Ezekiel 47:1
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְשִׁבֵנִי֮
Afterward he brought me again
H7725
וַיְשִׁבֵנִי֮
Afterward he brought me again
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
1 of 23
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
פֶּ֣תַח
unto the door
H6607
פֶּ֣תַח
unto the door
Strong's:
H6607
Word #:
3 of 23
an opening (literally), i.e., door (gate) or entrance way
הַבַּ֙יִת֙
of the house
H1004
הַבַּ֙יִת֙
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְהַמַּ֣יִם
and behold waters
H4325
וְהַמַּ֣יִם
and behold waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
6 of 23
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
יֹצְאִ֗ים
issued out
H3318
יֹצְאִ֗ים
issued out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
7 of 23
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
מִתַּ֨חַת
H8478
מִתַּ֨חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
8 of 23
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
הַבַּ֙יִת֙
of the house
H1004
הַבַּ֙יִת֙
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
10 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
קָדִ֑ים
eastward
H6921
קָדִ֑ים
eastward
Strong's:
H6921
Word #:
11 of 23
the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
12 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
פְנֵ֥י
for the forefront
H6440
פְנֵ֥י
for the forefront
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
13 of 23
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הַבַּ֙יִת֙
of the house
H1004
הַבַּ֙יִת֙
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
14 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
קָדִ֑ים
eastward
H6921
קָדִ֑ים
eastward
Strong's:
H6921
Word #:
15 of 23
the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
וְהַמַּ֣יִם
and behold waters
H4325
וְהַמַּ֣יִם
and behold waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
16 of 23
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
יֹרְדִ֗ים
came down
H3381
יֹרְדִ֗ים
came down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
17 of 23
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מִתַּ֜חַת
H8478
מִתַּ֜חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
18 of 23
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
מִכֶּ֤תֶף
side
H3802
מִכֶּ֤תֶף
side
Strong's:
H3802
Word #:
19 of 23
the shoulder (proper, i.e., upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anythi
הַבַּ֙יִת֙
of the house
H1004
הַבַּ֙יִת֙
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
20 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
הַיְמָנִ֔ית
from under from the right
H3233
הַיְמָנִ֔ית
from under from the right
Strong's:
H3233
Word #:
21 of 23
right (i.e., at the right hand)
Cross References
Revelation 22:1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.Zechariah 14:8And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.Joel 3:18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.Isaiah 55:1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.Psalms 46:4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.Jeremiah 2:13For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.Ezekiel 47:12And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.Revelation 22:17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.Zechariah 13:1In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.Isaiah 30:25And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
Historical Context
In arid Palestine, water symbolized life, fertility, and blessing. Prophets frequently used water imagery for spiritual renewal (Isaiah 44:3, Joel 2:28-29). This river's supernatural origin (flowing from temple, not a natural spring) and its miraculous growth (ankle to knee to waist to unswimmable depth, 47:3-5) demonstrate divine, not natural, source. The vision came to exiles in Babylon (circa 573 BC), where they lived near actual rivers (Chebar, Euphrates) yet were spiritually dry. God promises that His restored presence will produce abundant life. Jesus identified Himself as source of living water (John 4:14, 7:38), and the Spirit is the living water believers receive (John 7:39). The church dispenses this life to the world.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you see Christ and the Spirit as fulfillments of this life-giving river flowing from God's presence?
- In what ways should the church function as a conduit of God's life-giving water to a spiritually dry world?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Ezekiel sees 'waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.' This river flowing from the temple represents life-giving blessing emanating from God's presence. The eastward flow recalls Eden's river watering the garden (Genesis 2:10) and anticipates Revelation's river of life flowing from God's throne (Revelation 22:1). The water originating 'from under the threshold' suggests it flows from the very foundation of God's dwelling—His presence is the source of all life and blessing. The south side of the altar location connects life-giving water to sacrificial atonement—blessing flows through sacrifice.