Ezekiel 1:26

Ezekiel 1:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
• New International Version (NIV)Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.

Context of Ezekiel 1:26

24When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of a huge torrent, like the voice of the Almighty, and a sound of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stopped, they lowered their wings. 25A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stopped, they lowered their wings. Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads. On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human. 27From what seemed to be his waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be his waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around him. 28The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

Ezekiel 1:26 word by word

וּמִמַּ֗עַל לָרָקִ֙יעַ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔ם כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה אֶֽבֶן־סַפִּ֖יר דְּמ֣וּת כִּסֵּ֑א וְעַל֙ דְּמ֣וּת הַכִּסֵּ֔א דְּמ֞וּת כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה אָדָ֛ם עָלָ֖יו מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And aboveמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605
• the firmamentרָקִיעַrâqîya‛ · expanseH7549
• over their headsרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• the likenessדְּמוּתdemûth · likenessH1823
• of a throneכִּסֵּאkissê' kissêh · throneH3678
• as the appearanceמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• of a sapphireסַפִּירsappîyr · sapphireH5601
• stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• of a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Cross-references for Ezekiel 1:26

• Ezekiel 1:22Over the heads of the living creatures the likeness of an expanse was spread out. It gleamed like awe-inspiring crystal,
• Ezekiel 10:1Then I looked, and there above the expanse over the heads of the cherubim was something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli.
• Matthew 28:18Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
• Ephesians 1:21far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
• Philippians 2:9For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
• 1 Peter 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
• Psalms 45:6Your throne, God, is forever and ever; the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
• Isaiah 6:1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple.
• Daniel 7:9“As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.
• Zechariah 6:13Yes, he will build the Lord’s temple; he will bear royal splendor and will sit on his throne and rule. There will be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.
• Matthew 25:13“Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
• Hebrews 1:8but to the Son: Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
• Hebrews 8:1Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
• Hebrews 12:2keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Revelation 4:2Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it.
• Revelation 5:13I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

Commentaries on Ezekiel 1:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26A sapphire - The pure oriental sapphire, a large well cut specimen of which is now before me, is one of the most beautiful and resplendent blues that can be conceived. I have sometimes seen the heavens assume this illustrious hue. The human form above this canopy is supposed to represent Him who, in the fullness of time, was manifested in the flesh.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Sapphire - Clear heavenly blue. The appearance of a man - Deeply significant is the form of this manifestation. Here is no angel conveying God‘s message to man, but the glory of the Lord Himself. We recognize in this vision the prophetic annunciation of the Holy Incarnation. We are told little of the extent to which the human form was made evident to the prophet. For the vision was rather to the mind than to the bodily eye, and even inspired language was…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-28Verses 26-28 The eternal Son, the second Person in the Trinity, who afterwards took the human nature, is here denoted. The first thing observed was a throne. It is a throne of glory, a throne of grace, a throne of triumph, a throne of government, a throne of judgment. It is good news to men, that the throne above the firmament is filled with One who appears, even there, in the likeness of a man. The throne is surrounded with a rainbow, the well-known…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-27On God's throne was a figure that looked like a man. Ezekiel struggled to describe the scene because it was so magnificent. This human form showed the Lord's bright glory, which had once filled the tabernacle and the temple as a visible sign of God's presence (see Daniel 7:9–10; Revelation 1:12–17). God's presence in human form comforts his faithful people but warns of judgment for those who disobey him. This vision foretells God coming to earth as a man…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. The Godhead appears in the likeness of enthroned humanity, as in Ex 24:10. Besides the "paved work of a sapphire stone, as it were the body of heaven in clearness," there, we have here the "throne," and God "as a man," with the "appearance of fire round about." This last was a prelude of the incarnation of Messiah, but in His character as Saviour and as Judge (Re 19:11-16). The azure sapphire answers to the color of the sky. As others are called "sons…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 1:26

• Colors
• God
• Sapphire

In the dictionaries

• Cherub
• Living creatures
• Sapphire
• Ancient of Days
• Appearance
• Assyria
• Cherubim (1)
• Creature
• Luke, the Evangelist
• Prophecy; Prophets

Commentaries on Ezekiel 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings