Ezekiel 47:5

Once again he measured off a thousand cubits, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough for swimming—a river that could not be crossed on foot.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — A measuring figure guides Ezekiel through water that has progressed from ankle- and waist-level to a point where it becomes uncrossable on foot. The narrator reports the physical depth and impassability without adding commentary.

The words — אֶ֔לֶף ('E.lef) denotes a thousand cubits, while לֹֽא\־ (lo'-) combined with אוּכַ֖ל ('u.Khal) and לַ/עֲבֹ֑ר (la./'a.Vor) literally renders "not able to pass through." נַ֕חַל (Na.chal) identifies the feature specifically as a river or stream.

The thread — The progression of water covering the earth to reveal divine presence runs parallel to Isaiah 11:9 and Habakkuk 2:14, while the unstoppable, divinely initiated movement mirrors the unshakable kingdom in Daniel 2:34.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine revelation eventually surpasses human capacity to navigate or control it. It marks a boundary where measurement yields to immersion, requiring the reader to acknowledge limits rather than force passage.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיָּ֣מָדva/i.Ya.modand/ he measured out אֶ֔לֶף'E.lefa thousand [cubits]נַ֕חַלNa.chala river אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich לֹֽא־lo'-not אוּכַ֖ל'u.KhalI was able לַעֲבֹ֑רla./'a.Vorto/ pass through כִּֽי־ki-for גָא֤וּga.'Uthey had risen הַמַּ֙יִם֙ha./Ma.yimthe/ waters מֵ֣יmeiwaters of שָׂ֔חוּSa.chuswimming נַ֖חַלNa.chala river אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich לֹֽא־lo'-not יֵעָבֵֽר׃ye.'a.Verit was passed through

King James Version

Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

Cross-references

Isaiah 11:9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.
Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Daniel 2:34 As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.
Matthew 13:31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.
Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.