Ezekiel 1

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 1

1¶ Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I [was] among the captives by the river of Chebar, [that] the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

2In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

3The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

4¶ And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

5Also out of the midst thereof [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

7And their feet [were] straight feet; and the sole of their feet [was] like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.

8And [they had] the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

9Their wings [were] joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

10As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

11Thus [were] their faces: and their wings [were] stretched upward; two [wings] of every one [were] joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

12And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; [and] they turned not when they went.

13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

14And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

15¶ Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.

16The appearance of the wheels and their work [was] like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work [was] as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

17When they went, they went upon their four sides: [and] they turned not when they went.

18As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings [were] full of eyes round about them four.

19And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

20Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither [was their] spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels.

21When those went, [these] went; and when those stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels.

22And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature [was] as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.

23And under the firmament [were] their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.

24And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

25And there was a voice from the firmament that [was] over their heads, when they stood, [and] had let down their wings.

26¶ 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.

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.

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 the LORD. And when I saw [it], I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ezekiel, a priest among the captives by the river Chebar, experienced an extraordinary vision of God. He saw a whirlwind from the north, revealing four living creatures with multiple faces and wings, accompanied by intricate, interlocking wheels full of eyes. Above them was a firmament, and upon it, a throne of sapphire, bearing the likeness of a man surrounded by fire and brilliant light. This magnificent sight was identified as the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

Medium Summary

In the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, the prophet Ezekiel received a profound divine vision by the river Chebar. He first beheld a great cloud, fire, and brightness from the north, out of which emerged four living creatures. Each creature possessed four faces—man, lion, ox, and eagle—and four wings, moving straight forward without turning. Alongside these creatures were four intricate wheels, appearing as a wheel within a wheel, sparkling like beryl, with their rims full of eyes, moving in perfect synchronicity with the living beings, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. Above their heads was a firmament like terrible crystal, from which a voice emanated. Finally, above the firmament, Ezekiel saw the likeness of a sapphire throne, and upon it, the appearance of a man, enveloped in fire and a radiant brightness resembling a rainbow, which was revealed as the likeness of the glory of the LORD, causing Ezekiel to fall prostrate.

Long Summary

The book of Ezekiel opens with the prophet, a priest among the captives in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar, receiving an unprecedented divine revelation in the thirtieth year of his life. The heavens opened, and he beheld visions of God, beginning with a powerful whirlwind, a great cloud, and an infolding fire emanating from the north, surrounded by a brilliant light. From the midst of this fiery brightness, the likeness of four living creatures appeared, each resembling a man in overall form. These creatures were remarkably complex, each possessing four faces—a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle—and four wings, with human hands under their wings. Their feet were straight and sparkled like burnished brass, resembling calves' feet. They moved with incredible precision, going straight forward wherever the spirit directed them, their appearance like burning coals and flashes of lightning. Alongside these living creatures, Ezekiel observed four wheels upon the earth, described as a wheel within a wheel, with the color of beryl. These wheels were of dreadful height, and their rims were full of eyes all around. They moved in perfect concert with the living creatures, rising and moving when the creatures did, for the spirit of the living creature was intrinsically within the wheels. Above the heads of the living creatures, a firmament stretched forth, resembling the terrible crystal, under which their wings were extended. As they moved, the sound of their wings was like the noise of great waters or the voice of the Almighty, but when they stood, their wings were let down, and a voice came from above the firmament. Finally, above this firmament, Ezekiel saw the likeness of a throne, appearing as a sapphire stone. Upon this throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man, enveloped in a radiant glow like amber and fire, with a brightness around him that resembled the rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This magnificent and awe-inspiring sight was identified as the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD, prompting Ezekiel to fall upon his face in reverence.

Core Concepts

  • Ezekiel's Inaugural VisionThe chapter records Ezekiel's initial prophetic experience while in captivity by the river Chebar, where the heavens opened, and he saw profound visions of God, marking the beginning of his prophetic ministry.
  • The Four Living CreaturesThese are described as beings with the likeness of a man, each possessing four faces (man, lion, ox, eagle) and four wings, moving with divine direction and appearing with fiery brilliance.
  • The Wheels (Ophanim)Intricate, interlocking wheels, described as a "wheel in the middle of a wheel," sparkling like beryl, with rims full of eyes, moving in perfect synchronicity with the living creatures, embodying the spirit of the living creature.
  • The FirmamentA vast, crystal-like expanse stretched above the heads of the living creatures, described as "terrible crystal," from which a voice emanated, separating the creatures from the divine throne.
  • The Divine Throne and FigureAbove the firmament, Ezekiel beheld the likeness of a sapphire throne, upon which sat a figure with the appearance of a man, enveloped in fire, amber, and a radiant, rainbow-like brightness.
  • The Glory of the LORDThe culmination of the vision, identified as "the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD," a manifestation of divine majesty and presence that overwhelmed Ezekiel and caused him to prostrate himself.
  • The River ChebarThe geographical setting for Ezekiel's initial vision, where he was among the captives in the land of the Chaldeans, signifying that God's presence and revelation were not confined to the land of Israel.