Going on eastward with a line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits: The pronoun his and the man refer to the angelic guide. Going on eastward means “The man walked east” (Contemporary English Version). No doubt Ezekiel walked with him. The guide had a line in his hand, that is, he was carrying “his measuring rod” (Good News Translation), “his measuring stick” (Contemporary English Version). Although the Hebrew term for line differs from the expression for “measuring reed” in 40.3, 5, it was probably the same measuring stick. Translators may use the same expression here as in chapter 40. He measured a thousand cubits means he used his measuring stick to measure 500 meters (560 yards). For a thousand cubits, New Century Version says “about one-third of a mile” (similarly Moffatt).

And then led me through the water is literally “and he caused me to pass through the water.” It is not clear whether the guide went into the water with Ezekiel after they were 500 meters from the Temple wall, or whether he sent Ezekiel by himself. Either interpretation is possible. Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible say “he then made me wade across the stream,” and Good News Translation has “and told me to wade through the stream there” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

And it was ankle-deep: The water was very shallow, no more than 10 centimeters (4 inches) deep at most. Good News Translation says “The water came only to my ankles.”

Good News Translation provides a helpful model for this verse. Good News Translation makes it clear that Ezekiel and his guide were going downstream, that is walking 500 meters downstream away from the Temple and then wading out into the water.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .