“Son of man, do you see this?” he asked. Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to me, Son of man, have you seen? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river.
- KJV And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.
- NKJV He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.
- NASB And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.
- NLT He asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The guide asks if Ezekiel has truly seen, then leads him back to the riverbank. The prophet is called to take in and reflect on the vision's meaning.
Overview
The question 'have you seen?' invites the prophet to grasp the significance of this growing river. He is brought back to observe its banks and effects. The pause underscores that this vision is meant to be understood and proclaimed, picturing the life that flows wherever God's saving presence comes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Ezek 44:5The LORD said to me: “Son of man, pay attention; look carefully with your eyes and listen closely with your ears to everything I tell you concerning all the statutes and laws of the house of the LORD. Take careful note of the entrance to the temple, along with all the exits of the sanctuary.
- Ezek 40:4“Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.”
- Ezek 8:6“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the house of Israel is committing—to drive Me far from My sanctuary? Yet you will see even greater abominations.”
- Zech 5:2“What do you see?” asked the angel. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
- Zech 4:2“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.
- Jer 1:11–13And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
- Ezek 8:17“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see this? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the abominations they are practicing here, that they must also fill the land with violence and continually provoke Me to anger? Look, they are even putting the branch to their nose!
- Matt 13:51Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 47:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.