"Son of man, do you see this?" he asked. Then he led me back to the bank of the river. Son of man, do you see this?This phrase is a direct address to Ezekiel, often referred to as "son of man" throughout the book, emphasizing his humanity in contrast to God's divinity. The question "do you see this?" invites Ezekiel to pay close attention to the vision, highlighting its significance. This vision is part of a larger prophetic revelation concerning the future restoration and blessing of Israel. The phrase underscores the importance of spiritual perception and understanding, a theme prevalent in prophetic literature. It echoes similar divine inquiries in Scripture, such as God's questions to Job, which are designed to provoke reflection and insight. he asked.
The speaker is the angelic guide who has been leading Ezekiel through the vision. This guide functions as a divine messenger, providing clarity and interpretation of the vision. The presence of an angelic interpreter is common in apocalyptic literature, as seen in the books of Daniel and Revelation, where heavenly beings often explain visions to the prophets. This interaction emphasizes the need for divine assistance in understanding God's revelations. Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
The river in this vision flows from the temple, symbolizing life, healing, and the presence of God. Being led back to the riverbank suggests a return to a place of observation and reflection. The river's source in the temple connects it to the idea of God's blessings flowing from His presence, reminiscent of the rivers in Eden (Genesis 2:10) and the river of life in Revelation 22:1-2. This imagery points to the eschatological hope of restoration and renewal, where God's life-giving presence transforms creation. The act of being led back signifies guidance and the importance of revisiting and contemplating the divine vision for deeper understanding. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the recipient of God's visions, including the vision of the river flowing from the temple. 2. Son of ManA term used by God to address Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a representative of the people. 3. The RiverSymbolic of life and healing, this river flows from the temple, representing God's presence and blessing. 4. The TempleThe source of the river, symbolizing God's dwelling place and the origin of spiritual life and renewal. 5. The Bank of the RiverThe place to which Ezekiel is led, signifying a vantage point for understanding the vision's significance. Teaching Points The Source of LifeThe river originates from the temple, reminding us that true life and healing come from God alone. We must seek Him as the source of our spiritual vitality. Vision and UnderstandingGod asks Ezekiel if he sees the vision, prompting us to seek spiritual insight and understanding. We should pray for discernment to recognize God's work in our lives. Guidance and ObedienceEzekiel is led by God to the riverbank, illustrating the importance of following God's guidance. We should be attentive and obedient to His leading in our daily walk. Spiritual RenewalThe river symbolizes ongoing renewal and transformation. We are called to continually seek spiritual growth and renewal through God's Word and Spirit. Community and MissionThe river's flow brings life wherever it goes, encouraging us to be channels of God's blessing and life to others, fulfilling our mission to share the Gospel. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of the river in Ezekiel 47:6 enhance your understanding of God's provision and presence in your life? 2. In what ways can you seek to be more attentive to God's guidance, as Ezekiel was led to the riverbank? 3. How does the concept of spiritual renewal, as symbolized by the river, apply to your current spiritual journey? 4. What practical steps can you take to ensure that you are a channel of God's life and blessing to those around you? 5. How do the connections between Ezekiel's vision and other scriptures, such as Revelation 22 and John 7, deepen your understanding of God's redemptive plan? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 2The river in Eden, which waters the garden, parallels the life-giving river in Ezekiel's vision, symbolizing God's provision and sustenance. Revelation 22The river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, echoing the imagery of Ezekiel's river and pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem. John 7Jesus speaks of living water flowing from within believers, connecting the spiritual life and renewal symbolized by the river to the work of the Holy Spirit. People Amos, Enan, Ezekiel, Israelites, Joseph, TamarPlaces Arabah, Berothah, Brook of Egypt, Damascus, Eneglaim, Engedi, Gilead, Great Sea, Hamath, Hauran, Hazar-enan, Hazer-hatticon, Hethlon, Jordan River, Lebo-hamath, Meribah-kadesh, Most Holy Place, Sibraim, Tamar, ZedadTopics Along, Bank, Bringeth, Brink, Caused, Edge, Hast, Leadeth, Led, O, Return, River, River's, StreamDictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 47:1-8 4290 valleys Ezekiel 47:1-12 3290 Holy Spirit, life-giver
5059 rest, eternal Ezekiel 47:6-11 4306 minerals Library The River of Life
Waters issued out from under the threshold of the house ... EZEKIEL xlvii. 1. Unlike most great cities, Jerusalem was not situated on a great river. True, the inconsiderable waters of Siloam--'which flow softly' because they were so inconsiderable--rose from a crevice in the Temple rock, and beneath that rock stretched the valley of the Kedron, dry and bleached in the summer, and a rainy torrent during the rainy seasons; but that was all. So, many of the prophets, who looked forward to the better …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
Isaiah lix. 20.--"And the Redeemer shall come unto Zion, and unto them that turn," &c. Doctrines, as things, have their seasons and times. Every thing is beautiful in its season. So there is no word of truth, but it hath a season and time in which it is beautiful. And indeed that is a great part of wisdom, to bring forth everything in its season, to discern when and where, and to whom it is pertinent and edifying, to speak such and such truths. But there is one doctrine that is never out of season, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Fresh Supplies of Power.
"As the Dew." There is another very important bit needed to complete the circle of truth we are going over together in these quiet talks. Namely, the daily life after the act of surrender and all that comes with that act. The steady pull day by day. After the eagle-flight up into highest air, and the hundred yards dash, or even the mile run, comes the steady, steady walking mile after mile. The real test of life is here. And the highest victories are here, too. I recall the remark made by a friend …
S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
WHEREIN ITS GOODLY LIGHT, WALLS, GATES, ANGELS, AND THE MANNER OF THEIR STANDING, ARE EXPOUNDED: ALSO HER LENGTH AND BREADTH, TOGETHER WITH THE GOLDEN MEASURING-REED EXPLAINED: AND THE GLORY OF ALL UNFOLDED. AS ALSO THE NUMEROUSNESS OF ITS INHABITANTS; AND WHAT THE TREE AND WATER OF LIFE ARE, BY WHICH THEY ARE SUSTAINED. 'Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.'-Psalm 87:3 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.'-Ezekiel 48:35 London: Printed in the year 1665 …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ezekiel 47:6 NIVEzekiel 47:6 NLTEzekiel 47:6 ESVEzekiel 47:6 NASBEzekiel 47:6 KJV
Ezekiel 47:6 Commentaries
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