THE RIVER OF LIFE

Passage: Ezekiel 46:19-47:12

Key verse: 47:12

NIV

19 Then the man brought me through the entrance(A) at the side of the gate to the sacred rooms facing north,(B) which belonged to the priests, and showed me a place at the western end. 20 He said to me, “This is the place where the priests are to cook the guilt offering and the sin offering[a] and bake the grain offering, to avoid bringing them into the outer court and consecrating(C) the people.”(D)

21 He then brought me to the outer court and led me around to its four corners, and I saw in each corner another court. 22 In the four corners of the outer court were enclosed[b] courts, forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide;[c] each of the courts in the four corners was the same size. 23 Around the inside of each of the four courts was a ledge of stone, with places for fire built all around under the ledge. 24 He said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple are to cook the sacrifices of the people.”

The River From the Temple

47 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water(E) coming out 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.(F) He then brought me out through the north gate(G) and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.

As the man went eastward with a measuring line(H) in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits[d] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He 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. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river(I) that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.(J) He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.(K) He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah,[e](L) where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.(M) Swarms 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.(N) 10 Fishermen(O) will stand along the shore; from En Gedi(P) to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets.(Q) The fish will be of many kinds(R)—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.(S) 11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.(T) 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.(U) Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit(V) fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary(W) flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.(X)

Footnotes
  1. Ezekiel 46:20 Or purification offering
  2. Ezekiel 46:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  3. Ezekiel 46:22 That is, about 70 feet long and 53 feet wide or about 21 meters long and 16 meters wide
  4. Ezekiel 47:3 That is, about 1,700 feet or about 530 meters
  5. Ezekiel 47:8 Or the Jordan Valley

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Boiling Places for Offerings

19 Then he brought me through the entrance, which was (A)at the side of the gate, to the north row of (B)the holy chambers for the priests, and behold, a place was there at the extreme western end of them. 20 And he said to me, “This is the place where the priests (C)shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where (D)they shall bake the grain offering, in order not to bring them out into the outer court and so (E)transmit holiness to the people.”

21 Then he brought me out to the outer court and led me around to the four corners of the court. And behold, in each corner of the court there was another court— 22 in the four corners of the court were small[a] courts, forty cubits[b] long and thirty broad; the four were of the same size. 23 On the inside, around each of the four courts was a row of masonry, with hearths made at the bottom of the rows all around. 24 Then he said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who (F)minister at the temple (G)shall boil the sacrifices of the people.”

Water Flowing from the Temple

47 Then he brought me back to (H)the door of the temple, and behold, (I)water was issuing from below (J)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 (K)the altar. Then he brought me out by way of (L)the north gate and led me around on the outside to (M)the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.

Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, (N)the man measured a thousand cubits,[c] and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. 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. 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. And he said to me, (O)“Son of man, (P)have you seen this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river (Q)very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into (R)the Arabah, and enters the sea;[d] when the water flows into (S)the sea, the water will become fresh.[e] And wherever the river goes,[f] 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[g] may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From (T)Engedi to (U)Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of (V)the Great Sea.[h] 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 And on the banks, (W)on both sides of the river, there will grow (X)all kinds of trees for food. (Y)Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, (Z)but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and (AA)their leaves for healing.”

Footnotes
  1. Ezekiel 46:22 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  2. Ezekiel 46:22 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  3. Ezekiel 47:3 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  4. Ezekiel 47:8 That is, the Dead Sea
  5. Ezekiel 47:8 Hebrew will be healed; also verses 9, 11
  6. Ezekiel 47:9 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; Hebrew the two rivers go
  7. Ezekiel 47:9 Hebrew lacks the waters of the sea
  8. Ezekiel 47:10 That is, the Mediterranean Sea; also verses 15, 19, 20

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The end of chapter 46 describes the back of the temple facing west where the priests cooked the sacrifices. There were also ovens in each of the corners that served as kitchens. The temple was orderly and functional. It shows that the sacrifices were done far away from the front entrance facing east where the prince entered. Everything gave glory to God and centered around him. There was no more corruption nor turning God’s house into a den of robbers.

Chapter 47 describes the river of life flowing from the temple’s south gate from the altar and around the front by the east gate. From there, it flowed deep and wide and turned the world into Paradise. This vision reveals God’s glorious hope for all creation to be restored to the Garden of Eden. We need to have this hope in our hearts to steer our life direction to live for God’s kingdom. Where is your hope?

Verse 12 says that the life-giving water from the river would bear all kinds of fruits, which would serve for food. Also, their leaves would provide healing. What a beautiful vision! No more hunger. No more suffering or pain. Praise Jesus!

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us real hope to worship you in Paradise. Please give me this glorious hope in my heart today to direct my life.

One Word: A glorious hope for Paradise to be restored