Read & explore together
Waters from under the Temple
Ezekiel sees water flowing from the temple and becoming a deep river. This prophecy shows a stream from the sanctuary that grows stronger and brings life, healing and ongoing provision wherever it reaches.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this vision, Ezekiel is first shown water coming from under the temple threshold, near the altar. A man measures the water in stages, then returns Ezekiel to the river bank and explains where the river goes and what it produces. The passage gives both the picture and its explanation.
Ezekiel 47:1–12Main takeaway
This prophecy presents water from the sanctuary as a growing river that brings life, healing and fruitfulness where it flows.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Water flows from the templeThe vision begins at the temple door. Water comes from under the threshold toward the east, from the right side of the temple and south of the altar.
Explanation
The vision begins at the temple door. Water comes from under the threshold toward the east, from the right side of the temple and south of the altar. Ezekiel is then led around to the outer gate, where he sees the water running on the right side. The river’s source is the temple area.
02The measured water becomes unwalkableThe man measures one thousand cubits at a time. The water first reaches the ankles, then the knees, then the waist.
Explanation
The man measures one thousand cubits at a time. The water first reaches the ankles, then the knees, then the waist. After another measured stretch it becomes a river too deep to cross on foot, water to swim in. The repeated measuring shows a steady increase in depth.
03Ezekiel returns to see the banksThe man asks, “Son of man, have you seen this?” and brings Ezekiel back to the river bank.
Explanation
The man asks, “Son of man, have you seen this?” and brings Ezekiel back to the river bank. There Ezekiel sees very many trees on both sides. This return prepares for the explanation of what the waters will do and shows the river is connected with abundant growth.
04The river heals and gives abundanceThe waters go east into the Arabah and into the sea, and the sea’s waters are healed. Living creatures and many fish will live wherever the river comes, and fishermen will spread nets there.
Explanation
The waters go east into the Arabah and into the sea, and the sea’s waters are healed. Living creatures and many fish will live wherever the river comes, and fishermen will spread nets there. Yet swamps and marshes remain salty. Fruit trees will bear monthly, with leaves for healing, because the waters come from the sanctuary.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details show exactly where the water begins?
Notice the temple threshold, the right side of the temple, and the position south of the altar.
02How does the river change as it is measured?
Trace the four stages in order from ankles to a river that cannot be walked through.
03What does the passage say the river changes, and what does it leave unchanged?
Collect the effects on the sea, living creatures, fish and trees, then compare them with the swamps and marshes.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 47:1–12
1He brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, waters flowed out from under the threshold of the temple eastward, for the front of the temple faced toward the east. The waters came down from underneath, from the right side of the temple, on the south of the altar.
2Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me around by the way outside to the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looks toward the east. Behold, waters ran out on the right side.
3When the man went out eastward with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles.
4Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through waters that were to the waist.
5Afterward he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be walked through.
6He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and caused me to return to the bank of the river.
7Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8Then he said to me, “These waters flow out toward the eastern region and will go down into the Arabah. Then they will go toward the sea and flow into the sea which will be made to flow out; and the waters will be healed.
9It will happen that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, will live. Then there will be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters have come there, and the waters of the sea will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river comes.
10It will happen that fishermen will stand by it. From En Gedi even to En Eglaim will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be after their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceedingly many.
11But its swamps and marshes will not be healed. They will be given up to salt.
12By the river banks, on both sides, will grow every tree for food, whose leaf won’t wither, neither will its fruit fail. It will produce new fruit every month, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary. Its fruit will be for food, and its leaf for healing.”