יחזקאל, פרק מ״ז, פסוק א׳

A prophetic vision reveals a future of abundance and blessing bursting from the holiest place and spreading outward to the entire world. Standing in the inner courtyard of the Temple, the prophet witnesses a miraculous water source springing forth. The origin of this water is the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. It bubbles up directly from beneath the entrance threshold [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ] and streams eastward, following the direction the front of the Temple faces. From the threshold, the water descends along the right, or southern, side of the gate and continues its flow just south of the Altar [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that this event represents a physical miracle destined for the future [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Historically, Jerusalem suffered from water shortages and relied heavily on drawn water from cisterns. In the future, however, a spring of living water will flow directly from the Temple. This will serve as a clear sign that the natural world has changed for the better, proving that God's blessing radiates from Zion [אברבנאל]. The water's journey begins in the Holy of Holies as a tiny drip, as thin as the antennae of a grasshopper. As it advances through the Temple halls and into the courtyard, the stream gradually thickens. It grows to the width of a fine warp thread, then a thicker weft thread, and eventually reaches the size of a small jug's spout. Continuing diagonally out of the courtyard and beyond the city limits, it transforms into a vast, wide river [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Alongside this physical interpretation, the flowing water serves as a profound metaphor for spiritual wealth, closeness to God, and the global spread of faith. The water represents a pure holiness that will emerge from God's house, reaching the Israelites first and ultimately washing over all the nations of the world. Every detail of the water's path carries deep meaning. It passes close to the Altar to show that divine blessing descends to the world through the merit of the sacrifices. Furthermore, the stream specifically emerges from the southern side rather than the north. The north traditionally symbolizes the source of evil and destruction, while the south represents goodness and favor [אברבנאל]. Finally, the constant widening and deepening of the river as it travels further from its source reflects the different levels of holiness within the Temple. It illustrates how spiritual abundance originates in the most hidden, intimate space and expands outward to nourish the entire outside world.