Ezekiel 47:1-12
English Standard Version
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. 2 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.
3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river (J)very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 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] 9 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.”
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- Ezekiel 47:3 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
- Ezekiel 47:8 That is, the Dead Sea
- Ezekiel 47:8 Hebrew will be healed; also verses 9, 11
- Ezekiel 47:9 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; Hebrew the two rivers go
- Ezekiel 47:9 Hebrew lacks the waters of the sea
- Ezekiel 47:10 That is, the Mediterranean Sea; also verses 15, 19, 20
Ezekiel 47:1-12
The Message
Trees on Both Sides of the River
47 1-2 Now he brought me back to the entrance to the Temple. I saw water pouring out from under the Temple porch to the east (the Temple faced east). The water poured from the south side of the Temple, south of the altar. He then took me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the gate complex on the east. The water was gushing from under the south front of the Temple.
3-5 He walked to the east with a measuring tape and measured off fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water waist-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk through.
6-7 He said, “Son of man, have you had a good look?”
Then he took me back to the riverbank. While sitting on the bank, I noticed a lot of trees on both sides of the river.
8-10 He told me, “This water flows east, descends to the Arabah and then into the sea, the sea of stagnant waters. When it empties into those waters, the sea will become fresh. Wherever the river flows, life will flourish—great schools of fish—because the river is turning the salt sea into fresh water. Where the river flows, life abounds. Fishermen will stand shoulder to shoulder along the shore from En Gedi all the way north to En-eglaim, casting their nets. The sea will teem with fish of all kinds, like the fish of the Great Mediterranean.
11 “The swamps and marshes won’t become fresh. They’ll stay salty.
12 “But the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds. Their leaves won’t wither, the fruit won’t fail. Every month they’ll bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson