Ezekiel 47:1
וַיְשִׁבֵנִי֮ אֶל־פֶּ֣תַח הַבַּיִת֒ וְהִנֵּה־מַ֣יִם יֹצְאִ֗ים מִתַּ֨חַת מִפְתַּ֤ן הַבַּ֙יִת֙ קָדִ֔ימָה כִּֽי־פְנֵ֥י הַבַּ֖יִת קָדִ֑ים וְהַמַּ֣יִם יֹרְדִ֗ים מִתַּ֜חַת מִכֶּ֤תֶף הַבַּ֙יִת֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית מִנֶּ֖גֶב לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
and He caused me to return to the door of the house and behold water was going forth from under the threshold of the house toward the east because the house faced east and the waters were descending from under the from the side of the house, on the right from the south to the altar.
Paraphrase: When we finished seeing the kitchens in the outer court (Ezekiel 46:19-24), my guide (Ezekiel 40:4) who was walking me through this glorious, new temple brought me back to the inner court. Just as Solomon’s temple (Ezekiel 8:16) faced east and also the tabernacle (Exodus 26:22), so this new temple faced east. Now as we were standing in the inner court, I noticed a tiny trickle of water coming from under the door which led into the temple. This trickle of water flowed out from under this door and out into the inner court. From here, it continued on its way past the altar (Ezekiel 41:22; 43:13f) on its south side.
Comments:
Remember the coal mine letters? Note the yod in וַיְשִׁבֵנִי. We expect a dagesh there but it has vanished.
Note the directional ה on קָדִימָה.
It seems from this verse that Ezekiel views the water as coming from the main temple door; i.e. the door from the inner court that would have led into the holy place. Gill thinks that Ezekiel sees the water coming from the Holy of Holies. source But if Ezekiel is in view of the altar (Ezekiel 47:1), then it would follow that he is in the inner court, not inside the temple itself.
Ezekiel 47:2
וַיּוֹצִאֵנִי֮ דֶּֽרֶךְ־שַׁ֣עַר צָפוֹנָה֒ וַיְסִבֵּ֙נִי֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ ח֔וּץ אֶל־שַׁ֣עַר הַח֔וּץ דֶּ֖רֶךְ הַפּוֹנֶ֣ה קָדִ֑ים וְהִנֵּה־מַ֣יִם מְפַכִּ֔ים מִן־הַכָּתֵ֖ף הַיְמָנִֽית׃
and he caused me to go out the way of the north gate, and he caused me to turn about the way of the outer gate of the outer way facing east and behold, water was trickling from the side of the right.
Paraphrase: Upon seeing this, my guide led me across the inner court, through the gate on the north end and into the outer court. From here, we circled to our right and saw again the water trickling from out of the temple, past the altar in the inner court, through the outer court, and off to the east.
Comments:
The sere in וַיֹּוצִאֵנִי is your clue that this is a hifil verb. It is also first-yod and has a first person, pronoun suffix.
Ezekiel 47:3
בְּצֵאת־הָאִ֥ישׁ קָדִ֖ים וְקָ֣ו בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיָּ֤מָד אֶ֙לֶף֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֥נִי בַמַּ֖יִם מֵ֥י אָפְסָֽיִם׃
The man was going forth to the east and a cord was in his hand, and he measured 1000 in cubits and he caused me to pass over in the water, water to the ankles.
Paraphrase: We continued to follow this stream of water as it flowed to the east. My guide took out a measuring rope and counted off 1000 cubits from where we had started at the temple. At this point, the water was only ankle deep which was a mystery to me since I had not seen any other streams flowing into this one; and I remembered the water being only a tiny trickle when it had first begun in the temple.
Comments:
An infinitive construct with the preposition בְּ as בְּצֵאת has a temporal meaning. Gesenius §114e.
For the meaning of the construct in מֵי אָפְסָיִם , see Gesenius §128n.
Ezekiel 47:4
וַיָּ֣מָד אֶ֔לֶף וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֥נִי בַמַּ֖יִם מַ֣יִם בִּרְכָּ֑יִם וַיָּ֣מָד אֶ֔לֶף וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖נִי מֵ֥י מָתְנָֽיִם׃
And he measured 1000 and caused me to pass over in the water; water was to the knees. And he measured 1000 and caused me to pass over; water was to the hips.
Paraphrase: We went another 1000 cubits, and now the water was knee deep. Where was all this water coming from? The only source I had seen was the temple. I continued to ponder this until we had gone another 1000 cubits. Once again, my guide told me to step into the stream, and I was shocked to find that it was now waist deep.
Comments:
Ezekiel 47:5
וַיָּ֣מָד אֶ֔לֶף נַ֕חַל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־אוּכַ֖ל לַעֲבֹ֑ר כִּֽי־גָא֤וּ הַמַּ֙יִם֙ מֵ֣י שָׂ֔חוּ נַ֖חַל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יֵעָבֵֽר׃
and he measured a thousand; it was a river which I was not able to pass over because the waters had risen; the water was for swimming; A river which was not passable.
Paraphrase: We continued east another 1000 cubits and now the stream, really by this time it would better be called a river, was now too deep to walk through. The waters had risen so high that swimming was the only possible way to cross this river.
Comments:
Notice the nifal triangle in יֵעָבֵר was spoiled because gutturals won’t take a dagesh. The hiriq we expect under the yod lengthened to a sere to compensate.
Ezekiel 47:6
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלַ֖י הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָ֑ם וַיּוֹלִכֵ֥נִי וַיְשִׁבֵ֖נִי שְׂפַ֥ת הַנָּֽחַל׃
and he said to me, “See, son of man.” and he caused me to go and caused me to return to the edge of the river.
Paraphrase: Then my guide took me to the edge of this great river and exclaimed, “What do you think of all this, son of man?” I was speechless and had no answer; the river and its surprising growth was a mystery to me.
Comments:
Jouon notes that הֲרָאִיתָ always has an exclamatory meaning. Grammar, §161b
Ezekiel 47:7
בְּשׁוּבֵ֕נִי וְהִנֵּה֙ אֶל־שְׂפַ֣ת הַנַּ֔חַל עֵ֖ץ רַ֣ב מְאֹ֑ד מִזֶּ֖ה וּמִזֶּֽה׃
When he was causing me to return and behold on the edge of the river were very many trees from this and from this.
Paraphrase: My wonder grew even more when my guide directed my attention to hundreds of the most beautiful trees growing all along the river’s edge. My breath was taken away by the beauty of these trees and all the different varieties which were found there. All of them were flourishing by this river and presented an amazing spectacle of beautiful scenery and thick foliage. Indeed, it looked like a veritable paradise, like the garden of Eden.
Comments:
An infinitive construct with the preposition בְּ as in בְּשׁוּבֵנִי has a temporal meaning; see Gesenius §114e.
Ezekiel 47:8
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י הַמַּ֤יִם הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ יוֹצְאִ֗ים אֶל־הַגְּלִילָה֙ הַקַּדְמוֹנָ֔ה וְיָרְד֖וּ עַל־הָֽעֲרָבָ֑ה וּבָ֣אוּ הַיָּ֔מָּה אֶל־הַיָּ֥מָּה הַמּֽוּצָאִ֖ים וְנִרְפְּאוּ הַמָּֽיִם׃
and he said to me, “These waters are going forth to the region of the east and they are descending to the Arabah and they go to the sea, to the sea which is going forth, and the waters are healed.
Paraphrase: My guide went on and explained to me that this glorious river flows to the east country, down into the Arabah, and all the way to the dead sea. When this river actually reaches the Dead Sea, it reverses the effects of the salt water. The salt water becomes fresh, and the region is no longer marked by such desolation and barrenness.
Comments:
יֹוצְאִים is the predicate use of the participle; הַמּוּצָאִים is the attributive use.
Ezekiel 47:9
וְהָיָ֣ה כָל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֣ה׀ אֲֽשֶׁר־יִשְׁרֹ֡ץ אֶ֣ל כָּל־אֲשֶׁר֩ יָב֨וֹא שָׁ֤ם נַחֲלַ֙יִם֙ יִֽחְיֶ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה הַדָּגָ֖ה רַבָּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד כִּי֩ בָ֨אוּ שָׁ֜מָּה הַמַּ֣יִם הָאֵ֗לֶּה וְיֵרָֽפְאוּ֙ וָחָ֔י כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יָ֥בוֹא שָׁ֖מָּה הַנָּֽחַל׃
and it will be that every living creature which swarms to wherever the river goes there, it will live. And the fish will be very many because these waters go there and wherever the river goes there, it will live.
Paraphrase: In fact, this river will bring life wherever it goes. Any creature which finds its way into this river will no longer have to face the killing effect of the deadly salt water of the Dead Sea. On the contrary, fish and all other creatures who live in the water will flourish and multiply in this river. The salt water will be no more; it will be replaced with clear, fresh water which will be a fountain of life to everything it touches.
Comments:
The vav on וְהָיָה is a vav-reversive.
כָּל־אֲשֶׁר = wherever
יָבֹוא is a YQTL with no vav-conversive.
Ezekiel 47:10
וְהָיָה֩ יַעַמְדוּ עָלָ֜יו דַּוָּגִ֗ים מֵעֵ֥ין גֶּ֙דִי֙ וְעַד־עֵ֣ין עֶגְלַ֔יִם מִשְׁט֥וֹחַ לַֽחֲרָמִ֖ים יִהְי֑וּ לְמִינָה֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה דְגָתָ֔ם כִּדְגַ֛ת הַיָּ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל רַבָּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃
Ezekiel 47:11
בִּצֹּאתוֹ וּגְבָאָ֛יו וְלֹ֥א יֵרָפְא֖וּ לְמֶ֥לַח נִתָּֽנוּ׃
Ezekiel 47:12
וְעַל־הַנַּ֣חַל יַעֲלֶ֣ה עַל־שְׂפָת֣וֹ מִזֶּ֣ה׀ וּמִזֶּ֣ה׀ כָּל־עֵֽץ־מַ֠אֲכָל לֹא־יִבּ֨וֹל עָלֵ֜הוּ וְלֹֽא־יִתֹּ֣ם פִּרְי֗וֹ לָֽחֳדָשָׁיו֙ יְבַכֵּ֔ר כִּ֣י מֵימָ֔יו מִן־הַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ הֵ֣מָּה יֽוֹצְאִ֑ים וְהָיוּ פִרְיוֹ֙ לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל וְעָלֵ֖הוּ לִתְרוּפָֽה׃ס
Ezekiel 47:13
כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה גֵּ֤ה גְבוּל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתְנַחֲל֣וּ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ לִשְׁנֵ֥י עָשָׂ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יוֹסֵ֖ף חֲבָלִֽים׃
Ezekiel 47:14
וּנְחַלְתֶּ֤ם אוֹתָהּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ כְּאָחִ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לְתִתָּ֖הּ לַאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם וְנָ֨פְלָ֜ה הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את לָכֶ֖ם בְּנַחֲלָֽה׃
Ezekiel 47:15
וְזֶ֖ה גְּב֣וּל הָאָ֑רֶץ לִפְאַ֨ת צָפ֜וֹנָה מִן־הַיָּ֧ם הַגָּד֛וֹל הַדֶּ֥רֶךְ חֶתְלֹ֖ן לְב֥וֹא צְדָֽדָה׃
Ezekiel 47:16 חֲמָ֤ת׀ בֵּר֙וֹתָה֙ סִבְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁר֙ בֵּין־גְּב֣וּל דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וּבֵ֖ין גְּב֣וּל חֲמָ֑ת חָצֵר֙ הַתִּיכ֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֶל־גְּב֥וּל חַוְרָֽן׃
Ezekiel 47:17 וְהָיָ֨ה גְב֜וּל מִן־הַיָּ֗ם חֲצַ֤ר עֵינוֹן֙ גְּב֣וּל דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְצָפ֥וֹן׀ צָפ֖וֹנָה וּגְב֣וּל חֲמָ֑ת וְאֵ֖ת פְּאַ֥ת צָפֽוֹן׃
Ezekiel 47:18 וּפְאַ֣ת קָדִ֡ים מִבֵּ֣ין חַוְרָ֣ן וּמִבֵּין־דַּמֶּשֶׂק֩ וּמִבֵּ֨ין הַגִּלְעָ֜ד וּמִבֵּ֨ין אֶ֤רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן מִגְּב֛וּל עַל־הַיָּ֥ם הַקַּדְמוֹנִ֖י תָּמֹ֑דּוּ וְאֵ֖ת פְּאַ֥ת קָדִֽימָה׃
Ezekiel 47:19 וּפְאַת֙ נֶ֣גֶב תֵּימָ֔נָה מִתָּמָ֗ר עַד־מֵי֙ מְרִיב֣וֹת קָדֵ֔שׁ נַחֲלָ֖ה אֶל־הַיָּ֣ם הַגָּד֑וֹל וְאֵ֥ת פְּאַת־תֵּימָ֖נָה נֶֽגְבָּה׃
Ezekiel 47:20 וּפְאַת־יָם֙ הַיָּ֣ם הַגָּד֔וֹל מִגְּב֕וּל עַד־נֹ֖כַח לְב֣וֹא חֲמָ֑ת זֹ֖את פְּאַת־יָֽם׃
Ezekiel 47:21 וְחִלַּקְתֶּ֞ם אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את לָכֶ֖ם לְשִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Ezekiel 47:22 וְהָיָ֗ה תַּפִּ֣לוּ אוֹתָהּ֮ בְּנַחֲלָה֒ לָכֶ֗ם וּלְהַגֵּרִים֙ הַגָּרִ֣ים בְּתוֹכְכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הוֹלִ֥דוּ בָנִ֖ים בְּתֽוֹכְכֶ֑ם וְהָי֣וּ לָכֶ֗ם כְּאֶזְרָח֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִתְּכֶם֙ יִפְּל֣וּ בְנַחֲלָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Ezekiel 47:23 וְהָיָ֣ה בַשֵּׁ֔בֶט אֲשֶׁר־גָּ֥ר הַגֵּ֖ר אִתּ֑וֹ שָׁ֚ם תִּתְּנ֣וּ נַחֲלָת֔וֹ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ס