What is the meaning of Ezekiel 47:11? But Ezekiel sets a contrast. Up to this point the river flowing from the temple brings life wherever it goes (Ezekiel 47:1-9). “But” signals an exception. Scripture often uses a simple conjunction to highlight divine distinctions—Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23. Here, God is about to clarify that His life-giving river does not erase every trace of judgment. the swamps and marshes These are the low, stagnant pockets on the edges of the Dead Sea basin. • In geography, they lie outside the main current of the river, illustrating areas that choose distance from God’s direct flow (cf. Jeremiah 17:5-6, “like a shrub in the desert”). • Spiritually, they picture people or nations content to remain on the fringes of God’s blessing, never fully surrendering to the stream of grace (Hebrews 4:2; James 1:22-24). will not become fresh The life-giving water transforms the Dead Sea into living water everywhere it reaches (Ezekiel 47:8-9), yet the stagnant pools “will not become fresh.” • God honors human resistance; refusal to receive brings no transforming power (Matthew 13:58). • Judgment remains on what stays outside the flow (John 3:36). • This safeguards the literal, future millennial scene: abundant fish where the river flows, but briny pockets remain—demonstrating both mercy and justice side by side (Isaiah 35:1-2; Zechariah 14:8). they will be left for salt Salt preserves and purifies, yet too much renders land barren (Deuteronomy 29:23; Judges 9:45). By leaving these areas salty: • God provides an ongoing reminder of former judgment—much like Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26) or the standing memorial stones in Joshua 4. • The salt becomes a resource for the restored land—useful for sacrifices in the millennial temple (Ezekiel 43:24) and for trade, while still marking divine boundaries (Matthew 5:13’s call to be “the salt of the earth”). summary Ezekiel 47:11 teaches that in the coming kingdom God’s restorative river brings abundant life, yet pockets that remain outside its flow stay salty. The swamps and marshes remind us that blessing is found only in direct connection with the Lord’s provision. His mercy is lavish, but His justice remains visible, calling every heart to move from the stagnant edge into the living current of His grace. |
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