Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 47

Introduction

Overview

Ezekiel 47:1, The vision of the holy waters; Ezekiel 47:6, The virtue of them; Ezekiel 47:13, The borders of the land; Ezekiel 47:22, The division of it by lot.

Verse 1

the door: Ezekiel 41:2, Ezekiel 41:23-26

waters issued: Solomon's temple and the second temple were doubtless well supplied with water, probably conveyed there by means of pipes; but these waters flowed from the temple, not as a common sewer, but as a fertilizing river. A fountain producing abundance of water was not in the temple, and could not be there on the top of such a hill; and consequently these waters, as well as those spoken of by Joel and Zechariah, must be understood figuratively and typically. These waters doubtless were an emblem of the "gospel preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;" and their gradual rise beautifully represents it progress, from small beginnings to an immensely large increase; and the latter part of the representation may relate to the times when it shall fill the earth, and produce the most extensive and important effects on the state of making in every nation. Psalms 46:4, Isaiah 30:25, Isaiah 55:1, Jeremiah 2:13, Joel 3:18, Zechariah 13:1, Zechariah 14:8, John 7:37-39, Revelation 22:1, Revelation 22:17

from under the threshold: Ezekiel 47:12, Isaiah 2:3

Reciprocal: Joshua 2:5 - of shutting 2 Kings 5:12 - better 2 Kings 5:14 - went he down Psalms 110:2 - out Isaiah 35:6 - for Isaiah 41:18 - General Isaiah 51:5 - my salvation Ezekiel 40:6 - threshold Micah 5:7 - as a dew Zechariah 14:4 - half of the Matthew 13:32 - the least Luke 13:19 - and it John 4:10 - living John 7:38 - out Revelation 22:2 - the midst

Verse 2

northward: Ezekiel 44:2, Ezekiel 44:4

Reciprocal: Joshua 2:5 - of shutting Ezekiel 40:35 - to the

Verse 3

the man: Ezekiel 40:3, Zechariah 2:1, Revelation 11:1, Revelation 21:15

waters were to the ankles: Heb. waters of the ancles, Luke 24:49, Acts 2:4, Acts 2:33, Acts 10:45, Acts 10:46, Acts 11:16-18

Reciprocal: Zechariah 1:16 - and

Verse 4

the waters were to the knees: Acts 19:10-20, Romans 15:19, Colossians 1:6

Reciprocal: Zechariah 2:1 - a man

Verse 5

waters to swim in: Heb. waters of swimming, Isaiah 11:9, Daniel 2:34, Daniel 2:35, Habakkuk 2:14, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:32, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 11:15, Revelation 20:2-4

Verse 6

hast thou: Ezekiel 8:17, Ezekiel 40:4, Ezekiel 44:5, Jeremiah 1:11-13, Zechariah 4:2, Zechariah 5:2, Matthew 13:51

Reciprocal: Psalms 107:35 - turneth

Verse 7

bank: Heb. lip, 1 Kings 9:26, 2 Kings 2:13, *marg.

many: Ezekiel 47:12, Genesis 2:9, Genesis 2:10, Revelation 22:2

Reciprocal: Joel 2:20 - the east

Verse 8

and go down: Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 35:7, Isaiah 41:17-19, Isaiah 43:20, Isaiah 44:3-5, Isaiah 49:9, Jeremiah 31:9

desert: or, plain, Deuteronomy 3:17, Deuteronomy 4:49, Joshua 3:16

the sea: This was the Dead sea, or sea of Sodom, east of Jerusalem, in which it is said no living creature is found; or, at least, from its extreme saltness, it does not abound with fish like other seas. The healing of these waters denotes the calling of the Gentiles.

the waters: 2 Kings 2:19-22, Isaiah 11:6-9, Malachi 1:11, Matthew 13:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 34:3 - salt sea eastward Joshua 15:2 - the salt sea 2 Kings 2:21 - I have healed Joel 2:20 - the east Matthew 12:43 - dry Luke 11:24 - dry John 5:4 - was made James 3:12 - so Revelation 22:2 - healing

Verse 9

every thing: John 3:16, John 11:26

rivers: Heb. two rivers, Psalms 78:16

shall live: John 5:25, John 6:63, John 11:25, John 14:6, John 14:19, Romans 8:2, 1 Corinthians 15:45, Ephesians 2:1-5

a very great: Isaiah 49:12, Isaiah 60:3-10, Zechariah 2:11, Zechariah 8:21-23, Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47, Acts 4:4, Acts 5:14, Acts 6:7, Acts 21:20, Greek

for they: Exodus 15:26, Psalms 103:3, Isaiah 30:26

Reciprocal: Matthew 4:19 - I will Luke 5:10 - from

Verse 10

fishers: Apostles and preachers of the gospel. Matthew 4:19, Matthew 13:47-50, Mark 1:17, Luke 5:4-10, John 21:3-11

Engedi: 2 Chronicles 20:2

the fish: Great quantities of all kinds of fish usually caught in the Mediterranean, genuine converts of all nations, kindreds, and people.

the great sea: Ezekiel 47:15, Ezekiel 48:28, Numbers 34:6, Joshua 23:4, Psalms 104:25

exceeding: Isaiah 49:12, Isaiah 49:20

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 23:29 - General Isaiah 15:8 - Eglaim Isaiah 19:8 - General Ezekiel 26:5 - the spreading Luke 5:10 - from

Verse 11

the miry places: Those who reject, neglect, or pervert the gospel.

shall not be healed, they shall be: or, and that which shall not be

shall be: etc. Hebrews 6:4-8, Hebrews 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:19-22, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:11

given: Deuteronomy 29:23, Judges 9:45, Psalms 107:34, Jeremiah 17:6, Mark 9:48, Mark 9:49

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 2:20 - salt therein Job 39:6 - barren land Daniel 12:10 - but the wicked

Verse 12

by the river: Ezekiel 47:7, Psalms 92:12, Isaiah 60:21, Isaiah 61:3

grow: Heb. come up

trees for meat: Probably, believers, "trees of righteousness," who still bring forth, "fruit unto holiness," and "whose end is eternal life."

whose: Job 8:16, Psalms 1:3, Jeremiah 17:8

new: or, principal

medicine: or, bruises and sores, Isaiah 1:6, Jeremiah 8:22, Revelation 22:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:9 - tree of life Exodus 15:27 - Elim Numbers 24:6 - as cedar Joshua 2:5 - of shutting Psalms 92:14 - flourishing Song of Solomon 2:3 - his fruit Isaiah 41:19 - plant Ezekiel 34:27 - the tree Ezekiel 47:1 - from under the threshold Malachi 4:2 - healing 1 Peter 1:4 - fadeth

Verse 13

This shall: Numbers 34:2-12

Joseph: Ezekiel 48:4-6, Genesis 48:5, Genesis 49:26, 1 Chronicles 5:1, Jeremiah 3:18, Jeremiah 31:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:22 - given Numbers 34:3 - south quarter Joshua 13:7 - General 1 Kings 18:31 - twelve stones Ezekiel 47:22 - ye shall divide Ezekiel 48:29 - General Obadiah 1:19 - the fields of Ephraim Revelation 7:4 - all

Verse 14

lifted up mine hand: or, swore, Ezekiel 20:5, Ezekiel 20:6, Ezekiel 20:28, Ezekiel 20:42, Genesis 12:7, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 15:7, Genesis 17:8, Genesis 26:3, Genesis 28:13, Numbers 14:16, Numbers 14:30

fall: Ezekiel 48:29, Proverbs 16:33

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:8 - swear Numbers 34:2 - is the land Jeremiah 30:3 - and I Ezekiel 47:22 - ye shall divide Revelation 10:5 - lifted

Verse 15

And this: Ezekiel 47:17-20

Hethlon: Ezekiel 48:1

Zedad: Numbers 34:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 34:6 - General Ezekiel 47:10 - the great sea Ezekiel 48:28 - the great sea Amos 6:14 - from

Verse 16

Hamath: Numbers 13:21, Numbers 34:8, 1 Kings 8:65, Amos 6:14, Zechariah 9:2

Berothah: 2 Samuel 8:8, Berothai

Damascus: Genesis 14:15, 1 Chronicles 18:5, Acts 9:2

Hazarhatticon: or, the middle village

Hauran: The district of Auranitis, now Haouran, sw of Damascus.

Reciprocal: Genesis 10:18 - Hamathite 2 Kings 14:25 - from the entering

Verse 17

the border from: The Holy Land, as here described, extended from about 31 degrees to 35 degrees n lat. and from 34 degrees to 37 degrees e long.; being bounded on the north by a line drawn from the Mediterranean to Hamath; on the east by Damascus, Hauran, Gilead, and the land of Israel east of Jordan, unto the south of the Dead sea; on the south by Tamar and Kadesh, unto the river of Rhinocorura; and on the west by the Mediterranean sea, from the same point northward "till a man came over against Hamath;" and its length from north to south would be about 280 miles, and its breadth about 150 miles. The ten tribes, as well as Judah and Benjamin, were to be admitted to a full share in this inheritance, which seems to imply, that the future restoration to the promised land is predicted; while the admission of strangers who sojourned in the land to a share in the inheritance, as if native Israelites, plainly intimates the calling of the Gentiles into the church, and their joint inheritance of its privileges, and of the heavenly felicity.

Hazarenan: Ezekiel 48:1, Numbers 34:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 10:18 - Hamathite Ezekiel 47:15 - And this

Verse 18

from: Heb. from between

from Gilead: Genesis 31:23, Genesis 31:47, Galead, Numbers 32:1, Judges 10:8

Jordan: Genesis 13:10, Job 40:23

Reciprocal: Numbers 34:3 - salt sea eastward Joshua 15:2 - the salt sea Ezekiel 39:11 - on the east Joel 2:20 - the east Zechariah 10:10 - into

Verse 19

Tamar: Ezekiel 48:28

strife: or, Meribah, Numbers 20:13, Deuteronomy 32:51, Deuteronomy 33:8, Psalms 81:7

river: or, valley, Joshua 12:3

southward: or, toward Teman

Reciprocal: Numbers 20:22 - Kadesh Numbers 34:3 - south quarter Joshua 15:1 - even to the

Verse 20

Reciprocal: Numbers 34:6 - General Joshua 15:12 - the great sea Ezekiel 48:28 - the great sea

Verse 21

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 45:1 - shall divide by lot

Verse 22

ye shall divide: Ezekiel 47:13, Ezekiel 47:14

and to the strangers: Isaiah 56:6, Isaiah 56:7, Acts 2:5-10, Acts 11:18, Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 3:6, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 7:10

they shall have: Acts 15:9, Romans 10:12, Galatians 3:28, Galatians 3:29, Colossians 3:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 12:48 - let all Numbers 26:53 - General Joshua 18:10 - cast lots