Single lesson
Ezekiel 47: Life, Land and God's Presence
Ezekiel 47:1–12; Ezekiel 47:13–23
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. This lesson also brings together The Borders of the Land.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Ezekiel 47: Life, Land and God's Presence, using two details from the reading. This prophecy presents water from the sanctuary as a growing river that brings life, healing and fruitfulness where it flows. This passage presents the land as the Lord Yahweh’s gift to be divided fairly among Israel’s tribes, with inheritance also given to resident aliens within the tribes where they live.
Welcome: Ezekiel 47: Life, Land and God's Presence
5 minIntroduce “Waters from under the Temple”, “The Borders of the Land” and locate Ezekiel 47:1–12; Ezekiel 47:13–23. This prophecy presents water from the sanctuary as a growing river that brings life, healing and fruitfulness where it flows. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Ezekiel 47:1, Ezekiel 47:7, Ezekiel 47:12
Read and explain the passage
12 minWaters from under the Temple (Ezekiel 47:1–12): 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.
The Borders of the Land (Ezekiel 47:13–23): The passage opens with the Lord Yahweh declaring the border by which the land is to be divided for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph is singled out to receive two portions, and the land is described as something the Lord swore to give to their fathers.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Waters from under the Temple”, “The Borders of the Land”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Ezekiel 47:1, Ezekiel 47:2, Ezekiel 47:13, Ezekiel 47:14
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What details show exactly where the water begins?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage presents the land as the Lord Yahweh’s gift to be divided fairly among Israel’s tribes, with inheritance also given to resident aliens within the tribes where they live. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Ezekiel 47:1, Ezekiel 47:2, Ezekiel 47:3, Ezekiel 47:4, Ezekiel 47:5, Ezekiel 47:22, Ezekiel 47:23
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Ezekiel 47: Life, Land and God's Presence: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Waters from under the Temple”, “The Borders of the Land” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Ezekiel 47:1, Ezekiel 47:12, Ezekiel 47:23
Closing: return to The Borders of the Land
3 minRevisit Ezekiel 47:13–23. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Borders of the Land and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Ezekiel 47:13, Ezekiel 47:18, Ezekiel 47:23
Questions to explore
What details show exactly where the water begins?
Notice the temple threshold, the right side of the temple, and the position south of the altar.
Ezekiel 47:1, Ezekiel 47:2
How does the river change as it is measured?
Trace the four stages in order from ankles to a river that cannot be walked through.
Ezekiel 47:3, Ezekiel 47:4, Ezekiel 47:5
How are the aliens living among Israel to be treated in the division of the land?
Read the final two verses carefully and note both their status and where their inheritance is to be given.
Ezekiel 47:22, Ezekiel 47:23
Make, think or respond
Ezekiel 47: Life, Land and God's Presence: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Ezekiel 47:1–12; Ezekiel 47:13–23. Use “Waters from under the Temple”, “The Borders of the Land” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Ezekiel 47: Life, Land and God's Presence connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Waters from under the Temple”, “The Borders of the Land” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Ezekiel 47:1–12; Ezekiel 47:13–23. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Ezekiel 47:1–12; Ezekiel 47:13–23. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Ezekiel 47
1 He 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.
2 Then 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.
3 When 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.
4 Again 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.
5 Afterward 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.
6 He 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.
7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8 Then 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.
9 It 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.
10 It 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.
11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed. They will be given up to salt.
12 By 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.”
13 The Lord Yahweh says: “This shall be the border by which you shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.
14 You shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I swore to give it to your fathers. This land will fall to you for inheritance.
15 “This shall be the border of the land: “On the north side, from the great sea, by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad;
16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazer Hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran.
17 The border from the sea shall be Hazar Enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.
18 “The east side, between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the east sea you shall measure. This is the east side.
19 “The south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea. This is the south side southward.
20 “The west side shall be the great sea, from the south border as far as opposite the entrance of Hamath. This is the west side.
21 “So you shall divide this land to yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.
22 You shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to you and to the aliens who live among you, who will father children among you. Then they shall be to you as the native-born among the children of Israel. They shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
23 In whatever tribe the stranger lives, there you shall give him his inheritance,” says the Lord Yahweh.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.