Ezekiel47

Ezekiel is shown a miraculous river flowing from the temple, which progressively deepens and brings life and healing wherever it flows, causing abundant fish and ever-fruiting trees. The chapter then outlines the divinely ordained borders for the land's inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Notably, this inheritance is also extended to the strangers dwelling among them, who are to receive portions alongside the native-born.
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The River Flowing from the Temple

1
And he brought me back unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward (for the forefront of the house was toward the east); and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar. ​
2
Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way without unto the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looketh toward the east; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
3
When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. ​
4
Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the loins.
5
Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. ​
6
And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river.
7
Now when I had returned, behold, upon the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8
Then said he unto me, These waters issue forth toward the eastern region, and shall go down into the Arabah; and they shall go toward the sea; into the sea shall the waters go which were made to issue forth; and the waters shall be healed. ​
9
And it shall come to pass, that every living creature which swarmeth, in every place whither the rivers come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come thither, and the waters of the sea shall be healed, and everything shall live whithersoever the river cometh. ​
10
And it shall come to pass, that fishers shall stand by it: from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim shall be a place for the spreading of nets; their fish shall be after their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. ​
11
But the miry places thereof, and the marshes thereof, shall not be healed; they shall be given up to salt. ​
12
And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall the fruit thereof fail: it shall bring forth new fruit every month, because the waters thereof issue out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof shall be for food, and the leaf thereof for healing. ​

Boundaries and Inheritance of the Land

13
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This shall be the border, whereby ye shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions. ​
14
And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I sware to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.
15
And this shall be the border of the land: On the north side, from the great sea, by the way of Hethlon, unto the entrance of Zedad;
16
Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran.
17
And the border from the sea, shall be Hazar-enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.
18
And the east side, between Hauran and Damascus and Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border, unto the east sea shall ye measure. This is the east side.
19
And the south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, unto the great sea. This is the south side southward.
20
And the west side shall be the great sea, from the south border as far as over against the entrance of Hamath. This is the west side.
21
So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.
22
And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you and to the strangers that sojourn among you, who shall beget children among you; and they shall be unto you as the home-born among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. ​
23
And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord Jehovah.

Study Notes for Ezekiel 47

Verse 1

The vision begins by establishing the source of life and blessing: the Temple, which represents the presence of God. The flow is eastward, symbolizing the spread of God’s restorative power into the desolate regions outside Jerusalem.

Verse 3

The prophet's guide measures the waters at thousand-cubit intervals (approx. 1,500 feet). This progressive measurement emphasizes the deliberate, increasing power and abundance of the divine blessing.

Verse 5

The river becomes uncrossable, requiring the prophet to swim. This symbolizes that the fullness of God’s blessing is so vast that it requires complete reliance and submission (swimming) rather than cautious wading.

Verse 8

The waters flow toward the 'sea,' generally identified as the Dead Sea, which is notoriously saline and lifeless. The purpose of the river is miraculous healing, bringing life to the most desolate regions.

Verse 9

This verse emphasizes the life-giving theological power of the river. The imagery links back to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2) and anticipates the description of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1-2), stressing restoration and vitality.

Verse 10

Engedi and Eneglaim were real locations marking the northern and southern limits of the Dead Sea shoreline, illustrating the vast extent of the miraculous fertility and economic renewal brought by the river.

Verse 11

This warning indicates that not all areas will be restored. Places that resist the healing flow, perhaps symbolizing perpetual rebellion or barrenness, will remain desolate and 'given to salt.'

Verse 12

The perennial fruitfulness (never-fading leaf, constant yield) recalls the Tree of Life. The leaves used for 'medicine' (or healing) highlights the total physical and spiritual restoration provided by the divine source.

Verse 13

This marks a shift from the visionary description to practical geopolitical instructions. Joseph receiving two portions (through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh) maintains the traditional twelve-territory division of Israel.

Verse 22

This provision is radical within ancient Israelite law. Granting sojourners (strangers) full inheritance rights, equal to those born in Israel, demonstrates the inclusive and universal nature of the restored covenant community.

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