Ezekiel 47 6

Ezekiel 47:6 kjv

And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

Ezekiel 47:6 nkjv

He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

Ezekiel 47:6 niv

He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

Ezekiel 47:6 esv

And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

Ezekiel 47:6 nlt

He asked me, "Have you been watching, son of man?" Then he led me back along the riverbank.

Ezekiel 47 verses

Ezekiel 47 6 Meaning

Ezekiel 47:6 speaks of a man being led through water by God's direction, moving from ankle-deep to waist-deep and then to a depth that one could not wade through. This signifies a progressive spiritual encounter with God's life-giving presence.

Ezekiel 47 6 Context

Ezekiel 47 is part of the prophetic book of Ezekiel, a vision given to the exiled prophet in Babylon. This specific chapter describes a vision of a river flowing from the rebuilt temple, bringing life and healing wherever it goes. Chapter 47 details the gradual increase in the river's depth and its far-reaching impact on the desolate land and sea. The vision signifies the abundance of God's presence and blessing restored to His people and the land, a counterpoint to the desolation experienced in exile.

Ezekiel 47 6 Word analysis

• וְהוֹצִיֵנִי (və·hô·ṭî·ê·nî): "And he brought me out" or "and he caused me to go forth." This implies a directive action by God or His representative, leading the prophet.
• בָּא: (bā): "Came" or "entering."
• שַּׁעַר (ša·`ar): "Gate." Specifically, the gate of the temple.
• מִשְּׁקֶרֶת (miš·qe·reṯ): "From the threshold" or "from the opening." Refers to the exit point of the water.
• בַּבָּיִת (ba·bā·yiṯ): "Into the house" or "in the house." Refers to the temple.
• יְמִינָה (yə·mî·nāh): "To the right," indicating a directional movement towards the south side of the altar.
• מִבֹּקַע (mib·bō·qa`): "Flowing out from," signifying the source.
• אֶל־ (ʼel): "Toward" or "to."
• חוּצָה (ḥû·ṣāh): "Outside" or "outward."
• מִנֶּגֶד (min·ne·geḏ): "From opposite" or "toward."
• קַרְסוֹל (qar·sōl): "Ankle." The initial, shallowest measurement of the water's depth.
• יָמִין (yā·mîn): "Right."

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he brought me out by the gate northward, and led me about outside the gate by the outer gate, to the gate that faces east;": This establishes the prophet's guided movement through the sacred space, indicating a specific procession or path related to the temple's orientation.
• "and he brought me out by the way of the south side.": This signifies a continued, precise directional guidance, moving around the structure.
• "And, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house, eastward,": This pinpoints the miraculous origin of the waters from the very heart of the temple, symbolizing divine blessing emanating from God's dwelling.
• "and came out from the south side of the house, from the south side of the altar.": This reinforces the source of the waters and their connection to the sacred space and worship.
• "Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me about by the way without unto the outer gate, by the way that looketh eastward, and behold, waters issuing out by the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.": (This is a repeat of earlier verses, common in visions for emphasis and clarification). The repetition stresses the intimate, divinely ordained flow.
• "Then he brought me out at the way of the north gate, and led me about by the way without unto the way of the gate outward, by the way that looketh eastward, and behold, water running out on the right side of the house.": Reinforces the process.
• "When the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.": This begins the measurement and the depiction of the water's increasing depth. The ankle-deep water represents the initial, foundational level of experiencing God's presence.

Ezekiel 47 6 Bonus section

The vision of these life-giving waters has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history. Some see it as a literal prediction of a future, regenerated earth during the millennial reign of Christ, while others view it as a spiritual allegory for the outpourings of the Holy Spirit and the transformation that occurs in believers' lives through faith in Christ. The "water" is consistently understood as representing life, cleansing, and spiritual nourishment, all originating from God. The man with the measuring line represents God's ordered and precise provision, ensuring that the blessing is not chaotic but purposeful. The impossibility of wading through the river at its deepest point speaks to the immeasurable and all-sufficient nature of God's grace and power.

Ezekiel 47 6 Commentary

This verse illustrates the progressive nature of spiritual experience. The water flowing from the temple is symbolic of the life and blessing that emanate from God's presence and His Word. The progression from ankle-deep to waist-deep to an uncrossable river signifies that as one engages more deeply with God, the spiritual encounter becomes more profound and overwhelming. It highlights that genuine spirituality is not static but involves a continuous movement and growth in experiencing God's life-giving power and presence, ultimately leading to transformation.