Ezekiel 1

1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles [captives, those taken away] by the River Kebar [a river in Mesopotamia, a place of exile], the heavens [the visible universe, the sky] opened [were made open, revealed] and I saw [gazed, looked upon] visions [prophetic visions, revelations] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. word study 2 On the [fifth day of the lunar cycle, new moon] fifth day of the month—it was the [fifth year of exile, captivity] fifth year of the exile [removal, captivity] of King [the monarch, ruler] Jehoiachin— word study 3 the word [divine message, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came directly [expressly, in a vision] to Ezekiel [God strengthens, the prophet] the priest [spiritual leader, mediator], the son [descendant, offspring] of Buzi, in the land [territory, region] of the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Babylon, wise men] by the River [stream, watercourse] Kebar [Chebar, a river in Mesopotamia]. And there [in that place, at that time] the LORD’s [Yehovah’s, the supreme God’s] hand [power, authority] was upon [on, over] him. word study 4 I looked [gazed intently] and saw a whirlwind [tempest, stormy wind] coming from the north [Zaphon, the northern direction], a great [large, immense] cloud [mass of clouds, cloudy] with fire [flames, divine refining presence] flashing back and forth [infolding itself, continually burning] and brilliant light [brightness, shining radiance] all around it [surrounding, encompassing]. In the center [midst, middle] of the fire [divine presence, refining flame] was a gleam [shining, glowing] like amber [polished metal, electrum], word study 5 and within [the midst, center] it was the form [likeness, resemblance] of four [a quartet, a group of four] living creatures [beings, alive with God’s life]. And this [what follows] was their appearance [sight, vision]: They had a human [man, Adam-like] form [likeness, resemblance], word study 6 but each [every one, individually] had four faces [presences, aspects of their being] and four [a repetition of completeness] wings [extremities, used for movement and protection]. word study 7 Their legs [straight, upright] were straight, and the soles [palm, underside] of their feet were like the hooves [young ox] of a calf, gleaming [shining, sparkling] like polished [burnished, refined] bronze [copper, a base metal]. word study 8 Under their wings [beneath their extremities] on their four [quarter] sides they had human [of a man, like Adam’s] hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share]. All four [the total number of] living creatures [beings with life] had faces [presence, being in front] and wings [the edge or extremity], word study 9 and their wings were touching [joined together] one another. They did not turn [change direction, shift course] as they moved; each one went straight [forward, in a direct line] ahead. word study 10 The form [likeness, resemblance] of their faces was that of a man [human, Adam], and each of the four had the face [presence, countenance] of a lion on the right side [toward the right hand], the face of an ox [cattle, bull] on the left side [toward the north], and also the face of an eagle [large bird of prey]. word study 11 Such were their faces [countenances, appearances]. Their wings [edges, extremities] were spread upward; each had two [a pair of] wings touching [joined to] the wings of the creature on either side, and two [another pair of] wings covering [concealing, hiding] its body. word study 12 Each creature [every one, man] went straight ahead [forward, without deviation]. Wherever the spirit [the breath of life] would go [to walk, move], they would go [proceed, move forward], without turning [to turn, change direction] as they moved [walked, went]. word study 13 In the midst of the living creatures [beings, alive with God’s life] was the appearance [sight, vision] of glowing coals of fire [burning embers, fiery flames], or of torches [lamps, light sources]. Fire [burning, flame] moved back and forth [went up and down, ran] between the living creatures; it was bright [shining, radiant], and lightning [a flashing, powerful force] flashed out of it [came forth from the fire, emerged]. word study 14 The creatures [living beings, having life] were darting [racing, running swiftly] back and forth as quickly as [with the speed of] flashes [appearances, bursts] of lightning [a powerful flash of energy from the sky]. word study 15 When I looked [gazed, beheld] at the living creatures [beings, alive], I saw a wheel [one wheel, a single wheel] on the ground [land, earth] beside [near, with] each creature with its four [for each of the four] faces [sides, aspects]. word study 16 The workmanship [skillful craftsmanship, intricate design] of the wheels [chariot wheels, circular objects] looked like the gleam [brilliant shine, radiant glow] of beryl [a precious gem, possibly topaz], and all four [the total number of wheels, a complete set] had the same likeness [uniform appearance, identical design]. Their workmanship [deeds, actions, or creations] looked like a wheel [circular object, turning sphere] within [inside, nestled in the midst of] a wheel [another circular object, a concentric circle]. word study 17 As they moved [in any direction, straight forward], they went in any of the four [quadruple] directions, without pivoting [turning, changing course] as they moved [walked, went, proceeded]. word study 18 Their rims [edges, borders] were high [elevated, lofty] and awesome [fearful, inspiring reverence], and all four rims [circles, wheels] were full [complete, abundant] of eyes [sources of sight] all around [surrounding, encompassing]. word study 19 So as the living creatures [beings, alive with God’s life] moved, the wheels [like chariot wheels, circular and turning] moved beside [near, in proximity to] them, and when the creatures rose [were lifted up, elevated] from the ground [the earth, land], the wheels also rose [were lifted up, ascended]. word study 20 Wherever the spirit [breath of life, divine wind] would go, they would go, and the wheels [chariot wheels, whirling circles] would rise [be lifted up, elevated] alongside them, because the spirit [life-giving force, inner being] of the living creatures [beings with life, animate ones] was in the wheels [rotating orbs, circular motions]. word study 21 When the creatures [living beings, heavenly messengers] moved [to walk, went], the wheels [chariot wheels, circular objects] moved; when the creatures [heavenly messengers] stood still [came to a stand, stopped], the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose [were lifted up, ascended] from the ground [land, earth], the wheels rose [were lifted up, flew up] alongside them, because the spirit [breath of life, divine energy] of the living creatures [beings with life, animate beings] was in the wheels [circular objects, wheels of motion]. word study 22 Spread out above [on high, over] the heads [the topmost part of the body] of the living creatures [beings, alive] was the likeness [resemblance, similar to] of an awesome [fearful, to be revered] expanse [firmament, solid sky], gleaming [shining, like the color of] like crystal [ice, rock crystal]. word study 23 And under [beneath, underneath] the expanse [the firmament, the sky], their wings [edges, extremities] stretched out toward [to, in the direction of] one another. Each one also had two [a pair, a duo] wings covering [concealing, hiding from view] its body [physical form, corpse]. word study 24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound [noise, roar] of their wings like the roar [rumble, thunder] of many waters [rivers, floods], like the voice [sound, tone] of the Almighty [Shadday, the all-powerful], like the tumult [commotion, uproar] of an army [host, multitude]. When they stood still [ceased moving, were at rest], they lowered [slackened, folded] their wings. word study 25 And there came a voice [from the firmament, a sound from above] from above the expanse [the sky, the heavens] over their heads as they stood [remained stationary] still with their wings [the edges of their being, extremities] lowered [slackened, relaxed, let down]. word study 26 Above [higher than, over] the expanse [firmament, dome] over their heads [the topmost part of the body] was the likeness [resemblance, image] of a throne [seat of power] with the appearance [semblance, likeness] of sapphire [a precious blue gemstone], and on [upon, above] the throne [royal seat] high above [exalted, elevated] was a figure [form, likeness] like that of a man [human being, Adam, a person]. word study 27 From what seemed to be His waist [loins, the middle of His body] up, I saw a gleam [glowing metal] like amber [a shiny metal], with what looked like fire [a divine, refining presence] within it all around [encompassing, surrounding]. And from what seemed to be His waist [loins, the lower part of His body] down, I saw what looked like fire [a powerful, supernatural flame]; and brilliant light [brightness, shining radiance] surrounded Him. word study 28 The appearance [sight, vision] of the brilliant [shining, radiant] light all around Him was like that of a rainbow [bow] in a cloud [cloudy, heavenly presence] on a rainy [stormy, chaotic] day. This was the appearance [likeness, resemblance] of the likeness [similarity] of the glory [magnificence, splendor] of the LORD [Yehovah, God Almighty]. And when I saw [beheld, perceived] it, I fell [prostrated, humbled] facedown [on my face, in reverence] and heard [listened, obeyed] a voice [sound, utterance] speaking [communicating, guiding]. word study