, originating from His dwelling place and extending outward. The increasing depth suggests the ever-expanding power and richness of God's blessings and spiritual influence.
Ezekiel 47 5 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel’s vision in chapters 40-48, which describes a detailed future temple and its surroundings. The vision occurs during the Babylonian exile, offering a message of hope and restoration for the returned exiles. The river is shown emanating from the sanctuary, specifically from the south side of the altar (Ezekiel 40:1), symbolizing God's presence and the renewal of His covenant with His people. Historically, such vivid river imagery was potent for an audience in a relatively arid region, representing life, fertility, and God’s provision in a miraculous way.
Ezekiel 47 5 Word Analysis
- וְ“ (wə-) - Conjunction "and." Connects this verse to the preceding description of the waters.
- שָׁ“ (sha- / sha’a-) - Imperfect verb, third person masculine singular from שָׁאָה (sha’ah), meaning "to measure." It describes the act of measuring.
- אַ“ (a-) - Prefix "a" or "one."
- “לֶ”“ (le-/ alap) - Numeral "thousand."
- “אַ““ (a-) - "cubits." A cubit is an ancient unit of length, approximately the length of a forearm from the elbow to the fingertip (about 18-20 inches or 45-50 cm).
- וְ““““ (wə-) - "and."
- “ה““““‘“ (ha- / mayim) - Plural noun "waters."
- “נ““““‘““ (na'-) - Adverb "now," or an emphatic particle indicating the present state.
- “““““‘“‘““ (miql qav ha-bayith) - "from the water of the house/temple." Indicates the source of the waters is the temple complex.
- “““““‘“‘“‘“ (qal in the construct state, meaning "shallow," "light," or "low"). Used here as an adjective describing the water.
- “““““‘“‘“‘“““ (qal) - Noun, "foot" or "ankle." Combined with "qal," it means "ankle-deep."
Words-group by words-group Analysis
- "he measured a thousand cubits": This signifies a progressive, systematic unfolding of God’s work or blessing, moving outward in defined stages. It is not haphazard but controlled and purposeful.
- "and the water was ankle-deep": Represents an initial, tangible but limited experience of God's blessing or presence. It’s enough to feel but not enough to overwhelm or fully transform. This suggests the beginning of God’s active involvement, which can be perceived on a personal level.
Ezekiel 47 5 Bonus Section
This verse establishes a pattern of progressive increase in depth that continues in the subsequent verses. The unchanging measurement unit (one thousand cubits) coupled with increasing water depth emphasizes that the source (the temple/God’s presence) is constant, but its effect becomes increasingly powerful and far-reaching as one moves away from the immediate vicinity of the source. This imagery is powerfully linked to the work of the Holy Spirit, which empowers believers for mission and testimony, originating from God’s dwelling place (the church/believers themselves).
Ezekiel 47 5 Commentary
The measurement of a thousand cubits leading to ankle-deep water signifies the initial impact of God’s outflowing presence. This initial measure represents the first tangible experience of God's revitalizing power. It is a depth that one can easily step into, indicating an accessible beginning of God's blessing, allowing individuals to engage with His presence on a personal level. This foundational experience then prompts further engagement, leading to greater depths and fuller immersion in God's life-giving provision.