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 Living Translation (NLT)Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man.

Context of Ezekiel 1:26

24When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 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. 27Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One 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 1:22The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads.
• Ezekiel 10:1And I looked, and there in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim, there appeared something like a sapphire stone, having the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
• Matthew 28:18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
• Ephesians 1:21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
• Philippians 2:9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
• 1 Peter 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
• Psalms 45:6Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
• Isaiah 6:1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
• Daniel 7:9“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;
• Zechariah 6:13Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’
• Matthew 25:13“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
• Hebrews 1:8But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
• Hebrews 8:1Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
• Hebrews 12:2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Revelation 4:2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
• Revelation 5:13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits 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