Ezekiel 47:9
New International Version
Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.

New Living Translation
There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.

English Standard Version
And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

Berean Standard Bible
Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish.

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

New King James Version
And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.

New American Standard Bible
And it 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.

NASB 1995
“It 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.

NASB 1977
“And it 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.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be 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 other waters are healed; so everything will live where the river goes.

Amplified Bible
It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there so that the waters of the sea are healed and become fresh; so everything will live wherever the river goes.

Christian Standard Bible
Every kind of living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows, and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Every kind of living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows, and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, that every living creature which swarmeth, in every place whither the rivers come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come thither, and the waters of the sea shall be healed, and everything shall live whithersoever the river cometh.

Contemporary English Version
Wherever this water flows, there will be all kinds of animals and fish, because it will bring life and fresh water to the Dead Sea.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass, that every living creature which swarmeth, in every place whither the rivers come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish: for these waters are come thither, and the waters of the sea shall be healed, and every thing shall live whithersoever the river cometh.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Wherever the river flows, there will be many fish and animals. The river will make the water in the Dead Sea fresh. Wherever the river flows, it will bring life.

Good News Translation
Wherever the stream flows, there will be all kinds of animals and fish. The stream will make the water of the Dead Sea fresh, and wherever it flows, it will bring life.

International Standard Version
It will support all kinds of living creatures that will thrive abundantly wherever the river flows. There will be a great many fish, because this water will flow there and turn the salt water fresh. As a result, everything will live wherever the river flows.

Majority Standard Bible
Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish.

NET Bible
Every living creature which swarms where the river flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh and everything will live where the river flows.

New Heart English Bible
It shall happen, that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the river goes, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters have come there, and the waters of the sea shall be healed, and everything shall live wherever the river comes.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

World English Bible
It will happen that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, will live. Then there will be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters have come there, and the waters of the sea will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river comes.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it has come to pass, every living creature that teems, wherever the streams come, lives: and there has been great abundance of fish, for these waters have come there, and they are healed; and everything to where the stream comes has lived.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, every living creature that teemeth, whithersoever the streams come, doth live: and there hath been great abundance of fish, for these waters have come thither, and they are healed; and every thing whither the stream cometh hath lived.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was every living soul that shall creep, to all where the two torrents shall come there, shall live: and there was very many fish, because these waters came there: and they shall be healed and all lived where the torrent shall come there.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And every living creature that creepeth whithersoever the torrent shall come, shall live: and there shall be fishes in abundance after these waters shall come thither, and they shall be healed, and all things shall live to which the torrent shall come.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And every living soul that moves, wherever the torrent arrives, will live. And there will be more than enough fish, after these waters have arrived there, and they will be healed. And all things will live, where the torrent arrives.

New American Bible
Wherever it flows, the river teems with every kind of living creature; fish will abound. Where these waters flow they refresh; everything lives where the river goes.

New Revised Standard Version
Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass that every living creature that swarms wheresoever the torrent shall flow shall live; and there shall be many fish because of the waters that flow there and make the water fresh.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And every living soul that is brought forth where the waters of the torrent are, lives, and there are many fish, because of those waters that go down there, and they sweeten the waters
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass, that every living creature wherewith it swarmeth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come thither, that all things be healed and may live whithersoever the river cometh.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass, that every animal of living and moving creatures, all on which the river shall come, shall live: and there shall be there very many fish; for this water shall go thither, and it shall heal them, and they shall live: everything on which the river shall come shall live.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Waters from Under the Temple
8And he said to me, “This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. 9Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish. 10Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.…

Cross References
Revelation 22:1-2
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb / down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.

John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 7:38
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

Revelation 21:6
And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.

Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

Psalm 46:4
There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Zechariah 14:8
And on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the Eastern Sea and the other half toward the Western Sea, in summer and winter alike.

Joel 3:18
And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias.

Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Isaiah 35:6-7
Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. / The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.

Jeremiah 17:8
He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

Revelation 22:3
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass, that every thing that lives, which moves, wherever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live where the river comes.

every thing

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 11:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

rivers [heb] two rivers

Psalm 78:16
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

shall live

John 5:25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

a very great

Isaiah 49:12
Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

Isaiah 60:3-10
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising…

Zechariah 2:11
And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

for they

Exodus 15:26
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Psalm 103:3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Isaiah 30:26
Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

Jump to Previous
Creature Fish Goes Great Healed Live Moveth Multitude Others River Rivers Sea Swarmeth Swarms Thither Waters Wherever Wherewith Whither Whithersoever
Jump to Next
Creature Fish Goes Great Healed Live Moveth Multitude Others River Rivers Sea Swarmeth Swarms Thither Waters Wherever Wherewith Whither Whithersoever
Ezekiel 47
1. The vision of the holy waters
6. The virtue of them
13. The borders of the land
22. The division of it by lot














Wherever the river flows
The imagery of a river flowing is a powerful symbol in biblical literature, often representing the life-giving presence of God. In Hebrew, the word for river, "נָהָר" (nahar), can also imply a stream of blessings or divine grace. This river originates from the temple, signifying that true life and rejuvenation come from God’s presence. Historically, rivers have been crucial for sustaining civilizations, and here, it symbolizes spiritual sustenance and renewal.

there will be swarms of living creatures
The phrase "swarms of living creatures" evokes the abundance and diversity of life that results from the river's flow. In Hebrew, "חַיָּה" (chayah) refers to living beings, emphasizing vitality and the breath of life. This abundance is reminiscent of the creation narrative in Genesis, where God fills the earth with living creatures. It underscores the transformative power of God's presence, bringing life to barren places.

and a great multitude of fish
Fish, in biblical times, were a staple of diet and economy, especially in regions like Galilee. The "great multitude of fish" signifies not only physical sustenance but also spiritual nourishment. In the New Testament, fish are often associated with the ministry of Jesus and the calling of His disciples to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). This abundance points to the expansive reach of God's kingdom and the call to gather people into His fold.

because it flows there and makes the waters fresh
The transformative effect of the river is highlighted by its ability to make waters fresh. The Hebrew word "רָפָא" (rapha) means to heal or restore, indicating that the river brings healing to what was once stagnant or lifeless. This is a metaphor for spiritual renewal, where God's presence purifies and revitalizes. It reflects the promise of new life and hope found in God’s redemptive work.

so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish
The repetition of the river's flow emphasizes its pervasive and unstoppable nature. "Everything will flourish" speaks to the comprehensive impact of God's life-giving presence. The Hebrew word "פָּרָה" (parah) means to bear fruit or thrive, suggesting that under God's influence, life reaches its fullest potential. This flourishing is not limited to physical prosperity but extends to spiritual growth and fulfillment, embodying the abundant life promised by Christ (John 10:10).

(9) The rivers.--According to the pointing of the Hebrew text this is the two rivers, as is expressed in the margin. This peculiar form has occasioned some perplexity, especially because in the vision of Zechariah (Zechariah 14:8) the waters are represented as divided, half of them flowing to the Dead Sea and half of them to the Mediterranean. It is plain, however, that but one river is intended here, flowing into the Dead Sea. Possibly there is an allusion in the dual form to the Jordan flowing with it into the sea; but this vision throughout pays so little regard to the natural features of the country that it seems more likely that the dual form is simply used to express the greatness of the river, "a double river." By a division of the word and a slight change in the vowels the expression would become "river of the sea," that is, flowing into the sea.

Shall live.--This is to be understood as a pregnant expression; all kinds of life shall spring into being whithersoever the waters come. The same thing is emphatically repeated at the close of the verse, and in the intermediate clause the same thought is expressed by the "very great multitude of fish."

Verse 9. - The nature of the healing is next described as an impartation of such celebrity to the waters that everything that liveth, which moveth - better, every living creature which swarmeth (comp. Genesis 1:20, 21; Genesis 7:21) - whitherseover the rivers (literally, the two rivers) shall come, shall live. The meaning cannot be that everything which liveth and swarmeth in the sea whither the rivers come shall live, because the Dead Sea contains no fish (see above), but whithersoever the rivers come, there living and swarming creatures of every kind shall spring into existence, shall come to life and flourish. The dual form, נַחֲלַיִם, has been accounted for by Maurer, as having been selected on account of its resemblance to מַיִם; by Hävernick and Currey, as pointing to the junction of another river, the Kedron (Hävernick), the Jordan (Currey), with the temple-stream before the latter, should fall into the sea; by Kliefoth, as alluding to a division of the river waters after entering the sea; by Neumann and Schroder, as referring to the waters of the sea and the waters of the river, which should henceforth be united; and by Hengstenberg, with whom Keil and Plumptre agree, as a dual of intensification (as in Jeremiah 1:21), signifying "double river," with allusion to its greatness, or the strength of its current. None of these interpretations is free from objection; though probably, in default of better, the last is best. Ewald changes the dual into נַחְלָם, a singular with a suffix, while Hitzig makes of it a plural; but neither of these devices is satisfactory. As a further evidence that the waters of the sea should be healed by the inflowing into them of the waters of the river, it is stated that the sea should thereafter contain a very great multitude of fish (literally, and the fish will be very many), of which previously it contained none. The next clauses supply the reason of this abundance of fish, because these waters (of the river) shall - or, are (Revised Version) come thither - (into the waters of the sea), for (literally, and) they, the latter, shall be (or, are) healed, and everything shall live (or, connecting this with the foregoing clause, and everything shall be healed, and live) whithersoever the river cometh - the river, namely, that proceedeth from the temple.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Wherever
אֶ֣ל (’el)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the river
נַחֲלַ֙יִם֙ (na·ḥă·la·yim)
Noun - md
Strong's 5158: A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft

flows,
יָב֨וֹא (yā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

there will be
וְהָיָ֣ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

swarms
יִשְׁרֹ֡ץ (yiš·rōṣ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8317: To wriggle, swarm, abound

of living
נֶ֣פֶשׁ (ne·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

creatures
חַיָּ֣ה ׀ (ḥay·yāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

[and]
וְהָיָ֥ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a great number of
רַבָּ֣ה (rab·bāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

fish,
הַדָּגָ֖ה (had·dā·ḡāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1710: A fish

because
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

[it]
הַמַּ֣יִם (ham·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

flows
בָ֨אוּ (ḇā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

there
שָׁ֜מָּה (šām·māh)
Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

and makes the waters fresh;
וְיֵרָֽפְאוּ֙ (wə·yê·rā·p̄ə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7495: To mend, to cure

so wherever
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the river
הַנָּֽחַל׃ (han·nā·ḥal)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5158: A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft

flows,
יָ֥בוֹא (yā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

everything
כֹּ֛ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

will flourish.
וָחָ֔י (wā·ḥāy)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2425: To live, to revive


Links
Ezekiel 47:9 NIV
Ezekiel 47:9 NLT
Ezekiel 47:9 ESV
Ezekiel 47:9 NASB
Ezekiel 47:9 KJV

Ezekiel 47:9 BibleApps.com
Ezekiel 47:9 Biblia Paralela
Ezekiel 47:9 Chinese Bible
Ezekiel 47:9 French Bible
Ezekiel 47:9 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Ezekiel 47:9 It shall happen that every living creature (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 47:8
Top of Page
Top of Page