Ezekiel 47:2

2 And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he turned me to the way without the outermore gate, to the way that beholdeth to the east; and lo! waters flowing from the right side, (And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he turned me to the way outside the outer gate, to the way that faceth east; and lo! water was flowing out from the right side,)

Ezekiel 47:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 47:2

Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward
Out of the inward court where he was, by the way of the north gate, the eastern gate being shut: and led me about the way without unto the utter gate, by the way that
looketh eastward;
and from thence he had him round to the outward eastern gate, where he was at first, ( Ezekiel 40:6 ) , to meet the flow of waters that came through the inward and outward courts eastward: and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side;
that is, on the south side of the gate, in a small quantity, and in a very still and easy way, like water out of the mouth of a vial, as the word ^F2 signifies. So Bartenora ^F3, who understands this gate of the water gate, interprets the right side of the south; and observes, that the prophet first saw the waters come out very small, like the horns of a locust; but when they came to this gate, they became like water as it flows out of the mouth of a small pitcher: and from this whole account of the waters, it is plain they cannot be understood literally, but figuratively; and which confirm this to be the sense of the whole vision. They may be applied unto, and serve to illustrate, the love of God; the secret spring of which is in the heart and will of God; ran under ground from all eternity; channelled in Christ; broke up and issued forth in the mission of him into the world, under the threshold of him, the door of the church; and in and by him, the altar, sacrifice, and propitiation; wherein the love of God in an especial manner is manifested; and which has its heights and depths, immeasurable and unfathomable, ( Ephesians 3:18 Ephesians 3:19 ) ( Psalms 46:4 ) ( Revelation 22:1 ) , these waters also may be applied to the grace of the Spirit of God in regeneration and conversion; which is compared to water, for its cleansing, fructifying, and refreshing nature; to "waters", for the abundance of it; and this flows from the God of all grace through Christ, and out of his fulness is gradually increased, and becomes a well, yea, rivers of living water, ( John 7:37-39 ) , but it seems best to understand them of the Gospel, and the doctrines of it; which, like water, cools those who are inflamed with the heat of the fiery law; extinguishes the thirst of sensible sinners, and refreshes them; cleanses and purifies their souls, which is instrumentally done with the washing of water by the word; and makes them fruitful and flourishing: this is not of men, but God; comes from heaven, the holy of holies; and out of the house and church of God; from Zion and Jerusalem, by Christ the door, and points to him the way; and is chiefly concerning him, the altar, his sacrifice and satisfaction, peace, atonement, and propitiation by him; see ( Isaiah 2:3 ) ( Joel 3:18 ) ( Zechariah 14:8 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F2 (Mykpm) "manabant tanquam e phiala", Junius & Tremellius; "phialabant", Junius; "destillabant", Cocceius, Starckius.
F3 In Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 4.

Ezekiel 47:2 In-Context

1 And he turned me (again) to the gate of the house (of the Lord); and lo! waters went out (from) under the threshold of the house to the east; for the face of the house (of the Lord) beheld to the east; forsooth the waters came down into the right side of the temple, to the south part of the altar. (And he returned me to the gate of the House of the Lord; and lo! water went out from under the threshold of the House of the Lord to the east; for the front of the Temple faced east; and the water came down from the right side of the Temple, to the south side of the altar/to south of the altar.)

2 And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he turned me to the way without the outermore gate, to the way that beholdeth to the east; and lo! waters flowing from the right side, (And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he turned me to the way outside the outer gate, to the way that faceth east; and lo! water was flowing out from the right side,)

3 when the man that had a cord in his hand went out to the east. And he meted a thousand cubits, and led me over through the water till to the heels. (when that man, who had a cord in his hand, went out to the east. And he measured a thousand cubits, and led me through the water unto my heels.)

4 And again he meted a thousand, and led me over through the water till to the knees. And again he meted a thousand, and led me over through the water till to the reins. (And again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water unto my knees. And again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water unto my waist.)

5 And (again) he meted a thousand, by the strand which I might not pass [over]; for the deep waters of the strand had waxed great, that may not be waded over. (And again he measured a thousand, and it was now a river, which I could not cross over; for the deep waters of the river had grown so great, that they could not be waded through.)