And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

EZEKIEL 47:12KJV
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Ezekiel 47:12 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 47:12 mean?

Ezekiel 47:12 describes a vision where all kinds of fruit trees grow along both banks of a river, continually producing fresh fruit and never withering, because the water that nourishes them comes from the temple. The fruit is for food, and the leaves are for healing.

In this vision, the prophet Ezekiel is shown a river flowing from the temple in Jerusalem, symbolizing life and blessing coming from God. The verse highlights the abundance and ongoing renewal provided by this river, with trees that never fail to bear fruit and leaves that serve a healing purpose, suggesting a scene of complete restoration and well-being.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 47:12

  • "river" (נָהָר, nāhār): This word refers to a large, flowing river, emphasizing the life-giving source that comes from the temple, not just a small stream.
  • "meat" (מַאֲכָל, ma’ăkāl): This word means food or nourishment, showing that the fruit from these trees is meant to sustain people, not just for decoration.
  • "medicine" (תְּרוּפָה, tĕrūfāh): This word means healing or remedy, pointing out that the leaves have a restorative or health-giving quality, not just a symbolic value.

Why Ezekiel 47:12 matters

  • Ezekiel 47:12 clears up that the vision is not just about physical abundance but also about ongoing health and restoration, as shown by the leaves being for medicine.
  • The verse emphasizes that the source of this blessing is the sanctuary (temple), making clear that life and healing flow from God’s presence.
  • This verse connects to the broader vision in Ezekiel 47, where the river transforms everything it touches, underlining the theme of renewal and hope for the people who had experienced exile and loss.

Where else these words appear

“fruit” Hebrew H1069 · used in 4 verses

  • Leviticus 27:26 Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD'S firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the LORD'S.
  • Deuteronomy 21:16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
  • Jeremiah 4:31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

“leaf” Hebrew H5929 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
  • Job 13:25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
  • Isaiah 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

“fade” Hebrew H5034 · used in 21 verses

  • Exodus 18:18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
  • Psalms 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
  • Isaiah 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

“meat” Hebrew H3978 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
  • 1 Chronicles 12:40 Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.
  • Proverbs 6:8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.