Ezekiel 47 7

Ezekiel 47:7 kjv

Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

Ezekiel 47:7 nkjv

When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other.

Ezekiel 47:7 niv

When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.

Ezekiel 47:7 esv

As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other.

Ezekiel 47:7 nlt

When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river.

Ezekiel 47 verses

Ezekiel 47 7 meaning

This verse provides a vivid image of immediate and prolific life arising from the river that flows from the temple. It describes the prophet's return to witness an astonishing abundance of diverse trees lining both banks of the life-giving stream. This scene dramatically illustrates the restorative power and blessing inherent in God's presence and provision, symbolizing a divine transformation that turns desolation into an Edenic landscape of flourishing vitality.

Ezekiel 47 7 Context

Ezekiel 47:7 is part of a monumental vision given to the prophet Ezekiel concerning a restored temple and a miraculously revitalized land, promised to the exilic and post-exilic Jewish communities. Chapters 40-48 intricately detail a new, idealized temple structure, its dimensions, and worship. Chapter 47 specifically introduces a stream of life-giving water that issues forth from under the threshold of this temple. Starting as a trickle, it steadily deepens into a mighty, uncrossable river as it flows eastward. This river dramatically transforms everything it touches, healing the Dead Sea and teeming with life. Verse 7 specifically recounts Ezekiel's direct observation of the abundant, luxuriant growth—"very many trees"—that springs up along both banks of this burgeoning river. For an audience facing a devastated homeland, this vision offered immense hope for physical and spiritual renewal, pointing to a future era of abundant blessing, profound fertility, and God's powerful restorative presence.

Ezekiel 47 7 Word analysis

• When I returned (וָאָשׁוּב, wa'ashuv)
  • Word: Root שׁוּב (shuv), "to turn, return."
  • Significance: Implies the prophet's directed movement by the guiding angel, emphasizing a specific observation point to witness the river's effects. It highlights the divine direction in his seeing and understanding the vision.
• behold (וְהִנֵּה, wəhinneh)
  • Word: הִנֵּה (hinneh), "behold, look, pay attention!"
  • Significance: An exclamatory particle that commands immediate attention to a striking, significant, or divinely revealed aspect of the vision. It cues the reader to the wonder and importance of what follows.
• on the bank (עַל שְׂפַת הַנָּהָר, ʿal sfat hanahar)
  • Word: שְׂפַת (s'fat), meaning "lip, edge, bank" (often used for riverbanks).
  • Significance: This common Hebrew idiom precisely designates the immediate area where the land meets the life-giving water, underscoring the direct impact zone of the river's vivifying power.
• of the river (הַנָּהָר, hanahar)
  • Word: נָהָר (nahar), "river, stream."
  • Significance: This is the central, miraculous stream of Ezekiel 47, unequivocally identified as flowing from the temple (God's presence). It symbolizes divine provision, purification, spiritual healing, and an unstoppable source of life.
• very many trees (עֵץ רַב מְאֹד, etz rav me'od)
  • Words: עֵץ (etz), "tree, wood"; רַב (rav), "many, great, much"; מְאֹד (me'od), "very, exceedingly."
  • Significance: The cumulative effect of these words conveys an extraordinary, unprecedented abundance. This isn't mere natural regrowth but a miraculous profusion of lush vegetation, symbolizing profound health, vitality, sustained fruitfulness, and life beyond natural limits. It echoes Edenic paradise.
• on the one side and on the other (מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה, mizzeh u’mizzeh)
  • Significance: This phrase emphatically indicates that the verdant growth is comprehensive and pervasive. The abundance is not limited to one spot but covers both sides of the river, showcasing a complete and balanced renewal of the landscape by divine action.

• "When I returned, behold": This phrase marks a deliberate moment of prophetic observation, emphasizing the sudden and awe-inspiring nature of the discovery made by the prophet. The divine orchestration allows Ezekiel to personally witness the transformative effect.
• "on the bank of the river": Precisely locates the origin of the observed vitality, directly attributing the profuse growth to the waters emanating from the divine source, thus highlighting cause and effect in God's restorative work.
• "very many trees": This tripartite expression—"trees," "many," and "very"—signifies an explosion of life, an unparalleled resurgence of botanical vitality. It signifies prosperity, sustained life, and a reversal of barrenness, surpassing any ordinary natural recovery.
• "on the one side and on the other": Underlines the pervasive and total impact of the river. The life it brings is not selective or sparse but blankets the entire vicinity, signifying complete and boundless blessing that surrounds and nurtures.

Ezekiel 47 7 Bonus section

The vision in Ezekiel 47, including verse 7, carries strong Edenic undertones, signaling a return to the paradisiacal conditions that existed before the Fall (Gen 2-3). The abundance of trees along the life-giving river explicitly links back to the Garden of Eden's river system and the prominent "tree of life." This is not just a poetic echo but a prophetic promise of an ultimate, complete restoration—a new creation where the brokenness of the world is reversed. This divine agricultural boom stands in stark contrast to the historical desolation of the land experienced by the exiles, highlighting the extraordinary and supernatural power of God's redemptive work. It emphasizes that this transformation is initiated and sustained purely by the outflow of God's sacred dwelling, signifying a reality deeply rooted in His holiness and restorative power. The trees mentioned, though undescribed in this verse, are later identified as bearing fruit "for food" and leaves "for healing" (Ezek 47:12), deepening their significance as a source of sustained sustenance and restorative health for a redeemed world.

Ezekiel 47 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 47:7 presents a powerful tableau of divine restoration, showcasing the instantaneous and prolific generation of life around the temple's sacred river. The imagery moves beyond simple description, illustrating the life-giving nature of God's direct presence flowing outwards to transform creation. The "very many trees" flourishing "on both sides" speak to a holistic, overflowing, and balanced renewal, fundamentally reversing the curse of barrenness. This vision underscores God as the ultimate, supernatural source of vitality, health, and spiritual abundance, culminating in an eschatological re-creation that recalls and surpasses the Garden of Eden. It reveals that where God's active presence flows, exponential life and unprecedented fruitfulness will emerge.Practical Usage: This verse offers profound assurance that regardless of spiritual dryness or desolation in life or community, where God's Spirit and truth are allowed to flow freely, transformation, abundance, and growth are certain. It encourages actively seeking and living in the divine current of God's presence, trusting in His capacity to bring life and fruitfulness to seemingly barren areas.