# Ezekiel 47 📖: The River of Life [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Ezekiel Overview]] | [[Ezekiel 46]] | [[Ezekiel 48]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### Water from the Temple [[#Verse 01.]] Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar.  [[#Verse 02.]] He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed that the water was trickling out from the south side. [[#Verse 03.]] When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep.  [[#Verse 04.]] Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep.  [[#Verse 05.]] Again he measured 1,750 feet, and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.  [[#Verse 06.]] He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. [[#Verse 07.]] When I had returned, I noticed a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides.  [[#Verse 08.]] He said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the rift valley; when they enter the Dead Sea, where the sea is stagnant, the waters become fresh.  [[#Verse 09.]] Every living creature that swarms where the river flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh, and everything will live where the river flows.  [[#Verse 10.]] Fishermen will stand beside it; from En Gedi to En Eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea.  [[#Verse 11.]] But its swamps and its marshes will not become fresh; they will remain salty.  [[#Verse 12.]] On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” ### Boundaries for the Land [[#Verse 13.]] This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Here are the borders you will observe as you allot the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Joseph will have two portions.)  [[#Verse 14.]] You must divide it equally just as I vowed to give it to your forefathers; this land will be assigned as your inheritance. [[#Verse 15.]] “This will be the border of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to the entrance of Zedad;  [[#Verse 16.]] Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of Hauran.  [[#Verse 17.]] The border will run from the sea to Hazar Enan, at the border of Damascus, and on the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.  [[#Verse 18.]] On the east side, between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, will be the Jordan. You will measure from the border to the eastern sea. This is the east side.  [[#Verse 19.]] On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, the river, to the Great Sea. This is the south side.  [[#Verse 20.]] On the west side the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This is the west side. [[#Verse 21.]] “This is how you will divide this land for yourselves among the tribes of Israel.  [[#Verse 22.]] You must allot it as an inheritance among yourselves and for the resident foreigners who live among you, who have fathered sons among you. You must treat them as native-born among the people of Israel; they will be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.  [[#Verse 23.]] In whatever tribe the resident foreigner lives, there you will give him his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. The water flowed from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (47:1). 2. Ezekiel's guide measured every 1,000 cubits, and the water rose from ankle-deep to knee-deep to waist-deep to a river too deep to cross (47:3-5). 3. The river flowed down to the Arabah and into the Dead Sea (47:8). 4. The Dead Sea is roughly nine to ten times saltier than the ocean, and no fish live in it. 5. In the vision, fishermen stand from En-gedi to En-eglaim spreading their nets (47:10). 6. En-gedi is an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea where David hid from Saul (1 Samuel 24:1). 7. The swamps and marshes were left for salt (47:11). Salt was valuable for preserving food and for offerings. 8. The trees bear fresh fruit every month, and their leaves are for healing (47:12), echoed in Revelation 22:1-2. 9. Zechariah 14:8 and Joel 3:18 also describe waters flowing out from Jerusalem. 10. Foreigners who lived among Israel and had children there received an inheritance like native Israelites (47:22-23). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the source of living water. The river from the temple brings life wherever it flows (47:9), and Jesus said that rivers of living water would flow from within those who believe in Him (John 7:37-39). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. The river grew deeper the farther Ezekiel went (47:3-5). What would it look like for you to go deeper with God instead of staying ankle-deep? 2. Wherever the river flowed, everything lived (47:9). Where do you see God's life flowing into dry places today? 3. Foreigners living among Israel would receive an inheritance like native Israelites (47:22-23). What does that show about God's heart for all people? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 1: Water flows out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east. - 📖 verse 9: Wherever the river flows, there will be life. - 📖 verse 12: Trees on its banks bear fruit every month, and their leaves bring healing. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[John 07#Verse 37.|John 7:37-39]] - Rivers of living water. - 🔗 [[Revelation 22#Verse 01.|Revelation 22:1-2]] - The river of the water of life and the tree of life. - 🔗 [[Zechariah 14#Verse 08.|Zechariah 14:8]] - Living waters will flow out from Jerusalem. - 🔗 [[Psalm 46#Verse 04.|Psalm 46:4]] - A river whose streams make glad the city of God. - 🔗 [[Joel 03#Verse 18.|Joel 3:18]] - A fountain will flow from the Lord's house. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Ezekiel 47 - SOAP|Closeness Brings Healing For Others]] ## 📂 Internal Notes