Water Flowing from the Temple

47 Then he brought me back to (A)the door of the temple, and behold, (B)water was issuing from below (C)the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of (D)the altar. Then he brought me out by way of (E)the north gate and led me around on the outside to (F)the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.

Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, (G)the man measured a thousand cubits,[a] and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, (H)“Son of man, (I)have you seen this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river (J)very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into (K)the Arabah, and enters the sea;[b] when the water flows into (L)the sea, the water will become fresh.[c] And wherever the river goes,[d] every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea[e] may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From (M)Engedi to (N)Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of (O)the Great Sea.[f] 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 And on the banks, (P)on both sides of the river, there will grow (Q)all kinds of trees for food. (R)Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, (S)but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and (T)their leaves for healing.”

Division of the Land

13 Thus says the Lord God: “This is the boundary[g] by which (U)you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. (V)Joseph shall have two portions. 14 And you shall divide equally what (W)I swore (X)to give to your fathers. (Y)This land shall fall to you as your inheritance.

15 “This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from (Z)the Great Sea (AA)by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, and on to (AB)Zedad,[h] 16 (AC)Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between (AD)Damascus and (AE)Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 So the boundary shall run from the sea to (AF)Hazar-enan, which is on the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north.[i] This shall be the north side.[j]

18 “On the east side, the boundary shall run between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between (AG)Gilead and the land of Israel; to (AH)the eastern sea and as far as Tamar.[k] This shall be the east side.

19 “On the south side, it shall run from (AI)Tamar as far as (AJ)the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along (AK)the Brook of Egypt[l] to (AL)the Great Sea. This shall be the south side.

20 “On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point (AM)opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side.

21 (AN)“So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. 22 (AO)You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and (AP)for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. (AQ)They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord God.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 47:3 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters; a long cubit (see 40:5) was about 21 inches or 53 centimeters
  2. Ezekiel 47:8 That is, the Dead Sea
  3. Ezekiel 47:8 Hebrew will be healed; also verses 9, 11
  4. Ezekiel 47:9 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; Hebrew the two rivers go
  5. Ezekiel 47:9 Hebrew lacks the waters of the sea
  6. Ezekiel 47:10 That is, the Mediterranean Sea; also verses 15, 19, 20
  7. Ezekiel 47:13 Probable reading; Hebrew The valley of the boundary
  8. Ezekiel 47:15 Septuagint; Hebrew the entrance of Zedad, Hamath
  9. Ezekiel 47:17 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  10. Ezekiel 47:17 Probable reading; Hebrew and as for the north side
  11. Ezekiel 47:18 Compare Syriac; Hebrew to the eastern sea you shall measure
  12. Ezekiel 47:19 Hebrew lacks of Egypt

The Healing Waters and Trees

47 Then he brought me back to the door of the [a]temple; and there was (A)water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces (B)east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

And when (C)the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many (D)trees on one side and the other. Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the [b]valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever [c]the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish (E)of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. 12 (F)Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; (G)their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for (H)medicine.”[d]

Borders of the Land(I)

13 Thus says the Lord God: “These are the (J)borders by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. (K)Joseph shall have two portions. 14 You shall inherit it equally with one another; for I (L)raised My hand in an oath to give it to your fathers, and this land shall (M)fall to you as your inheritance.

15 “This shall be the border of the land on the north: from the Great Sea, by (N)the road to Hethlon, as one goes to (O)Zedad, 16 (P)Hamath, (Q)Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazar Hatticon (which is on the border of Hauran). 17 Thus the boundary shall be from the Sea to (R)Hazar Enan, the border of Damascus; and as for the north, northward, it is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

18 “On the east side you shall mark out the border from between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan, and along the eastern side of the sea. This is the east side.

19 “The south side, toward the [e]South, shall be from Tamar to (S)the waters of [f]Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the Great Sea. This is the south side, toward the South.

20 “The west side shall be the Great Sea, from the southern boundary until one comes to a point opposite Hamath. This is the west side.

21 “Thus you shall (T)divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 It shall be that you will divide it by (U)lot as an inheritance for yourselves, (V)and for the strangers who dwell among you and who bear children among you. (W)They shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give him his inheritance,” says the Lord God.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 47:1 Lit. house
  2. Ezekiel 47:8 Or Arabah, the Jordan Valley
  3. Ezekiel 47:9 Lit. two rivers
  4. Ezekiel 47:12 Or healing
  5. Ezekiel 47:19 Heb. Negev
  6. Ezekiel 47:19 Lit. Strife