Ezekiel 47

1 After this, he brought me back to the doorway to the Temple. To my amazement, there was water flowing out toward the east from beneath the threshold of the Temple! (The Temple faced eastward.) The water flowed down from beneath the right side of the Temple, ^{a47:1 i.e. the right side as one inside the temple faced toward the east.} that is, from the south-facing side where the altar was located.ISV — Ezekiel 47:1

2 Then he brought me out through the north gateway and around to the one outside that faces toward the east. To my amazement, water was trickling out from that part of ^{b47:2 The Heb. lacks that part of} the south side, too!ISV — Ezekiel 47:2

3 As the man went out toward the east, he carried a measuring line in his hand. He measured out 1,000 cubits ^{c47:3 i.e. about 1,750 feet; a royal cubit was about 21 inches} as he led me through water that was ankle-deep.ISV — Ezekiel 47:3

4 Then he measured out another 1,000 cubits, ^{d47:4 The Heb. lacks cubits} where he led me through water that was knee-deep. And then he measured out another 1,000 cubits, ^{e47:4 The Heb. lacks cubits} where the water was waist-deep.ISV — Ezekiel 47:4

5 When he had measured out another 1,000 cubits, ^{f47:5 The Heb. lacks cubits} the water had become deep enough that I wasn’t able to ford it. Instead, I would have had to swim through it.ISV — Ezekiel 47:5

6 Then, as he was bringing me back along the river bank, he asked me, “Son of Man, did you see all of this?”ISV — Ezekiel 47:6

7 As we were coming back, I was amazed to see that there were many, many trees lining both banks of the river.ISV — Ezekiel 47:7

8 He told me, “This river flows toward the eastern territories all the way down into the Arabah, ^{g47:8 i.e. Israel’s southern desert areas including from the Sea of Galilee to the Red Sea through the Dead Sea} and from there its water flows toward the Dead ^{h47:8 The Heb. lacks Dead} Sea, where the sea water turns fresh.ISV — Ezekiel 47:8

9 It will support all kinds of living creatures that will thrive abundantly wherever the river flows. There will be a great many fish, because this water will flow there and turn the salt water fresh. As a result, everything will live wherever the river flows.ISV — Ezekiel 47:9

10 A day will come when fishermen will line its banks—from En-gedi to En-eglaim ^{i47:10 i.e. a city probably located on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, not far from En-gedi, perhaps modern ‘Ain Feshka} there will be plenty of room to spread out nets. There will be all sorts of species of fish, as abundant as the fish that live in the Mediterranean ^{j47:10 Lit. Great} Sea. There will be lots of them!ISV — Ezekiel 47:10

11 “The river delta ^{k47:11 The Heb. lacks delta} will consist of swamps and marshes that will remain a salt water wetland preserve.ISV — Ezekiel 47:11

12 Lining each side of the river banks, all sorts of species of fruit trees will be growing. Their leaves will never wither and their fruit will never fail. They will bear fruit every month, because the water that nourishes them will be flowing from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves will contain substances that promote healing.”ISV — Ezekiel 47:12

13 This is what the Lord GOD says: “This is to be the territorial border by which you apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph double-portioned.ISV — Ezekiel 47:13

14 Apportion it for their inheritances, distributing everything equally as if you were distributing things to your own ^{l47:14 The Heb. lacks own} brother, which is how I promised to give it to your ancestors. This way, the land will fall to you as an inheritance.ISV — Ezekiel 47:14

15 “This is to be the ^{m47:15 The Heb. lacks is to be the} border for the land: on the north side, from the Mediterranean ^{n47:15 Lit. Great} Sea by the Hethlon Road to the entrance of Zedad,ISV — Ezekiel 47:15

16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), and Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.ISV — Ezekiel 47:16

17 The border is to proceed from the Mediterranean ^{o47:17 The Heb. lacks Mediterranean} Sea to Hazer-enan (a border of Damascus), and on the north facing north is to be the border of Hamath. This is to be the north side.ISV — Ezekiel 47:17

18 “The eastern extremity is to proceed from between Hauran and ^{p47:18 Lit. Hauran and then between} Damascus, then between Gilead, and then through the land of Israel—the Jordan River. ^{q47:18 The Heb. lacks River} You are to measure from the northern border to the Dead ^{r47:18 Lit. Eastern} Sea. This is to be the eastern perimeter.ISV — Ezekiel 47:18

19 “You are to determine the southern extremity running from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, then from there proceeding to the Wadi, ^{s47:19 i.e. the Wadi of Egypt, a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times; ancient Israel’s southwestern-most border} and then to the Mediterranean ^{t47:19 Lit. Great} Sea. This is to be the southern ^{u47:19 Or Negev} perimeter.ISV — Ezekiel 47:19

20 “The western ^{v47:20 Lit. sea; i.e. the border running along the Mediterranean Sea} perimeter is to be the Mediterranean ^{w47:20 Lit. Great} Sea, from the southernmost border to a location opposite the entrance to Hamath. This is to be the western ^{x47:20 Lit. sea; i.e. the border running along the Mediterranean Sea} perimeter.ISV — Ezekiel 47:20

21 “You are to apportion this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel,ISV — Ezekiel 47:21

22 dividing it by lottery among yourselves and among the foreigners who live among you and bear children among you. You are to treat them like native-born Israelis. Among you they, ^{y47:22 Or Israelis among you. They} too, are to be allotted an inheritance with the tribes of Israel.ISV — Ezekiel 47:22

23 Furthermore, you are to provide the foreigner’s inheritance there in the tribe within which he remains,” declares the Lord GOD.ISV — Ezekiel 47:23