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The River of Yahweh’s House

47 Then he brought me back to the (A)door of the house; and behold, (B)water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around by way of the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.

When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured [a]one thousand cubits, and he had me pass through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured one thousand and had me pass through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured one thousand and had me pass through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had become high—enough water to swim in, a (C)river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you (D)seen this?” Then he led and returned me back to the bank of the river. When I had returned, now behold, on the bank of the river there were very many (E)trees on the one side and on the other. Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the (F)Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow out to the (G)sea, and the waters of the sea [b]will be healed. And it will be that every living creature, which swarms in every place where the [c]river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the other waters [d]are healed; so (H)everything will live where the river goes. 10 And it will be that (I)fishermen will stand beside it; from (J)Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the (K)spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the (L)Great Sea, (M)very many. 11 But its marshes and swamps will not be [e]healed; they will be [f]left for (N)salt. 12 (O)And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of (P)trees for food. Their (Q)leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not [g]fail. They will bear every month because their water flows out from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their (R)leaves for healing.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 47:3 Approx. 500 yd. or 450 m
  2. Ezekiel 47:8 Fresh
  3. Ezekiel 47:9 Lit two rivers
  4. Ezekiel 47:9 Fresh
  5. Ezekiel 47:11 Fresh
  6. Ezekiel 47:11 Lit given
  7. Ezekiel 47:12 Lit come to an end

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. He said to me, “Human one, do you see?” Then he led me back to the edge of the river. When I went back, I saw very many trees on both banks of the river. 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. 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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 47:8 Or Arabah
  2. Ezekiel 47:8 Or sea
  3. Ezekiel 47:10 Or great sea