Ezekiel Chapter 47

At a Glance

  • Ezekiel 47 returns to the iconic river vision, where waters flow from the temple precinct eastward and progressively deepen until they become a river too wide to cross.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • This chapter belongs to Ezekiel’s temple-vision corpus, where prophetic imagery communicates hope of restoration and cosmic renewal.
  • - Life-giving Presence: God’s dwelling brings healing to land and sea; life flourishes where God’s life touches creation.
  • - Transformation and Expansion: From small beginnings to abundant blessing—personal and communal renewal grows outward.

Chapter Overview

Ezekiel 47 returns to the iconic river vision, where waters flow from the temple precinct eastward and progressively deepen until they become a river too wide to cross. The journey begins with ankle-deep waters, then knee-deep, waist-deep, and finally a river that cannot be crossed. The experience unfolds as a revelatory invitation to move from measured, controlled access to abundant, life-giving transformation. The waters heal the land, bring life to the desert, and yield a thriving ecosystem—fish fill the waters, trees line the banks, and the sea of life becomes an image of expansive divine blessing. The vision also emphasizes mission and abundance: fishers operate along the river, and the region becomes a place of fruitfulness and renewal. The river’s source and its healing power symbolize God’s presence moving outward to renew creation. The text invites readers to envision personal and communal transformation—where faith becomes living water that irrigates, nourishes, and sustains.

Historical & Literary Context

This chapter belongs to Ezekiel’s temple-vision corpus, where prophetic imagery communicates hope of restoration and cosmic renewal. The river motif sits within a larger symbolic program about life, healing, and the outpouring of God’s life-giving Spirit into the world. The imagery connects temple theology—where God dwells among his people—with cosmic renewal, signaling that true worship generates transformative impact beyond the temple’s physical bounds. The river’s progression from a trickle to a current that cannot be crossed reflects progressive revelation: initial proximity to God grows into expansive, life-giving influence under divine initiative. As a transformative vision, it reinforces the book’s pedagogical aim: to inspire hope, trust in God’s future, and a call to participate in God’s restorative work.

Key Themes

- Life-giving Presence: God’s dwelling brings healing to land and sea; life flourishes where God’s life touches creation.

- Transformation and Expansion: From small beginnings to abundant blessing—personal and communal renewal grows outward.

- Creation’s Renewal: The abundant fish and trees symbolize a revitalized cosmos under God’s rule.

- Community Mission: The river becomes a conduit for mission—fishers and networks of life and witness.

Modern Application

- Spiritual vitality: Invoke the picture of living water in personal faith—disciplines that generate growth and renewal rather than stagnation.

- Community renewal: Churches and communities can pursue programs and outreach that reflect healing, social renewal, and hospitality to the region.

- Environmental care: The restoration imagery invites care for creation as part of faithful worship and flourishing society.

- Jeremiah 17:8 (Living water imagery)

- Isaiah 55:1–3 (Water images of renewal)

- John 4:14 (Jesus as living water)

- Revelation 22:1-2 (River of life)

- Jesus (living water and mission)

- Paul (gospel-centered missional expansion)

- Elijah/Elisha (narratives of life and renewal through divine power)

Chapter Text

1

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.

2

Then 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.

3

And 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.

4

Again 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.

5

Afterward 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.

6

And 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.

7

Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

8

Then 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.

9

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.

10

And 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.

11

But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

12

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.

13

Thus 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.

14

And 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.

15

And 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;

16

Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.

17

And 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.

18

And 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.

19

And 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.

20

The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.

21

So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.

22

And 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.

23

And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.

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