Ezekiel 47NASB
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Ezekiel47

New American Standard

1Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, 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.

2And he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate, by the way facing east. And behold, water was spurting out from the south side.

3When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles.

4Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the hips.

5Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not wade across, because the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be crossed by wading.

6And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.

7Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

8Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh.

9And it will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

10And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many.

11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.

12And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”

13This is what the Lord God says: “This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions.

14And you shall divide it for an inheritance, each one equally with the other; for I swore to give it to your forefathers, and this land shall fall to you as an inheritance.

15“And this shall be the boundary of the land: on the north side, from the Great Sea by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad;

16Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran.

17The boundary shall extend from the sea to Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, and on the north toward the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

18“The east side, from between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the eastern sea you shall measure. This is the east side.

19“The south side toward the south shall extend from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt and to the Great Sea. This is the south side toward the south.

20“And the west side shall be the Great Sea, from the south border to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This is the west side.

21“So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.

22You shall divide it by lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the strangers who stay in your midst, who bring forth sons in your midst. And they shall be to you as the native-born among the sons of Israel; they shall be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.

23And in the tribe with which the stranger resides, there you shall give him his inheritance,” declares the Lord God.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 47.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The Vision of the Temple. (1-23).

vv1-23

These waters signify the gospel of Christ, which went forth from Jerusalem, and spread into the countries about; also the gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost which accompanied it, by virtue of which is spread far, and produced blessed effects. Christ is the Temple; and he is the Door; from him the living waters flow, out of his pierced side. They are increasing waters. Observe the progress of the gospel in the world, and the process of the work of grace in the heart; attend the motions of the blessed Spirit under Divine guidance. If we search into the things of God, we find some things plain and easy to be understood, as the waters that were but to the ankles; others more difficult, which require a deeper search, as the waters to the knees, or the loins; and some quite beyond our reach, which we cannot penetrate; but must, as St. Paul did, adore the depth, Rom. 11. It is wisdom to begin with that which is most easy, before we proceed to that which is dark and hard to be understood. The promises of the sacred word, and the privileges of believers, as shed abroad in their souls by the quickening Spirit, abound where the gospel is preached; they nourish and delight the souls of men; they never fade nor wither, nor are exhausted. Even the leaves serve as medicines to the soul: the warnings and reproofs of the word, though less pleasant than Divine consolations, tend to heal the diseases of the soul. All who believe in Christ, and are united to him by his sanctifying Spirit, will share the privileges of Israelites. There is room in the church, and in heaven, for all who seek the blessings of that new covenant of which Christ is Mediator.

Cross References

Ezekiel 47
v1Revelation 22:1allusion

John's vision of the water of life proceeding out of the throne parallels Ezekiel's temple waters.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v12Revelation 22:2allusion

Describes the tree of life yielding fruit monthly with leaves for the healing of the nations.

Supported by JFB

v1Zechariah 14:8thematic

Prophesies living waters flowing out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea, half westward.

Supported by JFB

v1Joel 3:18thematic

A fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord to water the valley.

Supported by JFB

v1Psalms 46:4thematic

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.

Supported by JFB

v1John 7:37-39typology

Jesus speaks of rivers of living water flowing from within those who believe, signifying the Spirit.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v8Isaiah 35:1thematic

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, parallel to waters healing the desert.

Supported by JFB

v10Matthew 13:47-50typology

The gospel net cast into the sea gathering fish of every kind, matching Ezekiel's fishers.

Supported by JFB

v22Ephesians 2:12fulfillment

Strangers who were far off are brought near to inherit spiritual privileges with Israel.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Matthew 4:19typology

Jesus calls His apostles to be 'fishers of men,' fulfilling the spiritual gathering motif.

Supported by JFB

Saltness and burning represents land given over to permanent barrenness, explaining the unhealed marshes.

Supported by JFB

v11Psalms 107:34thematic

Turning a fruitful land into barrenness (literally 'saltness') for the wickedness of those who dwell there.

Supported by JFB

v12Psalms 1:3thematic

The righteous are like trees planted by rivers of water whose leaf does not wither.

Supported by JFB

v12Isaiah 61:3typology

Believers are called 'trees of righteousness' planted to display God's glory.

Supported by JFB

v12Genesis 2:9typology

Echoes Eden's trees that were pleasant to the sight and good for food.

Supported by JFB

v1Zechariah 13:1thematic

A fountain opened to the house of David for sin and uncleanness.

Supported by JFB

v5Habakkuk 2:14thematic

The earth filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea.

Supported by JFB

Identifies the Arabah ('plain') and the Salt Sea, which Ezekiel's waters flow into.

Supported by JFB