Ezekiel47
World English Bible · Public Domain
1He brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, waters flowed out from under the threshold of the temple eastward, for the front of the temple faced toward the east. The waters came down from underneath, from the right side of the temple, on the south of the altar.
2Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me around by the way outside to the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looks toward the east. Behold, waters ran out on the right side.
3When the man went out eastward with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles.
4Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through waters that were to the waist.
5Afterward he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be walked through.
6He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and caused me to return to the bank of the river.
7Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8Then he said to me, “These waters flow out toward the eastern region and will go down into the Arabah. Then they will go toward the sea and flow into the sea which will be made to flow out; and the waters will be healed.
9It will happen that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, will live. Then there will be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters have come there, and the waters of the sea will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river comes.
10It will happen that fishermen will stand by it. From En Gedi even to En Eglaim will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be after their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceedingly many.
11But its swamps and marshes will not be healed. They will be given up to salt.
12By the river banks, on both sides, will grow every tree for food, whose leaf won’t wither, neither will its fruit fail. It will produce new fruit every month, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary. Its fruit will be for food, and its leaf for healing.”
13The Lord Yahweh says: “This shall be the border by which you shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.
14You shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I swore to give it to your fathers. This land will fall to you for inheritance.
15“This shall be the border 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), to Hazer Hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran.
17The 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“The east side, between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the east sea you shall measure. This is the east side.
19“The south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea. This is the south side southward.
20“The west side shall be the great sea, from the south border as far as opposite the entrance of Hamath. This is the west side.
21“So you shall divide this land to yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.
22You shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to you and to the aliens who live among you, who will father children among you. Then they shall be to you as the native-born among the children of Israel. They shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
23In whatever tribe the stranger lives, there you shall give him his inheritance,” says the Lord Yahweh.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 47.
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.
Key Words
שׁוּב: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
פֶּתַח: an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
הִנֵּה: lo!
מַיִם: water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
תַּחַת: the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
מִפְתָּן: a stretcher, i.e. a sill
קָדִים: the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
Cross References
Ezekiel 47John's vision of the water of life proceeding out of the throne parallels Ezekiel's temple waters.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Describes the tree of life yielding fruit monthly with leaves for the healing of the nations.
Supported by JFB
Prophesies living waters flowing out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea, half westward.
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A fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord to water the valley.
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There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.
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Jesus speaks of rivers of living water flowing from within those who believe, signifying the Spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, parallel to waters healing the desert.
Supported by JFB
The gospel net cast into the sea gathering fish of every kind, matching Ezekiel's fishers.
Supported by JFB
Strangers who were far off are brought near to inherit spiritual privileges with Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
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.
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Turning a fruitful land into barrenness (literally 'saltness') for the wickedness of those who dwell there.
Supported by JFB
The righteous are like trees planted by rivers of water whose leaf does not wither.
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Believers are called 'trees of righteousness' planted to display God's glory.
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Echoes Eden's trees that were pleasant to the sight and good for food.
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A fountain opened to the house of David for sin and uncleanness.
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The earth filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea.
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Identifies the Arabah ('plain') and the Salt Sea, which Ezekiel's waters flow into.
Supported by JFB