Marish
An Old Word for Marsh
The word "marish" is simply an older English form of "marsh," used in the King James Version of Ezekiel 47:11. Modern translations uniformly replace it with "marsh" or "swamp." The term comes from Old French "mareis" (marshy ground), which also gave English the word "morass." By the time of the Revised Version (1885), "marish" had fallen out of common use and was replaced with the more familiar "marsh."
The Context: Ezekiel's Temple Vision
Marish appears within one of the most extraordinary visions in the entire Bible. In Ezekiel 47:1-12, the prophet sees a river flowing from the threshold of the future temple in Jerusalem. The river begins as a trickle but grows deeper and wider as it flows eastward, becoming a mighty, uncrossable river. Wherever the river flows, it brings life: trees flourish on its banks, fish fill its waters, and the Dead Sea itself is transformed from a lifeless salt lake into a thriving body of water teeming with life (Ezekiel 47:8-10).
The Exception: The Marshes
Amidst this vision of total renewal, verse 11 introduces a notable exception: "But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt" (Ezekiel 47:11). The KJV renders this as: "But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt."
The marshes along the Dead Sea coast were important sources of salt in the ancient world. Salt was essential for food preservation, seasoning, and religious rituals. The fact that these marshy areas are excluded from the river's healing power suggests a practical provision: even in the renewed creation, the salt marshes would continue to serve their useful purpose.
The Dead Sea in Biblical Geography
The Dead Sea, toward which Ezekiel's river flows, is one of the most distinctive geographical features in the biblical world. Located at the lowest point on earth's surface, its extreme salinity makes it incapable of supporting fish or most plant life. The surrounding area includes extensive salt flats and marshy lowlands. Ancient writers marveled at its lifelessness, and the prophets used it as a symbol of desolation and judgment.
Ezekiel's vision reverses this symbolism dramatically. The river from God's temple transforms the Dead Sea into a living sea, symbolizing God's power to bring life where there is death. The fishermen standing along its shores from En Gedi to En Eglaim (Ezekiel 47:10) represent the abundance that God's presence creates.
Theological Meaning of the Marshes
The preservation of the marishes/marshes carries theological weight. Some interpreters see the salt marshes as a reminder that judgment remains a reality even within God's renewal — not everything is swept into restoration. Others view the salt as a symbol of preservation and covenant faithfulness, since salt was associated with covenants in the Bible (Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5). The marshes thus represent the enduring reality of God's covenant even as his restoration transforms the landscape.
From Ezekiel to Revelation
Ezekiel's river vision is echoed in the final chapters of Revelation, where John sees "the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Revelation 22:1). Trees of life grow on either side of the river, bearing fruit every month and with leaves "for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2). This parallel confirms that Ezekiel's vision points ultimately to the new creation, where God's presence brings life and healing to all things.
A Minor Word, A Major Vision
Though "marish" is merely an archaic synonym for "marsh," its single appearance in Scripture connects to one of the Bible's grandest visions of cosmic renewal. The marshes that remain salty amid the river's healing waters remind readers that God's purposes are both comprehensive and purposeful — even what is excluded from transformation serves his design.
Biblical Context
Marish appears in Ezekiel 47:11 (KJV), within the vision of the life-giving river flowing from the future temple (Ezekiel 47:1-12). The verse states that the marshes along the Dead Sea would not be healed by the river but would be left for salt. The broader vision describes total transformation of the Dead Sea region through the presence of God.
Theological Significance
The marishes of Ezekiel 47:11 demonstrate that God's restoration is purposeful and specific. The preservation of salt marshes amid sweeping renewal shows that even in the new creation, God maintains elements that serve practical and covenant purposes. The vision as a whole teaches that God's presence is the source of all life and that his temple is the origin point of creation's healing.
Historical Background
The Dead Sea region has been a major source of salt since antiquity. Salt extraction from evaporation ponds and coastal marshes was an important economic activity throughout the biblical period. The word 'marish' reflects Middle English usage and was already becoming archaic by the time of the KJV's publication in 1611. The Dead Sea's extreme salinity (roughly ten times that of ocean water) and its lifeless condition made it a powerful symbol in prophetic literature.