Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 47:3
And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters [were] to the ankles.
3. A thousand cubits from the place of emergence the waters were ankle deep.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The ancles – This may coincide with the step gained in the baptism of Cornelius Acts 10, and the opening of the Church to the Gentiles. The dispersion which had followed the martyrdom of Stephen Act 11:19, had carried believers into various countries, and so paved the way for the foundation of Gentile Churches.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. – 5. He measured a thousand cubits, – the waters were to the ANKLES; a thousand more, – the waters were to the KNEES; a thousand more, – they became a RIVER that could not be forded. The waters were risen, and they were waters to SWIM in.
I. This may be applied to the gradual discoveries of the plan of salvation, –
1. In the patriarchal ages.
2. In the giving of the law.
3. In the ministry of John the Baptist. And,
4. In the full manifestation of Christ by the communication of the Holy Ghost.
II. This vision may be applied also to the growth of a believer in the grace and knowledge of God. There is –
1. The seed of the kingdom.
2. The blade from that seed.
3. The ear out of that blade. And,
4. The full corn in that ear.
III. It may be applied to the discoveries a penitent believer receives of the mercy of God in his salvation. He is –
1. A little child, born of God, born from above, and begins to taste the bread of life, and live on the heavenly food.
2. He grows up and increases in stature and strength, and becomes a young man.
3. He becomes matured in the Divine life, and has his spiritual senses exercised so as to become a father in Christ. In other words, the grace of God appears to come drop by drop; it is given as it can be used; it is a seed of light, and multiplies itself. The penitent at first can scarcely believe the infinite goodness of his Maker; he however ventures to follow on with the conducting angel, the minister of the Gospel, in his descriptions of the plenitude of that salvation, provided in that living Temple in which alone the well-spring of life is to be found.
4. In thus following on to know the Lord he finds a continual increase of light and life, till at last he is carried by the streams of grace to the ocean of eternal mercy; then
“Plunged in the Godhead’s deepest sea,
And lost in his immensity.”
IV. These waters may be considered as a type of the progress which Christianity shall make in the world.
1. There were only a few poor fishermen.
2. Afterwards many Jews.
3. Then the Gentiles of Asia Minor and Greece.
4. The continent and isles of Europe. And,
5. Now spreading through Africa, Asia, and America, at present these waters are no longer a river, but an immense sea; and the Gospel fishers are daily bringing multitudes of souls to Christ.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The man: this is he who accompanied the prophet as his guide all along, and of whom already hath been spoken in several notes.
The line, mentioned in Eze 40:3, but hitherto not used, for the reed and cubit hitherto were used only, at least only mentioned.
Eastward; from the gate directly east, with whom the prophet goeth.
He measured, by the line in his hand.
A thousand cubits; almost the third part of an English mile; it wanted about eighty yards of a third part.
Through the waters; went before him, as his guide, and the prophet followed; all this in vision.
To the ankles; some five or six inches deep.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when the man that had the line in his hand,…. The same as in Eze 40:3 and is no other than Christ, who appeared in a human form to the prophet; and who hitherto had only made use of the measuring reed in taking the dimensions of the house, and what appertained to it; but now he uses the line of flax he had in his hand, in measuring the waters as they ran; by which line is meant the Scriptures, the word of God, by which all doctrines are to be measured: this is the rule that both preachers and hearers are to go by; and, as by the direction of this person the waters flowed where he would have them, so the doctrines of the Gospel are preached by the order of Christ where he pleases; see Lu 24:47, and these move in a direct line, as those waters did; error is crooked, and has its windings and turnings; but truth is straight and even; all the words of Wisdom are right, and there is nothing froward, perverse, or crooked in them, Pr 8:8:
went forth eastward; which was the course the waters took by his direction; the Gospel was first spread in the eastern part of the world, in Asia, where many churches were planted by it; it has been since in the south, in Africa, particularly in the times of Austin, when these waters, the doctrines of grace, flowed largely; and they have been since in the north and west, in Europe, in our northern climes; all which perhaps may be signified by the right side, or south side, by which these waters flowed, and by the prophet’s going to the north gate, and about, to see them; but in the latter day they will move eastward again, when the kings of the east and their kingdoms shall become Christ’s; see Re 16:12:
he measured a thousand cubits; or, “a thousand by the cubit d”; the Targum is,
“a thousand cubits by the cubit;”
with his line from the eastern gate of the house, at the right side of which the waters ran out; this was about half a mile:
and he brought me through the waters: not the thousand cubits he had measured; but when he came to the end of them, he made the prophet to cross the waters, to go through them across, that he might observe the depth of them:
and the waters were to the ankles; were ankle deep, a few inches: or, “to the soles”; for, as R. Jonah thinks, may be additional; and
, in the Syriac language, signifies a part of the hand, Da 5:5, and, applied to the feet, designs the soles of them; and then the sense is, the waters were so shallow, that they only covered the soles of the feet: this may signify the ministry of John the Baptist, who, though greater than the prophets, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than he; and of the disciples of Christ, before the effusion of the Spirit: or may design the more easy doctrines of the Gospel; those waters which Christ’s lambs may wade in; that milk which new born babes desire, and are fed with; those plain truths of the word, which those of the weakest capacity are able to take in, receive, and embrace; in the knowledge of which, though fools, they err not; such as salvation by Christ alone; justification by his righteousness; peace and pardon by his blood; which are so plain, as to be understood by every truly gracious soul, though of ever so mean a capacity: or it may intimate the small spread of the Gospel at first in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee.
d “mille in cubito”, Vatablus, Pagninus, Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Brought me through the waters.The point from which the measurement began is not distinctly mentioned, but is to be assumed as from their source, the threshold of the house. The prophet is brought through the waters to impress upon him a vivid sense of their size and depth, and this is repeated at each 1,000 cubits until the waters become impassable.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be forded (‘be passed through’). And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen?” ’
The flow of water now grew in volume, gradually growing deeper and deeper, until at length it was too deep for a man to stand up in. That this multiplying of the water was intended to be miraculous cannot be doubted, and evoked the man’s question. This was no natural river. There were no streams flowing into the flow, so that its growth was unnatural and could only be by the mighty working of God. Notice its growth in stages, a fact deliberately drawn out by the measuring every thousand cubits. It was a symbol of the mighty working of the Spirit of God beginning in a gradual work that grew and grew until it achieved its fulfilment in waters that bore a man so that he could not resist it.
We note in passing that although Ezekiel was made to paddle in the river and walk through the river there is no suggestion that he was made to swim in it. No doubt he could not swim.
No Israelite would have doubted that this was the River of God that was full of water (Psa 65:9), as had been that in Eden, sufficient to supply four great rivers (Gen 2:10). Isa 33:21 spoke of God’s blessing as being like a place where Yahweh would be with His people in majesty, in a place of broad rivers and streams, but without rowing galley or gallant ship, in other words a heavenly river unaffected by man.
And we have been privileged to see the far end of the streamlet as it has flowed and expanded through the centuries, from the small beginnings of the work of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest it grew through the centuries through many godly men until it became the work of John the Baptiser (Mal 4:6), the ministry of Jesus (Joh 3:5-6; Joh 4:10; Joh 4:14), and the Gospel flowing out through His disciples, through the ages, to the world (Joh 7:37-39). All coming from the flow from the heavenly temple as it grew and grew. And one day we shall see its glorious final result in the river of water of life in the new earth, in Paradise (Rev 22:1-5, which is largely based on this chapter).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 47:3-5. And when the manwent forth The gradual rise of the waters denotes the large effusion of the Spirit, which was very remarkable at the first publication of the gospel, and its wonderful increase from small beginnings; as well as some future and large effusion of that Spirit, when God shall be pleased to pour it forth upon the Jews for their conversion. The supplies of grace are often represented under the metaphor of a river, and streams watering a dry and thirsty soil, and cleansing and making fruitful the ground where they pass. Many of the ideas in this chapter are taken from the terrestrial paradise; see Eze 47:7; Eze 47:12 which ideas are also carried to the celestial paradise by St. John. Revelation 22.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 47:3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters [were] to the ankles.
Ver. 3. And when the man that had the line in his hand. ] The man Christ Jesus, the sole architect of his Church, and measurer of his gospel; and that by his gospel, which is the line in his hand, nec solum recta, sed et regula, not only by riht but also by rule.
He measured a thousand cubits.
The waters were to the ankles.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 47:3-12
3When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. 4Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. 5Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. 6He said to me, Son of man, have you seen this? Then he brought me back to the bank of the river. 7Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then he said to me, These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh. 9It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many. 11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.
Eze 47:3 the man This is the angel of Eze 40:3. This measuring angel is also mentioned by John in Revelation 21.
Eze 47:7 many trees on the one side and the other This is a metaphor of fertility (cf. Eze 47:12). This is another metaphor used by John in Revelation 22.
Eze 47:8 Many commentators have asserted that the verse refers to a miraculous change of saltwater to fresh water, but it seems to me that it refers to the abundance of waters which fills up the Arabah depression and overflows it.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
man. Hebrew ‘ash. App-14.
the line = a measuring line, Hebrew. kav. Only here in Ezekiel. Not the same word as in Eze 40:3, which is pathil.
cubits. See App-51, (1).
the waters, &c. = waters [reaching] to the ankle, No Art. Hebrew “of the ankles”. Genitive of Relation. App-17.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the man: Eze 40:3, Zec 2:1, Rev 11:1, Rev 21:15
waters were to the ankles: Heb. waters of the ancles, Luk 24:49, Act 2:4, Act 2:33, Act 10:45, Act 10:46, Act 11:16-18
Reciprocal: Zec 1:16 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 47:3. The preceding verses indicate the widespread extent of these waters; this one begins to tell how deep they were. It reveals that for every thousand cubits or 1500 feet at the start the water was ankle deep.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 47:3. And when the man that had the line The angel, described with a line in his hand, Eze 40:3; went forth eastward Went on directly from the east gate; he measured By the line in his hand; a thousand cubits Almost the third part of an English mile; and he brought me through the waters To try the depth of them. And the waters were to the ankles The gradual rise of the waters denotes the large effusion of the Spirit, (which was very remarkable at the first publication of the gospel,) and its wonderful increase from small beginnings; as well as most probably some future and large effusion thereof to be poured out upon the Jews and Gentiles, in order to their conversion. And the latter part of the representation, as Mr. Scott observes, may relate to the times when the gospel shall fill the earth, and produce most extensive and important good effects on the state of mankind in every nation. Thus the river here signifies the same as the stone, (Dan 2:34; Dan 2:45,) cut out without hands, becoming a great mountain, and filling the whole earth; and the same as the little leaven (which is Christs illustration of the subject) leavening the whole three measures of meal into which it was cast; or as the grain of mustard-seed becoming a large plant, like a tree, in which the fowls of the air might make their nests. The emblem may also be applied to illustrate the growth of grace, knowledge, and holiness, in true Christians, who, instead of resting in past attainments, forgetting those things which are behind, reach forth unto those which are before, and press toward the mark for the prize of their high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Of such the religion may be fitly compared to the morning light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The "man" took his measuring line (cf. Eze 40:3) and measured 1,000 cubits (about one-third of a mile) east from the wall along the watercourse. He led Ezekiel across the river (Heb. nahal), and it was ankle deep. Another 1,000 cubits farther east they crossed again, and this time the water was knee-deep. Another 1,000 cubits, and it was up to his waist. Another 1,000 cubits, and it was so deep that they could not cross it standing up. It was so deep they would have had to swim across.
This description suggests that some major topographical changes will have occurred east of present-day Jerusalem by this time. Other revelation supports this conclusion (cf. Eze 34:26-30; Eze 36:8-12; Eze 36:30-36; Eze 37:25-28; Eze 45:1-8; Eze 48:8-14; Joe 3:18; Zec 13:1; Zec 14:4-8). The water will follow the contours of the altered terrain, not the past or present landscape. Zechariah recorded that the water flowing from Jerusalem will divide with half of it going west to the Mediterranean Sea and half east to the Dead Sea (Zec 14:8). Ezekiel described only the branch that flowed east.