Revised Literal Translation
Ezekiel 1:28
28As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yhwh. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
Ezekiel 1:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
- New International Version (NIV)Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Like 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.
Context of Ezekiel 1:28
26And 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. 27And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yhwh. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
Read all of Ezekiel 1Ezekiel 1:28 word by word
כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַקֶּ֡שֶׁת אֲשֶׁר֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה בֶעָנָ֜ן בְּי֣וֹם הַגֶּ֗שֶׁם כֵּ֣ן מַרְאֵ֤ה הַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ סָבִ֔יב ה֕וּא מַרְאֵ֖ה דְּמ֣וּת כְּבוֹד־יְהוָ֑ה וָֽאֶרְאֶה֙ וָאֶפֹּ֣ל עַל־פָּנַ֔י וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע ק֥וֹל מְדַבֵּֽר׃ סRead the interlinear
- As the appearanceמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
- of the bowקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198
- that is in the cloudעָנָן‛ânân · cloudH6051
- in the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of rainגֶּ֫שֶׁםgeshem · rainH1653
- of the brightnessנֹ֫גַהּnôgahh · brightnessH5051
- round aboutסָבִיבsâbîyb sebîybâh · aroundH5439
- of the likenessדְּמוּתdemûth · likenessH1823
- of the gloryכָּבוֹדkâbôd kâbôd · gloryH3519
- of Yhwhיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- And when I sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- I fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- upon my faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- and I heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- a voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
- of one that spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
Cross-references for Ezekiel 1:28
- Genesis 9:13I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
- Isaiah 54:8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Yhwh thy Redeemer.
- Revelation 4:3And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardius stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
- Revelation 10:1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
- Ezekiel 8:4And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
- Ezekiel 10:19And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of Yhwh's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
- Ezekiel 43:3And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
- Exodus 16:7And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of Yhwh; for that he heareth your murmurings against Yhwh: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
- Exodus 24:16And the glory of Yhwh abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
- Exodus 33:18And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
- Numbers 12:6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I Yhwh will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
- 1 Kings 8:10And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Yhwh,
- 1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
- Ezekiel 3:23Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of Yhwh stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
- Genesis 17:3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
- Leviticus 9:24And there came a fire out from before Yhwh, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 1:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28As the appearance of the bow - Over the canopy on which this glorious personage sat there was a fine rainbow, which, from the description here, had all its colors vivid, distinct, and in perfection - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. In all this description we must understand every metal, every color, and every natural appearance, to be in their utmost perfection of shape, color, and splendor. "And this," as above described, "was the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28The rainbow is not simply a token of glory and splendor. The “cloud” and the “day of rain” point to its original message of forgiveness and mercy, and this is especially suited to Ezekiel‘s commission, which was first to denounce judgment, and then promise restoration.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. 28rainbow in a cloud: This image mixes the idea of judgment with a hint of mercy. The storm clouds were ready to bring judgment on God's sinful people, but a rainbow, the sign of hope God established after the flood (Genesis 9:12–17), would also appear. Although the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people to Babylon would be a severe disaster where many would die, God would remember his promise to keep a remnant alive. Judgment would not be…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. the bow ... in ... rain--the symbol of the sure covenant of mercy to God's children remembered amidst judgments on the wicked; as in the flood in Noah's days (Re 4:3). "Like hanging out from the throne of the Eternal a fing of peace, assuring all that the purpose of Heaven was to preserve rather than to destroy. Even if the divine work should require a deluge of wrath, still the faithfulness of God would only shine forth the more brightly at last to…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 1:28
In the dictionaries
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries