Ezekiel 1 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel in Babylon

1:1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.¹ 2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.

The Glory of the Lord

4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.² 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit³ would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.⁴ 16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they went, they went in any of their four directions⁵ without turning as they went. 18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures⁶ was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. 23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. 24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire;⁷ and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.⁸ 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Footnotes

[1] 1:1 Or from God
[2] 1:4 Or amber; also verse 27
[3] 1:12 Or Spirit; also twice in verse 20 and once in verse 21
[4] 1:15 Hebrew of their faces
[5] 1:17 Hebrew on their four sides
[6] 1:20 Or the spirit of life; also verse 21
[7] 1:26 Or lapis lazuli
[8] 1:27 Or it

Commentary

v1-3: The context; Ezekiel was in Chaldea, having been taken there along with the exiles from Jerusalem. It was the fifth year of Jehoiachin's captivity, some years before the city actually fell.

Ezekiel describes himself as one among the exiles; one who identified with his suffering people. The word of God came 'expressly' to Ezekiel, as it did to Daniel, Zechariah, and John (in Revelation), ie: in visions; something very clear, yet profound, and disturbing. The hand of God was upon Him; here is real, powerful, spiritual experience. The phrase recurs in the book.

v4-9: The vision begins with a whirlwind, but Ezekiel sees more and more detail;

- a great cloud with lightning and brilliant light;
- a fire in the cloud;
- the four living creatures;
- the form of the creatures, like men, with four faces and four wings.

There is a lesson here is our growth in spiritual understanding, the need to listen and observe, to wait the Lord's time. Throughout the chapter, Ezekiel sees more and more. Finally, in v28, He recognises the presence of the Lord, and falls before Him.

Jeremiah speaks of the whirlwind from the north, Jer 50.41, bringing death and destruction, but here is a vision of God, His self-revelation.

Jonathan Edwards comments that this section is an illustration of the providence of God: ‘the wheels of providence are not turned round by blind chance, but they are full of eyes round about … and they are guided by the Spirit of God: where the Spirit goes, they go: and all God’s works of providence through all ages meet in one at last, as so many lines meeting in one centre.’ (Jonathan Edwards, The History of Redemption)

v10: The four faces of the living creatures, pointing us to the four descriptions of Jesus Christ;

- the man; Luke's description of the Son of Man;
- the lion; Matthew's description of the King of the Jews;
- the ox; Mark's description of the Servant of God;
- the eagle; John's description of the Son of God.

According to Jewish rabbis, these represent the most powerful of each type of animal.

v11-14: The detail continues to grow; the creatures have two wings to cover themselves, and two wings spread out, touching those adjacent. Their 'bodies' were like fire, and fire and lightning flashed between them.

Ezekiel recognises the spirit of the creatures, directing them. Here is obedience, not turning aside from the spirit's direction. Like Christ, doing the Father's will, His face set as a flint.

v15-19: Ezekiel now sees wheels, perhaps like gyroscopes, enabling the creatures to move in any direction.

v19-21: Ezekiel observed the movement of creatures and wheels, in perfect harmony with the spirit in them.

v22-24: Ezekiel sees more, the expanses of sky, and hears more, the sound of rushing waters.

And then they stood still, movement and noise ceased. In this silence, the prophet saw something even greater and more glorious.

v25-28: The creatures lowered their wings, silent before their Creator. Above the sky was a throne, and what appeared to be a man upon it. Here is the Lord God Almighty, Creator of all things, who has a myriad of creatures at His command, and who rules over the nations. How appropriate for a people in exile.

Ezekiel sees an important truth; his description of the man on the throne points us forward to Christ, the man in the glory; the Son of God who became the Son of Man, now exalted to the throne of God, but still a man and, we understand, still bearing the scars of His sacrifice.

What else can Ezekiel do? He bows down.