Ezekiel 47
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Water Flowing from the Temple
47 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there water was flowing from below the entryway of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east), and the water was flowing down from below the south side of the temple, south of the altar.(A) 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east,[a] and the water was trickling out on the south side.(B)
3 Going on eastward with a cord in his hand, the man measured one thousand cubits and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep.(C) 4 Again he measured one thousand and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured one thousand and led me through the water, and it was up to the waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, “Mortal, have you seen this?”
Then he led me back along the bank of the river.(D) 7 As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other.(E) 8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh.(F) 9 Wherever the river goes,[b] every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish once these waters reach there. It will become fresh, and everything will live where the river goes. 10 People will stand fishing beside the sea[c] from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of a great many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.(G) 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”(H)
The New Boundaries of the Land
13 Thus says the Lord God: These are the boundaries by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.(I) 14 You shall divide it equally; I swore to give it to your ancestors, and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance.(J)
15 This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath and on to Zedad,[d](K) 16 Berothah, Sibraim (which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.(L) 17 So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enon, which is north of the border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north.[e] This shall be the north side.(M)
18 On the east side, between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar.[f] This shall be the east side.(N)
19 On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, from there along the Wadi of Egypt[g] to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side.(O)
20 On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side.(P)
21 So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who reside among you and have fathered children among you. They shall be to you as native-born of Israel; with you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.(Q) 23 In whatever tribe aliens reside, there you shall assign them their inheritance, says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 47
Common English Bible
The river
47 When he brought me back to the temple’s entrance, I noticed that water was flowing toward the east from under the temple’s threshold (the temple faced east). The water was going out from under the temple’s facade toward the south, south of the altar. 2 He led me out through the north gate and around the outside to the outer east gate, where the water flowed out under the facade on the south side. 3 With the line in his hand, the man went out toward the east. When he measured off fifteen hundred feet, he made me cross the water; it was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another fifteen hundred feet and made me cross the water; it was knee-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet and made me cross the water, and it was waist-high. 5 When he measured off another fifteen hundred feet, it had become a river that I couldn’t cross. The water was high, deep enough for swimming but too high to cross. 6 He said to me, “Human one, do you see?” Then he led me back to the edge of the river. 7 When I went back, I saw very many trees on both banks of the river. 8 He said to me, “These waters go out to the eastern region, flow down the steep slopes,[a] and go into the Dead Sea.[b] When the flowing waters enter the sea, its water becomes fresh. 9 Wherever the river flows, every living thing that moves will thrive. There will be great schools of fish, because when these waters enter the sea, it will be fresh. Wherever the river flows, everything will live. 10 People will stand fishing beside it, from En-gedi to En-eglayim, and it will become a place for spreading nets. It will be like the Mediterranean Sea,[c] having all kinds of fish in it. 11 Its marshes and swamps won’t be made fresh (they are left for salt), 12 but on both banks of the river will grow up all kinds of fruit-bearing trees. Their leaves won’t wither, and their fruitfulness won’t wane. They will produce fruit in every month, because their water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for eating, their leaves for healing.”
13 The Lord God proclaims: These[d] are the boundaries of the portions of land that will be distributed as an inheritance to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two portions. 14 What I swore to give to your ancestors, you will distribute as an inheritance equally. This land is given to you as an inheritance. 15 This is the boundary of the land. The northern limit begins at the Mediterranean Sea and goes in the direction of Hethlon toward Lebo-hamath, Zedad,[e] 16 Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the boundary of Damascus and the boundary of Hamath), and Hazer-hatticon (that is on the boundary of Hauran). 17 So the boundary from the Mediterranean Sea[f] to Hazar-enon will run north of the boundary of Damascus, with the boundary of Hamath to the north. This is the northern limit. 18 For the eastern limit, you will measure continuously between Hauran and Damascus and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan River as far as the Dead Sea.[g] This is the eastern limit. 19 The southern limit runs from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh and from there along the border[h] of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the southern limit. 20 For the western limit, the Mediterranean Sea is the boundary up to Lebo-hamath. This is the western limit. 21 You will apportion this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 When you distribute the land as an inheritance, the immigrants who reside with you and raise families among you are considered full citizens along with the Israelites. They will receive an inheritance along with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 You will assign the immigrants’ inheritance with the tribe with whom they reside. This is what the Lord God says.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 47:8 Or Arabah
- Ezekiel 47:8 Or sea
- Ezekiel 47:10 Or great sea
- Ezekiel 47:13 LXX, Tg, Vulg; Heb uncertain
- Ezekiel 47:15 LXX; MT transposes Hamath and Zedad.
- Ezekiel 47:17 Or the sea
- Ezekiel 47:18 Or eastern sea
- Ezekiel 47:19 Or Wadi; traditionally Brook
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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