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Read the Bible

American Standard Version

Ezekiel 1:22

And over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of a firmament, like the terrible crystal to look upon, stretched forth over their heads above.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Angel (a Spirit);   Crystal;   Thompson Chain Reference - Firmament;   Precious Stones;   Stones, Precious;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Cherubim;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Beasts;   Cherub;   Crystal;   Ezekiel;   Vision;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Cherubim;   Ezekiel;   Throne;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Crystal;   Frost;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Crystal;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Angel;   Cherub, Cherubim;   Crystal;   Ezekiel;   Firmament;   Heaven;   Likeness;   Living Beings, Living Creatures;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Isaiah, Book of;   Jewels and Precious Stones;   Seraphim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Sea of Glass;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Crystal;   Firmament;   Living Creatures;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Cherub;   Crystal;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Crystal,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Crystal;   Light;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Cherubim (1);   Crystal;   Living Creature;   Stones, Precious:;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Astronomy;   Cabala;   Cherub;   Cosmogony;   Gems;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Over the heads of the living creatures the likeness of an expanse was spread out. It gleamed like awe-inspiring crystal,
Hebrew Names Version
Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above.
King James Version
And 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.
English Standard Version
Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.
New American Standard Bible
Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads.
New Century Version
Now, over the heads of the living creatures was something like a dome that sparkled like ice and was frightening.
Amplified Bible
Now stretched over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, looking like the terrible and awesome shimmer of icy crystal.
World English Bible
Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the similitude of the firmament vpon the heads of the beasts was wonderfull, like vnto chrystall, spred ouer their heads aboue.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now over the heads of the living creatures there was something with the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads above.
Berean Standard Bible
Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.
Contemporary English Version
Above the living creatures, I saw something that was sparkling like ice, and it reminded me of a dome. Each creature had two of its wings stretched out toward the creatures on either side, with the other two wings folded against its body.
Complete Jewish Bible
Over the heads of the living creatures was what appeared to be a dome glittering like ice; it was awesome, spread out over their heads, above them.
Darby Translation
And there was the likeness of an expanse over the heads of the living creature, as the look of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
Easy-to-Read Version
There was an amazing thing over the heads of the living beings. It was like a bowl turned upside down, and the bowl was clear like crystal.
George Lamsa Translation
And over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, resembling pure crystal, stretched out over their heads above.
Good News Translation
Above the heads of the creatures there was something that looked like a dome made of dazzling crystal.
Lexham English Bible
Now the likeness above the heads of the living creatures was an expanse like the outward appearance of awesome ice spread out above their heads upward.
Literal Translation
And a likeness was over the heads of the living creature, an expanse like the color of awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads from above.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Aboue ouer ye heades of the beestes there was a firmament, which was fashioned as it had bene off the most pure Christall, & that was spred out aboue vpon their heades:
Bible in Basic English
And over the heads of the living beings there was the form of an arch, looking like ice, stretched out over their heads on high.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, like the colour of the terrible ice, stretched forth over their heads above.
King James Version (1611)
And the likenesse of the firmament vpon the heads of the liuing creature was as the colour of the terrible chrystall, stretched foorth ouer their heads aboue.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the similitude of the firmament vpon the heades of the beastes, was like the colour of christall wonderfull, spread ouer their heades aboue.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the likeness over the heads of the living creatures was as a firmament, as the appearance of crystal, spread out over their wings above.
English Revised Version
And over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of a firmament, like the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the licnesse of the firmament was aboue the heed of the beestis, and as the biholdyng of orible cristal, and stretchid abrood on the heed of tho beestis aboue.
Update Bible Version
And over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of a firmament, like the awesome crystal to look at, stretched forth over their heads above.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature [was] as the color of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
New English Translation
Over the heads of the living beings was something like a platform, glittering awesomely like ice, stretched out over their heads.
New King James Version
The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures [fn] was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads.
New Living Translation
Spread out above them was a surface like the sky, glittering like crystal.
New Life Bible
Over the heads of the living beings there was something that looked like the sky. It shined like crystal and spread over their heads.
New Revised Standard
Over the heads of the living creatures there was something like a dome, shining like crystal, spread out above their heads.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And there was a likeness over the heads of the living one - an expanse, like terrible crystal to look upon, -stretched forth over their heads above.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of the firmament, the appearance of crystal terrible to behold, and stretched out over their heads above.
Revised Standard Version
Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, shining like crystal, spread out above their heads.
Young's Literal Translation
And a likeness [is] over the heads of the living creatures of an expanse, as the colour of the fearful ice, stretched out over their heads from above.
THE MESSAGE
Over the heads of the living creatures was something like a dome, shimmering like a sky full of cut glass, vaulted over their heads. Under the dome one set of wings was extended toward the others, with another set of wings covering their bodies. When they moved I heard their wings—it was like the roar of a great waterfall, like the voice of The Strong God, like the noise of a battlefield. When they stopped, they folded their wings.

Contextual Overview

15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold, one wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces thereof. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto a beryl: and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they went, they went in their four directions: they turned not when they went. 18 As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and they four had their rims full of eyes round about. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 22 And over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of a firmament, like the terrible crystal to look upon, stretched forth over their heads above. 23 And 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. 24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of a host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the likeness: Ezekiel 1:26, Ezekiel 10:1, Exodus 24:10, Job 37:22, Revelation 4:3, Revelation 4:6, Revelation 21:11

crystal: The Hebrew kerach which generally denotes ice, doubtless here signifies crystal (ךסץףפבככןע, from ךסץןע, cold, ice, and ףפוככןלבי, to concrete), as it is rendered by the LXX and Vulgate. It is a very large class of silicious minerals, hard, pellucid, naturally colourless, of regularly angular figures, and of simple plates; not flexible, nor elastic, but giving fire with steel; not fermenting by acid menstrua, but calcinable in a strong fire. There are three orders of pure crystal. The first is perfect columnar crystals, with double pyramids, of eighteen planes, in an hexangular pyramid at each end; the second is that of perfect crystals, without a column, of twelve or sixteen planes, in two hexangular pyramids; and the third is that of imperfect crystals, with single pyramids, of ten or twelve planes, in an hexangular or pentangular column. Terrible crystal seems to denote that which was well cut and polished, vividly refracting the rays of light.

Reciprocal: Job 28:17 - crystal Psalms 150:1 - in the firmament Ezekiel 10:20 - the living

Cross-References

Genesis 1:13
And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.
Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 8:17
Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of all flesh, both birds, and cattle, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
Genesis 9:1
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Genesis 30:27
And Laban said unto him, If now I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have divined that Jehovah hath blessed me for thy sake.
Genesis 30:30
For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it hath increased unto a multitude; and Jehovah hath blessed thee whithersoever I turned: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
Genesis 35:11
And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
Leviticus 26:9
And I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and will establish my covenant with you.
Job 40:15
Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee; He eateth grass as an ox.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature,.... This was not a real firmament, but the likeness of one; it was like the firmament which God created on the second day, which divided between the waters above and below, and which he called Heaven; and is no other than the airy and starry heavens. Its name is in Hebrew

רקיע, "an expanse"; from its being stretched out as a curtain, and a tent to dwell in; and a "firmament" from its firmness and continuance; and therefore called the firmament of his power, Genesis 1:8

Psalms 150:1; and this visionary one was "over the heads of the living creatures"; which shows that they could not be angels, for those have their habitation in the third heaven, above the firmament; much less in hieroglyphic of the trinity of Persons, who are the three that bear record in heaven, and are not under the firmament; but ministers of the Gospel, who are on earth, and are subject to Christ, whose throne is above the firmament, Ezekiel 1:26; and who receive their commission and gifts from him, and are accountable to him. This firmament

[was] as the colony of the tenable crystal; crystal is a very white, transparent, precious stone, resembling ice, from whence it has its name; hence Pliny t thought it was no other than ice vehemently frozen; and here it is called "terrible", because exceeding clear and bright, so that there was no looking upon it, without the eyes being dazzled with the glory of it. The sky is called a molten looking glass, in which the glory of God, and his handiwork, may be seen, Job 37:18; and as the throne of Christ was over this crystal firmament, it shows that, though he is in heaven, he sees all that is done on earth, and in his churches, and by his ministers; and the saints also see him by faith, and through the glass of the Gospel: it is only a crystal firmament that is between them,

stretched forth over their heads above; that is, over the heads of the living creatures, as before; said to be stretched out, in allusion to its name, an expanse, as before observed.

t Nat. Hit. l. 37. c. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

“The color” (Hebrew, “eye”) “of the terrible crystal” refers to the dazzling brightness of the “firmament,” a clear bright expanse between the “throne” and the “living creatures,” separating heaven from earth.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 1:22. The colour of the terrible crystal — Like a crystal, well cut and well polished, with various faces, by which rays of light were refracted, assuming either a variety of prismatic colours, or an insufferably brilliant splendour. This seems to be the meaning of the terrible crystal. Newcome translates, fearful ice. The common translation is preferable.


 
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