Ezekiel 47:1-23
River from the Temple
1Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.
2Next he brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and there I saw the water trickling out from the south side.
3As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through ankle-deep water.
4Then he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through knee-deep water. Again he measured a thousand cubits and led me through waist-deep water.
5Once again he measured off a thousand cubits, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough for swimming—a river that could not be crossed on foot.
6“Son of man, do you see this?” he asked. Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
7When I arrived, I saw a great number of trees along both banks of the river.
8And he said to me, “This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it empties into the Dead Sea, the water there becomes fresh.
9Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish.
10Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.
11But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.
12Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”
13This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions.
14You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance.
15This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad,
16Berothah, and Sibraim (which is on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.
17So the border will run from the Sea to Hazar-enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the territory of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary.
18On the east side the border will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the Eastern Sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the eastern boundary.
19On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, and along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the southern boundary.
20And on the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary up to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This will be the western boundary.
21You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.
22You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners who dwell among you and who have children. You are to treat them as native-born Israelites; along with you, they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
23In whatever tribe a foreigner dwells, you are to assign his inheritance there,” declares the Lord GOD.
Berean Standard Bible
The man brings Ezekiel back to the temple entrance, and water is flowing from below the threshold toward the east. He measures a thousand cubits at a time, and the water grows from ankle-deep to knee-deep, waist-deep, and finally too deep to cross.
The river flows into the sea and makes the salt water fresh. Wherever it goes, living creatures swarm, fish become abundant, and fishermen stand along the shore. Trees grow on both banks, their leaves do not wither, and their fruit does not fail because the water from the sanctuary gives life.
The marshes and swamps are not made fresh; they are left for salt. The vision includes both abundance and a boundary that remains. It does not flatten every place into the same condition or answer every question about how the image should be interpreted.
The land's boundaries and tribal allotments are then described. Foreigners living among the Israelites are to receive an inheritance in the tribe where they reside. The river's life-giving movement is joined to a more just community in which resident outsiders are not treated as invisible.
Questions
1 Where did the water begin?
AnswerIt began below the threshold of the temple and flowed eastward.
2 What happened as the man measured the river?
AnswerIt grew from ankle-deep to knee-deep, waist-deep, and too deep to cross.
3 What did the water do to the sea?
AnswerIt made the salt water fresh and brought abundant living creatures and fish.
4 Who would receive an inheritance?
AnswerForeigners living among Israel would receive an inheritance in the tribe where they resided.
What This Means for Us
Life flows outward from God's presence. The vision does not imagine renewal as a private blessing kept inside the sanctuary; it reaches land, animals, work, food, and people who might otherwise be excluded.
Look for the places your household's faith should bring healing and welcome. Keep the vision's hope without forcing every symbol into a prediction, and let its generosity challenge narrow ideas of belonging.
Prayer
God of life, let Your renewing work reach beyond our private worship. Bring healing to damaged places, make us generous toward outsiders, and teach us to welcome the people who live among us. Amen.