The Word Am I

The Prophet Ezekiel

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- Chapter 1 -

(Psalm 137:1–9)
1
In the thirtieth year, the fourth month, and the fifth day of the month, it came about that I was living among the captives by the Chebar Canal. The heavens opened, and I saw visions of God.
2
On the fifth day of that month-it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin-
3
the word of Yahweh came with power to Ezekiel son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal, the hand of Yahweh was upon him there.

The Four Living Creatures

4
Then I looked, and there was a windstorm coming from the north; a great cloud with fire flashing within it and brightness surrounding it and inside of it, and the fire was the color of amber inside the cloud.
5
In the middle was the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man,
6
but they had four faces each, and each of the creatures had four wings.
7
Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf that shone like polished bronze.
8
Yet they had human hands under their wings on all four sides. For all four, their faces and wings were like this:
9
Their wings were touching the wings of the next creature, and they did not turn as they went; instead, each one went straight forward.
10
The appearance of their faces was like the face of a man, next, the face of a lion to the right, next, the face of an ox to the left, and finally, the face of an eagle.
11
Their faces were like that, and their wings were spread out above, so that each creature had a pair of wings that touched another creature’s wing, and also a pair of wings that covered their bodies.
12
Each went straight forward, so that wherever the Spirit directed them to go, they went without turning.
13
The living creatures looked like burning coals of fire, or like torches; bright fire also moved about among the creatures, and there were flashes of lightning.
14
The living creatures were moving swiftly back and forth, and they looked like lightning!

The Four Wheels

15
Then I looked at the living creatures; there was one wheel on the ground beside the living creatures.
16
This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: Each wheel was like beryl, and the four were all the same; they looked like a wheel intersecting another wheel.
17
When the wheels moved, they went without turning in any direction the creatures faced.
18
As for their rims, they were high and fearsome, for the rims were full of eyes round about.
19
Whenever the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the living creatures rose up from the earth, the wheels also rose up.
20
Wherever the Spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose up beside them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21
Whenever the creatures moved, the wheels also moved; and when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; when the creatures rose up from the earth, the wheels rose up beside them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

The Divine Glory

22
Over the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expansive dome; it looked like awe-inspiring crystal stretched out over their heads above.
23
Beneath the dome, each one of the creature’s wings stretched out straight and touched another creature’s wings. Each of the living creatures also had a pair to cover themselves; each had a pair to cover his own body.
24
Then I heard the sound of their wings. Like the noise of rushing water. Like the voice of the Almighty whenever they moved. Like the sound of a rainstorm. Like the sound of an army. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25
A voice came from above the dome over their heads whenever they stood still and lowered their wings.
26
Above the dome over their heads was the appearance of a throne that looked like sapphire, and on the throne was the appearance of one who looked like a man.
27
I saw a figure that looked like glowing metal with fire in it from his hips up; from his hips downward it looked like fire and brightness all around.
28
It looked like a rainbow that appears in the clouds on a rainy day, and like bright light surrounding it. This appeared as the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice speaking.
(Psalm 137:1–9)
1
Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.(a)
2
In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity,
3
the LORD’s(b) word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the LORD’s hand was there on him.

The Four Living Creatures

4
I looked, and behold,(c) a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal, out of the middle of the fire.
5
Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man.
6
Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.
7
Their feet were straight feet. The sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze.
8
They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. The four of them had their faces and their wings like this:
9
Their wings were joined to one another. They didn’t turn when they went. Each one went straight forward.
10
As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man. The four of them had the face of a lion on the right side. The four of them had the face of an ox on the left side. The four of them also had the face of an eagle.
11
Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.
12
Each one went straight forward. Where the spirit was to go, they went. They didn’t turn when they went.
13
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches. The fire went up and down among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning went out of the fire.
14
The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

The Four Wheels

15
Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.
16
The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl. The four of them had one likeness. Their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.
17
When they went, they went in their four directions. They didn’t turn when they went.
18
As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.
19
When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them. When the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
20
Wherever the spirit was to go, they went. The spirit was to go there. The wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21
When those went, these went. When those stood, these stood. When those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

The Divine Glory

22
Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like an awesome crystal to look at, stretched out over their heads above.
23
Under the expanse, their wings were straight, one toward the other. Each one had two which covered on this side, and each one had two which covered their bodies on that side.
24
When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stood, they let down their wings.
25
There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads. When they stood, they let down their wings.
26
Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire (d) stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
27
I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.
28
As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD’s glory. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
(b)1:3 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
(c)1:4 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
(d)1:26 or, lapis lazuli