Revised Literal Translation

Ezekiel 1

1Now it came to pass in the thirtiethבִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםbish.lo.ShimH7970yearשָׁנָ֗הsha.NahH8141,in the fourthבָּֽרְבִיעִי֙ba.re.vi.'IH7243month,in the fifthבַּחֲמִשָּׁ֣הba.cha.mi.ShahH2568dayof the monthלַחֹ֔דֶשׁla.Cho.deshH2320, as I wasamongבְתֽוֹךְ־ve.tokh-H8432the captivesהַגּוֹלָ֖הha.go.LahH1473by the riverנְהַר־ne.har-H5104of Chebarכְּבָ֑רke.VarH3529, thatthe heavensהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064were openedנִפְתְּחוּ֙nif.te.ChuH6605,and I sawוָאֶרְאֶ֖הva.'er.'EhH7200visionsמַרְא֥וֹתmar.'otH4759of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430.

2In the fifthבַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖הba.cha.mi.ShahH2568dayof the monthלַחֹ֑דֶשׁla.Cho.deshH2320, which wasthe fifthהַחֲמִישִׁ֔יתha.cha.mi.ShitH2549yearהַשָּׁנָ֣הha.sha.NahH8141of kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Jehoiachin’sיוֹיָכִֽין׃yo.ya.KhinH3112captivityלְגָל֖וּתle.ga.LutH1546,

3The wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of Yhwhיְ֠הוָהYah.wehH3068came expressly unto Ezekielיְחֶזְקֵ֨אלye.chez.KelH3168the priestהַכֹּהֵ֛ןha.ko.HenH3548,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Buziבּוּזִ֧יbu.ZiH941,in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of the Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּ֖יםkas.DimH3778by the riverנְהַר־ne.har-H5104Chebarכְּבָ֑רke.VarH3529;and the handיַד־yad-H3027of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068was there upon him.

4And I lookedוָאֵ֡רֶאva.'E.re'H7200,and, behold, a whirlwindר֨וּחַ סְעָרָ֜הRu.ach se.'a.RahH5591 H7307cameבָּאָ֣הba.'AhH935out of the northהַצָּפ֗וֹןha.tza.FonH6828,a greatגָּדוֹל֙ga.dOlH1419cloudעָנָ֤ן'a.NanH6051,and a fireוְאֵ֣שׁve.'EshH784infoldingמִתְלַקַּ֔חַתmit.la.Ka.chatH3947itself, and a brightnessוְנֹ֥גַֽהּve.No.gahH5051wasaboutסָבִ֑יבsa.VivH5439it, and out of the midstוּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּu.Mi.to.KhahH8432thereof as the colourכְּעֵ֥יןke.'EinH5869of amberהַחַשְׁמַ֖לha.chash.MalH2830,out of the midstמִתּ֥וֹךְmi.TokhH8432of the fireהָאֵֽשׁ׃ha.'EshH784.

5Also out of the midstוּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּu.Mi.to.KhahH8432thereof camethe likenessדְּמ֖וּתde.MutH1823of fourאַרְבַּ֣ע'ar.Ba'H702living creaturesחַיּ֑וֹתchai.YotH2416. And this wastheir appearanceמַרְאֵֽיהֶ֔ןmar.'ei.HenH4758;theyH2007had the likenessדְּמ֥וּתde.MutH1823of a manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120.

6And every oneלְאֶחָ֑תle.'e.ChatH259had fourוְאַרְבָּעָ֥הve.'ar.ba.'AhH702facesפָנִ֖יםfa.NimH6440,and every oneלְאַחַ֥תle.'a.ChatH259had fourוְאַרְבַּ֥עve.'ar.Ba'H702wingsכְּנָפַ֖יִםke.na.Fa.yimH3671.

7And their feetוְרַגְלֵיהֶ֖םve.rag.lei.HemH7272werestraightיְשָׁרָ֑הye.sha.RahH3477feetרֶ֣גֶלRe.gelH7272;and the soleוְכַ֣ףve.KhafH3709of their feetרַגְלֵיהֶ֗םrag.lei.HemH7272waslike the soleכְּכַף֙ke.KhafH3709of a calf’sעֵ֔גֶל'E.gelH5695footרֶ֣גֶלRe.gelH7272:and they sparkledוְנֹ֣צְצִ֔יםve.No.tze.TzimH5340like the colourכְּעֵ֖יןke.'EinH5869of burnishedקָלָֽל׃ka.LalH7044brassנְחֹ֥שֶׁתne.Cho.shetH5178.

8And they hadthe handsוִידֵ֣יve.ya.dovH3027of a manאָדָ֗ם'a.DamH120under their wingsכַּנְפֵיהֶ֔םkan.fei.HemH3671on their fourאַרְבַּ֣עַת'ar.Ba.'atH702sidesרִבְעֵיהֶ֑םriv.'ei.HemH7253;and they fourלְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽם׃le.'ar.ba'.TamH702had their facesוּפְנֵיהֶ֥םu.fe.nei.HemH6440and their wingsוְכַנְפֵיהֶ֖םve.khan.fei.HemH3671.

9Their wingsכַּנְפֵיהֶ֑םkan.fei.HemH3671werejoinedחֹֽבְרֹ֛תchoe.RotH2266oneאִשָּׁ֥ה'i.ShahH802to anotherאֲחוֹתָ֖הּ'a.cho.TahH269;they turnedיִסַּ֣בּוּyi.Sa.buH5437not when they wentH3212;they wentH3212every oneאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376straightעֵ֥בֶר'E.verH5676forwardפָּנָ֖יוpa.NavH6440.

10As for the likenessוּדְמ֣וּתu.de.MutH1823of their facesפְּנֵיהֶם֮pe.nei.HemH6440,they fourלְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֔םle.'ar.ba'.TamH702had the faceפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440of a manאָדָם֒'a.DamH120,and the faceוּפְנֵ֨יu.fe.NeiH6440of a lionאַרְיֵ֤ה'ar.YehH738,on the right sideהַיָּמִין֙hai.ya.MinH3225:and they fourלְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ןle.'ar.ba'.TanH702had the faceוּפְנֵי־u.fe.nei-H6440of an oxשׁ֥וֹרShorH7794on the left sideמֵֽהַשְּׂמֹ֖אולme.ha.se.MolH8040;they fourלְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽן׃le.'ar.ba'.TanH702also had the faceוּפְנֵי־u.fe.nei-H6440of an eagleנֶ֖שֶׁרNe.sherH5404.

11Thus weretheir facesוּפְנֵיהֶ֕םu.fe.nei.HemH6440:and their wingsוְכַנְפֵיהֶ֥םve.khan.fei.HemH3671werestretchedפְּרֻד֖וֹתpe.ru.DotH6504upwardמִלְמָ֑עְלָהmil.Ma.'e.lahH4605;twoשְׁ֚תַּיִםShe.ta.yimH8147wingsof every oneH376werejoinedחֹבְר֣וֹתchoe.RotH2266oneH376to anotherH376,and twoוּשְׁתַּ֣יִםu.she.Ta.yimH8147coveredמְכַסּ֔וֹתme.kha.SotH3680their bodiesגְּוִיֹתֵיהֶֽנָה׃ge.vi.yo.tei.He.nahH1472.

12And they wentH3212every oneוְאִ֛ישׁve.'IshH376straightעֵ֥בֶר'E.verH5676forwardפָּנָ֖יוpa.NavH6440:whither the spiritהָר֤וּחַha.Ru.achH7307was to goH3212,they wentH3212; andthey turnedיִסַּ֖בּוּyi.Sa.buH5437not when they wentH3212.

13As for the likenessוּדְמ֨וּתu.de.MutH1823of the living creaturesהַחַיּ֜וֹתha.chai.YotH2416,their appearanceמַרְאֵיהֶ֣םmar.'ei.HemH4758waslike burningבֹּֽעֲרוֹת֙bo.'a.rOtH1197coalsכְּגַחֲלֵי־ke.ga.cha.lei-H1513of fireאֵ֗שׁ'EshH784, andlike the appearanceכְּמַרְאֵ֣הke.mar.'EhH4758of lampsהַלַּפִּדִ֔יםha.la.pi.DimH3940:it went up and downמִתְהַלֶּ֖כֶתmit.ha.Le.khetH1980among the living creaturesהַחַיּ֑וֹתha.chai.YotH2416;and the fireלָאֵ֔שׁla.'EshH784was brightוְנֹ֣גַהּve.No.gahH5051,and out of the fireהָאֵ֖שׁha.'EshH784went forthיוֹצֵ֥אyo.Tze'H3318lightningבָרָֽק׃va.RakH1300.

14And the living creaturesוְהַחַיּ֖וֹתve.ha.chai.YotH2416ranרָצ֣וֹאra.Tzo'H7519and returnedוָשׁ֑וֹבva.ShovH7725as the appearanceכְּמַרְאֵ֖הke.mar.'EhH4758of a flash of lightningהַבָּזָֽק׃ha.ba.ZakH965.

15Now as I beheldוָאֵ֖רֶאva.'E.re'H7200the living creaturesהַחַיּ֑וֹתha.chai.YotH2416,behold oneאֶחָ֥ד'e.ChadH259wheelאוֹפַ֨ן'o.FanH212upon the earthבָּאָ֛רֶץba.'A.retzH776byאֵ֥צֶל'E.tzelH681the living creaturesהַחַיּ֖וֹתha.chai.YotH2416,with his fourלְאַרְבַּ֥עַתle.'ar.Ba.'atH702facesפָּנָֽיו׃pa.NavH6440.

16The appearanceמַרְאֵ֨הmar.'EhH4758of the wheelsהָאוֹפַנִּ֤יםha.'o.fa.NimH212and their workוּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙u.ma.'a.sei.HemH4639waslike unto the colourכְּעֵ֣יןke.'EinH5869of a berylתַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁtar.ShishH8658:and they fourלְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ןle.'ar.ba'.TanH702had oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259likenessוּדְמ֥וּתu.de.MutH1823:and their appearanceוּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙u.mar.'ei.HemH4758and their workוּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔םu.Ma.'a.sei.HemH4639wasas it were a wheelהָאוֹפַ֖ןha.'o.FanH212in the middleבְּת֥וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of a wheelהָאוֹפָֽן׃ha.'o.FanH212.

17When they wentH3212,they wentH3212upon their fourאַרְבַּ֥עַת'ar.Ba.'atH702sidesרִבְעֵיהֶ֖ןriv.'ei.HenH7253: andthey turnedיִסַּ֖בּוּyi.Sa.buH5437not when they wentH3212.

18As for their ringsוְגַ֨בֵּיהֶ֔ןve.Ga.bei.HenH1354,they were so highוְגֹ֥בַהּve.GoahH1363that they were dreadfulוְיִרְאָ֣הve.yir.'AhH3374;and their ringsוְגַבֹּתָ֗םve.ga.bo.TamH1354werefullמְלֵאֹ֥תme.le.'OtH4392of eyesעֵינַ֛יִם'ei.Na.yimH5869round aboutסָבִ֖יבsa.VivH5439them fourלְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽן׃le.'ar.ba'.TanH702.

19And when the living creaturesהַֽחַיּ֔וֹתha.chai.YotH2416wentH3212,the wheelsהָאוֹפַנִּ֖יםha.'o.fa.NimH212wentH3212by themאֶצְלָ֑ם'etz.LamH681:and when the living creaturesהַֽחַיּוֹת֙ha.chai.yOtH2416were lifted upוּבְהִנָּשֵׂ֤אu.ve.hi.na.Se'H5375from the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,the wheelsהָאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ha.'o.fa.NimH212were lifted upיִנָּשְׂא֖וּyi.na.se.'UH5375.

20Whithersoever the spiritהָר֤וּחַha.Ru.achH7307was to goH3212,they wentH3212, thither was theirspiritהָר֖וּחַha.Ru.achH7307to goH3212;and the wheelsוְהָאוֹפַנִּ֗יםve.ha.'o.fa.NimH212were lifted upיִנָּשְׂאוּ֙yi.na.se.'UH5375over againstלְעֻמָּתָ֔םle.'u.ma.TamH5980them: for the spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307of the living creatureהַחַיָּ֖הha.chai.YahH2416wasin the wheelsבָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ba.'o.fa.NimH212.

21When those wentH3212, thesewentH3212;and when those stoodוּבְעָמְדָ֖םu.ve.'a.me.DamH5975, thesestoodיַֽעֲמֹ֑דוּya.'a.Mo.duH5975;and when those were lifted upוּֽבְהִנָּשְׂאָ֞םu.ve.hi.na.se.'AmH5375from the earthהָאָ֗רֶץha.'A.retzH776,the wheelsהָאֽוֹפַנִּים֙ha.'o.fa.NimH212were lifted upיִנָּשְׂא֤וּyi.na.se.'UH5375over againstלְעֻמָּתָ֔םle.'u.ma.TamH5980them: for the spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307of the living creatureהַחַיָּ֖הha.chai.YahH2416wasin the wheelsבָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ba.'o.fa.NimH212.

22And the likenessוּדְמ֞וּתu.de.MutH1823of the firmamentרָקִ֔יעַra.Ki.a'H7549upon the headsרָאשֵׁ֤יra.SheiH7218of the living creatureהַחַיָּה֙ha.chai.YahH2416wasas the colourכְּעֵ֖יןke.'EinH5869of the terribleהַנּוֹרָ֑אha.no.Ra'H3372crystalהַקֶּ֣רַחha.Ke.rachH7140,stretched forthנָט֥וּיna.TuiH5186over their headsרָאשֵׁיהֶ֖םra.shei.HemH7218aboveמִלְמָֽעְלָה׃mil.Ma.'e.lahH4605.

23And under the firmamentהָרָקִ֔יעַha.ra.Ki.a'H7549weretheir wingsכַּנְפֵיהֶ֣םkan.fei.HemH3671straightיְשָׁר֔וֹתye.sha.RotH3477,the oneאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802toward the otherאֲחוֹתָ֑הּ'a.cho.TahH269:every oneלְאִ֗ישׁle.'IshH376had twoשְׁתַּ֤יִםshe.Ta.yimH8147,which coveredמְכַסּוֹת֙me.kha.sOtH3680on this sideH2007,and every oneוּלְאִ֗ישׁu.le.'IshH376had twoשְׁתַּ֤יִםshe.Ta.yimH8147,which coveredמְכַסּוֹת֙me.kha.sOtH3680on that sideH2007,their bodiesגְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶֽם׃ge.vi.yo.tei.HemH1472.

24And when they wentH3212,I heardוָאֶשְׁמַ֣עva.'esh.Ma'H8085the noiseק֣וֹלKolH6963of their wingsכַּנְפֵיהֶ֡םkan.fei.HemH3671,like the noiseכְּקוֹל֩ke.kOlH6963of greatרַבִּ֤יםra.BimH7227watersמַ֨יִםMa.yimH4325,as the voiceכְּקוֹל־ke.kol-H6963of the Almightyשַׁדַּי֙sha.DaiH7706,the voiceק֥וֹלKolH6963of speechהֲמֻלָּ֖הha.mu.LahH1999,as the noiseכְּק֣וֹלke.KolH6963of an armyמַחֲנֶ֑הma.cha.NehH4264:when they stoodבְּעָמְדָ֖םbe.'a.me.DamH5975,they let downתְּרַפֶּ֥ינָהte.ra.Pei.nahH7503their wingsכַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃khan.fei.HenH3671.

25And there was a voiceק֕וֹלKolH6963from the firmamentלָרָקִ֖יעַla.ra.Ki.a'H7549that wasover their headsרֹאשָׁ֑םro.ShamH7218,when they stoodבְּעָמְדָ֖םbe.'a.me.DamH5975, andhad let downתְּרַפֶּ֥ינָהte.ra.Pei.nahH7503their wingsכַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃khan.fei.HenH3671.

26And aboveוּמִמַּ֗עַלu.mi.Ma.'alH4605the firmamentלָרָקִ֙יעַ֙la.ra.Ki.a'H7549that wasover their headsרֹאשָׁ֔םro.ShamH7218wasthe likenessדְּמ֣וּתde.MutH1823of a throneכִּסֵּ֑אki.Se'H3678,as the appearanceכְּמַרְאֵ֥הke.mar.'EhH4758of a sapphireסַפִּ֖ירsa.PirH5601stoneאֶֽבֶן־'e.ven-H68:and upon the likenessדְּמ֣וּתde.MutH1823of the throneהַכִּסֵּ֔אha.ki.Se'H3678wasthe likenessדְּמ֞וּתde.MutH1823as the appearanceכְּמַרְאֵ֥הke.mar.'EhH4758of a manאָדָ֛ם'a.DamH120aboveמִלְמָֽעְלָה׃mil.Ma.'e.lahH4605upon it.

27And I sawוָאֵ֣רֶא׀va.'E.re'H7200as the colourכְּעֵ֣יןke.'EinH5869of amberחַשְׁמַ֗לchash.MalH2830,as the appearanceכְּמַרְאֵה־ke.mar.'eh-H4758of fireאֵ֤שׁ'eshH784round aboutסָבִ֔יבsa.VivH5439withinבֵּֽית־beit-H1004it, from the appearanceמִמַּרְאֵ֥הmi.mar.'EhH4758of his loinsמָתְנָ֖יוma.te.NavH4975even upwardוּלְמָ֑עְלָהu.le.Ma.'e.lahH4605,and from the appearanceוּמִמַּרְאֵ֤הu.mi.mar.'EhH4758of his loinsמָתְנָיו֙ma.te.NavH4975even downwardוּלְמַ֔טָּהu.le.Ma.tahH4295,I sawרָאִ֙יתִי֙ra.'I.tiH7200as it were the appearanceכְּמַרְאֵה־ke.mar.'eh-H4758of fireאֵ֔שׁ'EshH784,and it had brightnessוְנֹ֥גַֽהּve.No.gahH5051round aboutסָבִֽיב׃sa.VivH5439.

28As the appearanceכְּמַרְאֵ֣הke.mar.'EhH4758of the bowהַקֶּ֡שֶׁתha.Ke.shetH7198that is in the cloudבֶעָנָ֜ןve.'a.NanH6051in the dayבְּי֣וֹםbe.YomH3117of rainהַגֶּ֗שֶׁםha.Ge.shemH1653, so wasthe appearanceמַרְאֵ֤הmar.'EhH4758of the brightnessהַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ha.No.gahH5051round aboutסָבִ֔יבsa.VivH5439. This wasthe appearanceמַרְאֵ֖הmar.'EhH4758of the likenessדְּמ֣וּתde.MutH1823of the gloryכְּבוֹד־ke.Vod-H3519of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068.And when I sawוָֽאֶרְאֶה֙va.'er.'EhH7200it,I fellוָאֶפֹּ֣לva.'e.PolH5307upon my faceפָּנַ֔יpa.NaiH6440,and I heardוָאֶשְׁמַ֖עva.'esh.Ma'H8085a voiceק֥וֹלKolH6963of one that spakeמְדַבֵּֽר׃ סme.da.BerH1696.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 1