1Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. (Ps 46:4; Eze 9:3; Eze 43:1; Eze 43:13; Joe 3:18; Zec 14:8; Re 22:1)2Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. (Eze 40:6; Eze 40:35)3Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits,[1] and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. (Eze 40:3)4Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep.5Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.6And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. (Eze 2:1; Eze 8:6)7As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. (Eze 47:12; Re 22:2)8And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea;[2] when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.[3] (De 1:1; De 3:17; De 4:49; Jos 3:16)9And wherever the river goes,[4] every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea[5] may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.10Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.[6] (Jos 15:12; 1Sa 23:29; Isa 15:8)11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.12And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” (Ge 2:9; Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8; Eze 47:7; Re 22:2)
Division of the Land
13Thus says the Lord God: “This is the boundary[7] by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. (Jos 17:14; Eze 45:8; Eze 48:1; Eze 48:4; Eze 48:23)14And you shall divide equally what I swore to give to your fathers. This land shall fall to you as your inheritance. (Ge 12:7; Eze 20:5; Eze 48:29)15“This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, and on to Zedad,[8] (Nu 34:8; Eze 47:10; Eze 48:1)16Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. (2Sa 8:8; Isa 7:8; Eze 47:15; Eze 48:1)17So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enan, which is on the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north.[9] This shall be the north side.[10] (Eze 48:1)18“On the east side, the boundary shall run between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar.[11] This shall be the east side. (Jos 13:11; Joe 2:20)19“On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt[12] to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side. (Ge 14:7; Nu 20:13; Nu 34:5; Jos 15:12; 2Ch 20:2)20“On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side. (Eze 47:15)21“So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. (Eze 47:13)22You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. (Ex 12:19; Ex 12:48; Isa 14:1; Eze 45:1; Eze 48:29; Ro 10:12; Ga 3:28; Eph 3:6; Col 3:11)23In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord God.
Ezekiel 47
New International Version
The river from the temple
1The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple towards the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.2He then brought me out through the north gate and led me round the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.3As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits[1] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.4He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.5He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in – a river that no-one could cross.6He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’ Then he led me back to the bank of the river.7When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.8He said to me, ‘This water flows towards the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah,[2] where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.9Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.10Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds – like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.11But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.12Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.’
The boundaries of the land
13This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘These are the boundaries of the land that you will divide among the twelve tribes of Israel as their inheritance, with two portions for Joseph.14You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your ancestors, this land will become your inheritance.15‘This is to be the boundary of the land: ‘On the north side it will run from the Mediterranean Sea by the Hethlon road past Lebo Hamath to Zedad,16Berothah[3] and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of Hauran.17The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan,[4] along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary.18On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the Dead Sea and as far as Tamar.[5] This will be the eastern boundary.19On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. This will be the southern boundary.20On the west side, the Mediterranean Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the western boundary.21‘You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.22You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.23In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,’ declares the Sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 47
King James Version
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.
Ezekiel 47
New International Reader’s Version
A river will flow from the temple
1The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple. I saw water flowing east from under a temple gateway. The temple faced east. The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple. It was flowing south of the altar.2Then he brought me out through the north gate of the outer courtyard. He led me around the outside to the outer gate that faced east. The water was flowing from the south side of the east gate.3Then the man went towards the east. He had a measuring line in his hand. He measured off 600 metres. He led me through water that was up to my ankles.4Then he measured off another 600 metres. He led me through water that was up to my knees. Then he measured off another 600 metres. He led me through water that was up to my waist.5Then he measured off another 600 metres. But now it was a river that I could not go across. The water had risen so high that it was deep enough to swim in.6He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’ Then he led me back to the bank of the river.7When I arrived there, I saw many trees. They were on both sides of the river.8The man said to me, ‘This water flows towards the eastern territory. It goes down into the Arabah Valley. There it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into it, the salt water there becomes fresh.9Many creatures will live where the river flows. It will have many schools of fish. This water flows there and makes the salt water fresh. So where the river flows everything will live.10People will stand along the shore to fish. From En Gedi all the way to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading fishing nets. The Dead Sea will have many kinds of fish. They will be like the fish in the Mediterranean Sea.11But none of the swamps will have fresh water in them. They will stay salty.12Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not dry up. The trees will always have fruit on them. Every month they will bear fruit. The water from the temple will flow to them. Their fruit will be used for food. And their leaves will be used for healing.’
The borders of the land
13Here is what the LORD and King says. ‘People of Israel, here are the borders of the land that you will divide up. You will divide up the land among the 12 tribes of Israel. Each tribe will receive a share. But the family of Joseph will have two shares.14Divide the land into equal parts. Long ago I raised my hand and made a promise. I promised to give the land to your people of long ago. So all of it will belong to you.15‘Here are the borders of the land. ‘On the north side the border will start at the Mediterranean Sea. It will go by the Hethlon road past Lebo Hamath. Then it will continue on to Zedad,16Berothah and Sibraim. Sibraim is between Damascus and Hamath. The border will reach all the way to Hazer Hattikon. It is right next to Hauran.17The border will go from the sea to Hazar Enan. It will run north of Damascus and south of Hamath. This will be the northern border.18On the east side the border will run between Hauran and Damascus. It will continue along the River Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel. It will reach to the Dead Sea and all the way to Tamar. This will be the eastern border.19On the south side the border will start at Tamar. It will reach all the way to the waters of Meribah Kadesh. Then it will run along the Wadi of Egypt. It will end at the Mediterranean Sea. This will be the southern border.20On the west side, the Mediterranean Sea will be the border. It will go to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the western border.21‘You must divide up this land among yourselves. Do this based on the number of men in your tribes.22Each of the tribes must receive a share of the land. You must also give some land to the outsiders who live among you and who have children. Treat them as if they had been born in Israel. Let them have some land among your tribes.23Outsiders can live in the land of any tribe. There you must give them their share,’ announces the LORD and King.