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Atomic Bible
Ezekiel

Chapter 47

Waters from under the Temple and The Borders of the Land

Ezekiel 47 unites two major restoration themes: life flowing out from the sanctuary and a just inheritance distributed across the land. First Ezekiel sees water issuing from beneath the temple threshold, growing from a trickle into an uncrossable river that transforms the Arabah and freshens the Dead Sea so that fish, trees, fruit, and healing flourish wherever it goes. Then the chapter turns to the boundaries of the restored land and the way it is to be divided among the tribes of Israel, with Joseph receiving a double portion. Strikingly, resident foreigners are also to receive inheritance within the tribe where they dwell, showing that the restored order extends life, provision, and belonging outward from the LORD's sanctuary.

This chapter is one of Ezekiel's clearest pictures of restoration as life flowing from God's presence. The river from the temple signals that holiness is not merely restrictive but life-giving, bringing healing, fertility, abundance, and renewal to what was dead. The second half shows that this renewed life is meant to take stable social form in ordered boundaries and fair inheritance, including provision for the outsider, so that the land itself reflects the justice and generosity of the God who dwells in the sanctuary.

2 sections·662 words·~3 min read

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Ezekiel 47

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vv. 1-12

Waters from under the Temple

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T1hen the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2Next he brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and there I saw the water trickling out from the south side. 3As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through ankle-deep water. 4Then he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through knee-deep water. 5Once again he measured off a thousand cubits, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough for swimming — a river that could not be crossed on foot. 6“Son of man, do you see this?” he asked. Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

7When I arrived, I saw a great number of trees along both banks of the river. 8And he said to me, “This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it empties into the Dead Sea, the water there becomes fresh. 9Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish. 10Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”

vv. 13-23

The Borders of the Land

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T13his is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions. 14You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance. 15This shall be the boundary of the land: 16On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, Berothah, and Sibraim (which is on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17So the border will run from the Sea to Hazar-enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the territory of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary. 18On the east side the border will 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 will be the eastern boundary. 19On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, and along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the southern boundary. 20And on the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary up to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This will be the western boundary.

21You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners who dwell among you and who have children. You are to treat them as native-born Israelites; along with you, they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23In whatever tribe a foreigner dwells, you are to assign his inheritance there,” declares the Lord GOD.

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  1. 01vv. 1-12Waters from under the TempleThe guide brings Ezekiel back to the temple entrance, where he sees water flowing eastward from beneath the threshold on the south side of the temple and altar. As the guide measures farther east, the water deepens from ankle level to knee level and finally becomes an uncrossable river. Along its banks grow many trees, and the river's waters heal the Dead Sea, multiply fish, sustain fishermen, and nourish fruit trees whose leaves bring healing.
  2. 02vv. 13-23The Borders of the LandThe LORD then lays out the boundaries of the land to be inherited by the twelve tribes, with Joseph receiving a double portion and each tribe sharing equally in what God swore to give the fathers. The northern, eastern, southern, and western borders are described in sequence. The chapter concludes by commanding that the land be allotted not only to the tribes but also to resident foreigners who dwell among them, granting them inheritance within the tribe where they live.
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