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American Standard Version

Ezekiel 1:28

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 Jehovah. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Anthropomorphisms;   Bow;   God;   Rainbow;   Voice;   Thompson Chain Reference - Rainbow;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Cherubim;   Rain;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Beasts;   Cherub;   Vision;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Cherubim;   Ezekiel;   Glory;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Humility;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cherub;   Rainbow;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bow;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Angel;   Cherub, Cherubim;   Day of the Lord;   Ezekiel;   Likeness;   Living Beings, Living Creatures;   Theophany;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Glory;   Isaiah, Book of;   Rainbow;   Seraphim;   Shekinah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Glory (2);   Wing ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Cherub;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Light;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Attitudes;   Glory;   God;   Rainbow;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bat Ḳol;   Cabala;   Cherub;   Merkabah;   Rainbow;   Revelation (Book of);   Symbol;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for November 27;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
Hebrew Names Version
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. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
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 American Standard Bible
Like the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.
New Century Version
The surrounding glow looked like the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day. It seemed to look like the glory of the Lord . So when I saw it, I bowed facedown on the ground and heard a voice speaking.
Amplified Bible
As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory and brilliance of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell face downward and I heard a voice of One speaking.
World English Bible
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 Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
Geneva Bible (1587)
As the likenesse of the bowe, that is in the cloude in the day of raine, so was the appearance of the light round about. This was the appearance of the similitude of the glorie of the Lord: and when I sawe it, I fell vpon my face, and I heard a voyce of one that spake.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.
Legacy Standard Bible
As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the radiance all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. And I saw this, and I fell on my face and heard a sound of a voice speaking.
Berean Standard Bible
The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
Contemporary English Version
as colorful as a rainbow that appears after a storm. I realized I was seeing the brightness of the Lord 's glory! So I bowed with my face to the ground, and just then I heard a voice speaking to me.
Complete Jewish Bible
This brilliance around him looked like a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was how the appearance of the glory of Adonai looked. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.
Darby Translation
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 Jehovah. And when I saw, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
Easy-to-Read Version
The light shining around him was like a rainbow in a cloud. It was the Glory of the Lord . As soon as I saw that, I fell to the ground. I bowed with my face to the ground, and then I heard a voice speaking to me.
George Lamsa Translation
As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in the clouds in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face and I heard the voice of one who spoke.
Good News Translation
that had in it all the colors of the rainbow. This was the dazzling light which shows the presence of the Lord . When I saw this, I fell face downward on the ground. Then I heard a voice
Lexham English Bible
Like the appearance of a bow that is in the cloud on a rainy day, such was the radiance around it; thus was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. And I saw, and I fell on my face, and I heard a voice speaking.
Literal Translation
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of the rain, so appeared the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And I saw, and I fell on my face, and I heard a voice ofOne speaking.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
was like a raynbowe, which in a raynie daye apeareth in the cloudes. Eue so was the similitude, wherin the glory off the LORDE apeared. Whe I sawe it, I fell vpon my face, and herkened vnto the voyce off him, that spake.
Bible in Basic English
Like the bow in the cloud on a day of rain, so was the light shining round him. And this is what the glory of the Lord was like. And when I saw it I went down on my face, and the voice of one talking came to my ears.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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 spoke.
King James Version (1611)
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloude in the day of raine, so was the appearance of the brightnesse round about. This was the appearance of the likenesse of the glory of the Lord: and when I saw it, I fell vpon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
As the likenesse of a bowe that is in a cloude in a raynie day, so was the appearaunce of the brightnesse rounde about: this was the appearaunce of the similitude of the glory of God, & when I sawe it, I fell vpon my face and hearkened vnto the voyce of one that spake.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
As the appearance of the bow when it is in the cloud in days of rain, so was the form of brightness round about.
English Revised Version
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
as the biholdynge of the reynbowe, whanne it is in the cloude in the dai of reyn. This was the biholdyng of schynyng bi cumpas.
Update Bible Version
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 Yahweh. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
Webster's Bible Translation
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so [was] the appearance of the brightness around. 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 speaking.
New English Translation
like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the Lord . When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking.
New King James Version
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.
New Living Translation
All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me.
New Life Bible
This light shining around Him looked like the rainbow in the clouds on a day of rain. This was what the shining-greatness of the Lord looked like. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.
New Revised Standard
Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord . When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
as the appearance of the bow which is in a cloud on a day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about, that was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh, and when I saw, I fell upon my face, and heard a voice of one speaking.
Douay-Rheims Bible
As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in a cloud on a rainy day: this was the appearance of the brightness round about.
Revised Standard Version
Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. Such 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 the voice of one speaking.
Young's Literal Translation
As the appearance of the bow that is in a cloud in a day of rain, so [is] the appearance of the brightness round about.

Contextual Overview

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 a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above. 27 And I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his loins and upward; and from the appearance of his loins and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him. 28 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 Jehovah. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

at the appearance of the bow: Genesis 9:13-16, Isaiah 54:8-10, Revelation 4:3, Revelation 10:1

This: Ezekiel 8:4, Ezekiel 10:19, Ezekiel 10:20, Ezekiel 43:3, Exodus 16:7, Exodus 16:10, Exodus 24:16, Exodus 33:18-23, Numbers 12:6-8, 1 Kings 8:10, 1 Kings 8:11, 1 Corinthians 13:12

I fell: Ezekiel 3:23, Genesis 17:3, Leviticus 9:24, Daniel 8:17, Daniel 10:7-9, Daniel 10:16, Daniel 10:17, Matthew 17:5, Matthew 17:6, Acts 9:4, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 1:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:17 - fell Exodus 24:10 - saw Numbers 24:4 - falling Judges 13:20 - fell on Ezekiel 2:1 - stand Ezekiel 10:4 - the glory Ezekiel 43:2 - the glory Ezekiel 44:4 - and I fell Amos 9:1 - I saw Matthew 26:39 - and fell Revelation 4:2 - a throne

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:3
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:4
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Genesis 1:17
And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth,
Genesis 1:18
and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:22
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on 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 9:7
And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain,.... The rainbow, which is no other than the reflection of the rays of the sun in a thin watery cloud on a rainy day:

so [was] the appearance of the brightness round about it; so Christ is represented as clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow about his head,

Revelation 10:1; which is a token of the covenant of grace, in which Christ is concerned; it is round about him; he is the head mediator, surety, and messenger of it; all the blessings and promises of it are in him; and he is that itself, which is only a reverberation him, the sun of righteousness; and it is also about the throne on which he sits, which is upheld by mercy and truth; and it is ever in his view and he is always mindful of it: this part of the vision agrees with Revelation 4:3;

this [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of God: of the divine Shechinah; the Word of God that was made flesh and dwelt among us; whose glory is as the only begotten of the Father; and who is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person:

and when I saw [it], I fell upon my face; through fear and reverence of the glorious Person that appeared to him; see Revelation 1:17;

and I heard a voice of one that spake: what is delivered in the following chapter; which contains Ezekiel's commission from Christ, who is the person that spake unto him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 1:28. As 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 colours vivid, distinct, and in perfection-red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. In all this description we must understand every metal, every colour, and every natural appearance, to be in their utmost perfection of shape, colour, and splendour. "And this," as above described, "was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord." Splendid and glorious as it was, it was only the "appearance of the likeness," a faint representation of the real thing.

I have endeavoured to explain these appearances as correctly as possible; to show their forms, positions, colours, c. But who can explain their meaning? We have conjectures in abundance and can it be of any use to mankind to increase the number of those conjectures? I think not. I doubt whether the whole does not point out the state of the Jews, who were about to be subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, and carried into captivity. And I am inclined to think that the "living creatures, wheels, fires, whirlwinds," c., which are introduced here, point out, emblematically, the various means, sword, fire, pestilence, famine, &c., which were employed in tneir destruction and that God appears in all this to show that Nebuchadnezzar is only his instrument to inflict all these calamities. What is in the following chapter appears to me to confirm this supposition. But we have the rainbow, the token of God's covenant, to show that though there should be a destruction of the city, temple, c., and sore tribulation among the people, yet there should not be a total ruin after a long captivity they should be restored. The rainbow is an illustrious token of mercy and love.


 
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