Major Prophets · Chapter 47 of 48

Ezekiel 47

Ezekiel sees water flowing out from under the temple threshold, eastward past the altar. As his guide measures outward, the trickle deepens from ankles to knees to waist to a river too deep to cross. Wherever it flows it brings life, healing even the salt sea, teeming with fish, lined with fruitful trees whose leaves are for medicine. The chapter closes with the borders of the land, an inheritance shared even with resident foreigners.

What happens in Ezekiel 47

The guide brings Ezekiel back to the temple door, where water issues from under the threshold, flowing east past the altar. Measuring a thousand cubits, he brings Ezekiel through water to his ankles, then another thousand to the knees, then to the waist, then a fourth thousand where the water has become a river too deep to cross, waters to swim in. Back at the bank, Ezekiel sees many trees on both sides. The guide explains these waters flow down to the desert and into the sea, and the salt waters are healed, so everything living teems where the river goes, with fishermen spreading nets from Engedi to Eneglaim.

Along the banks grow trees whose leaves never fade and whose fruit never fails, bearing new fruit monthly because the waters flow from the sanctuary, with fruit for food and leaves for medicine. God then gives the land's boundaries and commands that resident foreigners share the inheritance.

Ezekiel 47 in context

Near the close of the temple vision of about 573 BC, this chapter turns from architecture and regulation to a breathtaking image of life flowing from God's presence. It recalls the river of Eden and anticipates the visions of the prophets and Revelation. To exiles from a ruined land, the picture of a life giving river healing even the Dead Sea proclaimed that God's restored presence would overflow in blessing far beyond the temple walls.

The inclusion of foreigners in the inheritance widens the promise beyond ethnic Israel.

Main themes of Ezekiel 47

Ezekiel 47 (KJV)

1Afterward he brought me again 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 stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 5Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 6And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. 10And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. 11But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 12And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. 13Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions. 14And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance. 15And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad; 16Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran. 17And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side. 18And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And this is the east side. 19And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward. 20The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side. 21So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel. 22And 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, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.

Verses to carry from Ezekiel 47

“Afterward he brought me again 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 stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.”Ezekiel 47:1

“And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.”Ezekiel 47:9

“And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.”Ezekiel 47:12

Reflection

Many of us stand ankle deep in God, testing the water, keeping our footing. Ezekiel's river keeps rising until it sweeps you off your feet. Christ offers rivers of living water, his Spirit within you.

Will you wade deeper? Where the river of his presence flows, dead places come alive and barren shores grow fruit. Let it carry you further than caution would allow.

A prayer from Ezekiel 47