Ezekiel 47 · Verse 3

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.
Ezekiel 47:3, King James Version

Ezekiel 47:3 in other translations

BSBAs the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through ankle-deep water.
WEBWhen the man went out eastward with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles.
ASVWhen 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.
YLTIn the going out of the man eastward, and a line in his hand, then he measureth a thousand by the cubit, and he causeth me to pass over into water--water to the ankles.
DARBYWhen the man went forth eastward, a line was in his hand; and he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters: the waters were to the ankles.
BBEAnd the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, and after measuring a thousand cubits, he made me go through the waters, which came over my feet.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Ezekiel 47:3 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Ezekiel 47:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בְּצֵאת\־be.tzet-when went outH3318
הָאִ֥ישׁha.'Ishthe manH376
קָדִ֖יםka.DimeastH6921
וְקָ֣וve.Kavand a measuring-lineH6957
בְּיָד֑וֹbe.ya.Do[was] in hand hisH3027
וַיָּ֤מָדvai.Ya.modand he measured outH4058
אֶ֙לֶף֙'e.lefa thousandH505
בָּֽאַמָּ֔הba.'a.Mahby the cubitH520
וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֥נִיvai.ya.'a.vi.Re.niand he made pass meH5674
בַמַּ֖יִםva.Ma.yimin the watersH4325
מֵ֥יmeiwaters ofH4325
אָפְסָֽיִם\׃'a.fe.Sa.yimanklesH657

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 47:3

  • Ezekiel 40:3

    And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

  • Revelation 11:1

    And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

  • Acts 11:16-18

    Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

  • Acts 2:4

    And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

  • Acts 2:33

    Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

  • Acts 10:45-46

    And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

  • Luke 24:49

    And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

  • Zechariah 2:1

    I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

  • Revelation 21:15

    And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the man.
40:3; Zec 2:1; Re 11:1; 21:15
waters were to the ancles. Heb. waters of the ancles.
Lu 24:49; Ac 2:4,33; 10:45,46; 11:16-18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezekiel 47:2

    Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

  • 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.

  • Ezekiel 47:4

    Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

Read all of Ezekiel 47

Ezekiel 47:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y saliendo el varón hacia el oriente, tenía un cordel en su mano; y midió mil codos, é hízome pasar por las aguas hasta los tobillos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quand l’homme sortit vers l’orient, il avait un cordeau dans sa main; et il mesura 1 000 coudées, et me fit traverser les eaux, – des eaux montant jusqu’aux chevilles des pieds.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als der Mann gegen Osten hinausging, war eine Meßschnur in seiner Hand. Und er maß tausend Ellen, und ließ mich durch die Wasser gehen-Wasser bis an die Knöchel;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum egrederetur vir ad orientem, qui habebat funiculum in manu sua, et mensus est mille cubitos, et traduxit me per aquam usque ad talos.