Rivier van die lewe in Esegiel 47:1-12 : motief, mite en metafoor

Abstract

This article tries to establish the nature and value of the myths and metaphors imbedded in the description of the river of life in Ezekiel 47:1-12. The Biblical context as well as the wider mythological context is taken into account. It communicates God’s saving acts and the spiritual recreation of the people in an extraordinary way. God’s self-communication finds its full expression in an inwardly renewed community. The article includes a reflection on the nature and value of the myth and the metaphor in theology.