And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought 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.
- BSB “Son of man, do you see this?” he asked. Then he led me back to the bank 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.
- 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 44:5Yahweh said to me, Son of man, mark well, and see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I tell you concerning all the ordinances of Yahweh’s house, and all its laws; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every exit of the sanctuary.
- Ezek 40:4The man said to me, Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I shall show you; for, to the intent that I may show them to you, you are brought here: declare all that you see to the house of Israel.
- Ezek 8:6He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they do? Even the great abominations that the house of Israel commit here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? But you will again see yet other great abominations.”
- Zech 5:2He said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”
- Zech 4:2He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I have seen, and behold, a lamp stand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it;
- Jer 1:11–13Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
- Ezek 8:17Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have turned again to provoke me to anger. Behold, they put the branch to their nose.
- Matt 13:51Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.