The Life-Giving River
1 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple and there was water flowing 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 threshold of the temple, south of the altar. 47:1 Ps 46:4; Zch 14:8; Rv 22:1
8 He said to me, "This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down to the Arabah. When it enters the sea, the sea of foul water, 47:8 Or enters the sea, being brought out to the sea; Hb obscure, 47:8 = the Dead Sea the water of the sea becomes fresh. 47:8 Ex 15:26; 2Kg 2:219 Every kind of living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows, 47:9 LXX, Vg; MT reads the two rivers flow and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes. 12 All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. 47:12 Ps 1:3 Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for eating and their leaves for healing." 47:12 Rv 22:2