Hesekiel 47 | New International Reader’s Version

A river will flow from the temple

1 The 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. 2 Then 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. 3 Then 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. 4 Then 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. 5 Then 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. 6 He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’ Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw many trees. They were on both sides of the river. 8 The 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. 9 Many 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. 10 People 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. 11 But none of the swamps will have fresh water in them. They will stay salty. 12 Fruit 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

13 Here 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. 14 Divide 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, 16 Berothah and Sibraim. Sibraim is between Damascus and Hamath. The border will reach all the way to Hazer Hattikon. It is right next to Hauran. 17 The 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. 18 On 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. 19 On 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. 20 On 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. 22 Each 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. 23 Outsiders can live in the land of any tribe. There you must give them their share,’ announces the LORD and King.

English Standard Version

Water Flowing from the Temple

1 Then 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. 2 Then 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. 3 Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits,* and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. 4 Again 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. 5 Again 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. 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea;* when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.* 9 And wherever the river goes,* 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* may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen 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.* 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 And 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.”

Division of the Land

13 Thus says the Lord God: “This is the boundary* by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. 14 And you shall divide equally what I swore to give to your fathers. This land shall fall to you as your inheritance. 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,* 16 Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 So 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.* This shall be the north side.* 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.* This shall be the east side. 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* to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side. 20 “On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side. 21 “So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You 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. 23 In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord God.

Hesekiel 47 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

A river will flow from the temple

The borders of the land

Water Flowing from the Temple

Division of the Land