Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 1

Introduction

Overview

Ezekiel 1:1, The time of Ezekiel’s prophecy at Chebar; Ezekiel 1:4, His vision of four cherubims; Ezekiel 1:15, of the four wheels; Ezekiel 1:26, and of the glory of God.

Verse 1

in the thirtieth: Numbers 4:3, Luke 3:23

as I: Ecclesiastes 9:1, Ecclesiastes 9:2, Jeremiah 24:5-7

captives: Heb. captivity

by the river: Ezekiel 1:3, Ezekiel 3:15, Ezekiel 3:23, Ezekiel 10:15, Ezekiel 10:20, Ezekiel 10:22, Ezekiel 43:3

Chebar: Chebar, called now Khabour, is a river of Mesopotamia, which taking its rise in the Mysian mountains, falls into the Euphrates near Carchemish, or Circesioum, now Karkisia, about 35 degrees 20 minutes n lat. and 40 degrees 25 minutes e long.

the heavens: Matthew 3:16, Luke 3:21, John 1:51, Acts 7:56, Acts 10:11, Revelation 4:1, Revelation 19:11

I saw: Ezekiel 8:3, Ezekiel 11:24, Genesis 15:1, Genesis 46:2, Numbers 12:6, Isaiah 1:1, Daniel 8:1, Daniel 8:2, Hosea 12:10, Joel 2:28, Matthew 17:9, Acts 9:10-12, Acts 10:3, 2 Corinthians 12:1

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 24:14 - Jerusalem Ezra 8:15 - the river that runneth Psalms 137:1 - the rivers Isaiah 6:1 - I saw also Jeremiah 29:15 - General Ezekiel 40:2 - the visions Daniel 7:1 - visions

Verse 2

Ezekiel 8:1, Ezekiel 20:1, Ezekiel 29:1, Ezekiel 29:17, Ezekiel 31:1, Ezekiel 40:1, 2 Kings 24:12-15

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 24:14 - Jerusalem 2 Chronicles 36:10 - when the year was expired Isaiah 48:15 - General Ezekiel 17:12 - Behold Ezekiel 24:1 - the ninth year Ezekiel 26:1 - General Ezekiel 30:20 - General Ezekiel 32:1 - in the twelfth Ezekiel 32:17 - in the twelfth Ezekiel 33:21 - in the twelfth

Verse 3

word: Jeremiah 1:2, Jeremiah 1:4, Hosea 1:1, Joel 1:1, 1 Timothy 4:1

Ezekiel: Heb. Jehezkel

and the: Ezekiel 3:14, Ezekiel 3:22, Ezekiel 8:1, Ezekiel 33:22, Ezekiel 37:1, Ezekiel 40:1, 1 Kings 18:46, 2 Kings 3:15

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 28:19 - by his hand upon me Jeremiah 1:1 - of the priests Jeremiah 29:15 - General Ezekiel 1:1 - by the river Ezekiel 11:24 - into Ezekiel 43:3 - the river Daniel 10:4 - as Zephaniah 1:1 - word Luke 3:2 - the word

Verse 4

a whirlwind: Isaiah 21:1, Jeremiah 1:13, Jeremiah 1:14, Jeremiah 4:6, Jeremiah 6:1, Jeremiah 23:19, Jeremiah 25:9, Jeremiah 25:32, Habakkuk 1:8, Habakkuk 1:9

a great: Ezekiel 10:2-4, Exodus 19:16-18, Exodus 24:16, Exodus 24:17, Deuteronomy 4:11, Deuteronomy 4:12, 2 Chronicles 5:13, 2 Chronicles 5:14, 2 Chronicles 6:1, 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, Psalms 18:11-13, Psalms 50:3, Psalms 97:2, Psalms 97:3, Psalms 104:3, Psalms 104:4, Isaiah 19:1, Nahum 1:3-6, Habakkuk 3:3-5, Hebrews 12:29

infolding itself: Heb. catching itself

colour: Ezekiel 1:27, Ezekiel 8:2, Ezekiel 10:8, Ezekiel 10:9, Revelation 1:15

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 19:11 - and a great 1 Kings 22:17 - I saw 2 Kings 2:11 - General Job 38:1 - General Isaiah 6:2 - seraphims Ezekiel 3:23 - the glory Ezekiel 43:3 - according to the appearance Zechariah 6:6 - the north Matthew 28:3 - countenance Revelation 4:6 - the midst Revelation 14:1 - I looked

Verse 5

the likeness: Revelation 4:6, Revelation 6:6,*Gr.

Reciprocal: Exodus 36:8 - cherubims Psalms 18:10 - rode Ezekiel 10:15 - This Zechariah 1:10 - These Zechariah 6:5 - These

Verse 6

And every one had four faces: These living creatures were probably hieroglyphical representations of the holy angels, the attendants on "the King of Glory," and the ministers of his providence. They were four, apparently to denote that they were employed in the four corners of the world; and they had the likeness of a man, to signify that they were intelligent and rational creatures. Ezekiel 1:10, Ezekiel 1:15, Ezekiel 10:10, Ezekiel 10:14, Ezekiel 10:21, Ezekiel 10:22, Revelation 4:7, Revelation 4:8

every one had four wings: Ezekiel 1:8-11, Exodus 25:20, 1 Kings 6:24-27, Isaiah 6:2

Verse 7

straight feet: Heb. a straight foot

like the sole: Leviticus 11:3, Leviticus 11:47

the colour: Ezekiel 1:13, Psalms 104:4, Daniel 10:6, Revelation 1:15

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 40:3 - whose

Verse 8

Ezekiel 8:3, Ezekiel 10:2, Ezekiel 10:7, Ezekiel 10:8, Ezekiel 10:18, Ezekiel 10:21, Isaiah 6:6

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 1:6 - every one had four wings Revelation 4:7 - a flying

Verse 9

joined: Ezekiel 1:11, 2 Chronicles 3:11, 2 Chronicles 3:12, 1 Corinthians 1:10

they turned: Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 10:11, Ezekiel 10:22, Proverbs 4:25-27, Luke 9:51, Luke 9:62

Reciprocal: Isaiah 6:2 - wings Ezekiel 1:17 - and

Verse 10

for the: Ezekiel 10:14, Revelation 4:7

the face of a man: Numbers 2:10, Isaiah 46:8, Luke 15:10, 1 Corinthians 14:20

the face of a lion: Numbers 2:3, Judges 14:18, 1 Chronicles 12:8, Revelation 5:5

the face of an ox: Ezekiel 10:14, Cherub, Numbers 2:18, Proverbs 14:4, 1 Corinthians 9:9, 1 Corinthians 9:10

the face of an eagle: Numbers 2:25, Deuteronomy 28:49, Job 39:27, Isaiah 40:31, Daniel 7:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 36:8 - cherubims 1 Kings 7:25 - General 1 Kings 7:29 - lions 2 Chronicles 4:3 - And under Ezekiel 1:6 - And every one had four faces Ezekiel 10:22 - the likeness Ezekiel 41:18 - and every

Verse 11

and their: Ezekiel 10:16, Ezekiel 10:19

stretched upward: or, divided above

and two: Ezekiel 1:23, Isaiah 6:2

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 7:7 - Zerubbabel Ezekiel 1:9 - joined Daniel 9:21 - to fly

Verse 12

they went every: Ezekiel 1:9, Ezekiel 1:17, Ezekiel 10:22

whither: Ezekiel 1:20, Ezekiel 1:21, Hebrews 1:14

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 1:23 - their wings Ezekiel 10:17 - for Ezekiel 46:9 - he that entereth in

Verse 13

Ezekiel 1:7, Genesis 15:17, Psalms 104:4, Daniel 10:5, Daniel 10:6, Matthew 28:3, Revelation 4:5, Revelation 10:1, Revelation 18:1

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 6:17 - full of horses Psalms 80:1 - dwellest Ezekiel 10:2 - coals Ezekiel 10:7 - unto the Ezekiel 10:15 - This Daniel 7:9 - and his wheels Hebrews 1:7 - Who

Verse 14

Psalms 147:15, Daniel 9:21, Zechariah 2:3, Zechariah 2:4, Zechariah 4:10, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 10:15 - This Daniel 10:6 - his face Hebrews 1:7 - Who Revelation 14:6 - another

Verse 15

one: Ezekiel 1:19-21, Ezekiel 10:9, Ezekiel 10:13-17, Daniel 7:9

with: Ezekiel 1:6, Revelation 4:7

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 7:30 - wheels 1 Chronicles 28:18 - the chariot Psalms 68:17 - chariots Ezekiel 10:2 - Go

Verse 16

the colour: Ezekiel 10:9, Exodus 39:13, Daniel 10:6

a wheel: Ezekiel 10:10, Job 9:10, Psalms 36:6, Psalms 40:5, Romans 11:33, Ephesians 3:10

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:20 - a beryl 1 Kings 7:33 - General

Verse 17

and: Ezekiel 1:9, Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 10:1 - Ezekiel 11:25, Isaiah 55:11

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 10:11 - they went upon Ezekiel 10:19 - the cherubims Ezekiel 46:9 - he that entereth in

Verse 18

they were so: Job 37:22-24, Psalms 77:16-19, Psalms 97:2-5, Isaiah 55:9

rings: or, stakes

full: Ezekiel 10:12, Proverbs 15:3, Zechariah 4:10, Revelation 4:6, Revelation 4:8

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 7:33 - General Psalms 66:5 - terrible

Verse 19

Ezekiel 10:16, Psalms 103:20

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 1:15 - one Ezekiel 1:21 - When those went Ezekiel 11:22 - General

Verse 20

the spirit: Ezekiel 1:12, 1 Corinthians 14:32

for the: Ezekiel 10:17, Zechariah 6:1-8

of the living creature: or, of life

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:20 - toward Ezekiel 1:21 - When those went Ezekiel 10:11 - whither Ezekiel 11:22 - General

Verse 21

When those went: Ezekiel 1:19, Ezekiel 1:20, Ezekiel 10:17

of the living creature: or, of life, Romans 8:2

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 1:12 - whither

Verse 22

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

Verse 23

their wings: Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 1:24

which: Ezekiel 1:11, Job 4:18, Psalms 89:7, Luke 17:10

Verse 24

like: Ezekiel 43:2, Revelation 1:15, Revelation 19:6

as the voice: Ezekiel 10:5, Job 37:2, Job 37:4, Job 37:5, Psalms 18:13, Psalms 29:3-9, Psalms 68:33

as the noise: Daniel 10:6, 2 Kings 7:6

Reciprocal: Isaiah 6:2 - wings Isaiah 6:4 - posts Isaiah 6:8 - I heard Ezekiel 1:23 - their wings Ezekiel 1:25 - and had Ezekiel 3:13 - the noise

Verse 25

and had: Ezekiel 1:24

Reciprocal: Isaiah 6:1 - I saw also

Verse 26

And above: Abp. Newcome judiciously observes, "We need not allegorize the circumstances of this august vision too minutely. Many of them augment the splendour of the scene, while others, no doubt, have much significance; which should be pointed out rather by a correct judgment, than a luxuriant imagination." Ezekiel 1:22, Ezekiel 10:1

over: Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:21, Ephesians 1:22, Philippians 2:9, Philippians 2:10, 1 Peter 3:22

the likeness of a: Psalms 45:6, Isaiah 6:1, Daniel 7:9, Daniel 7:10, Daniel 7:14, Zechariah 6:13, Matthew 25:13, Hebrews 1:8, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 12:2, Revelation 4:2, Revelation 4:3, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 20:11

as the: Exodus 24:10, Isaiah 54:11

the appearance of a man: Genesis 32:24-30, Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua 6:1, Joshua 6:2, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 9:7, Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 23:6, Daniel 10:18, Revelation 1:13, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 14:14

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:18 - sapphire Judges 13:20 - fell on 1 Kings 22:19 - I saw the Lord Song of Solomon 5:14 - his belly Jeremiah 3:17 - the throne Jeremiah 17:12 - General Ezekiel 8:2 - I beheld Ezekiel 8:4 - General Ezekiel 10:19 - and the glory Ezekiel 43:7 - the place of my throne Daniel 7:13 - one like Daniel 8:15 - as Daniel 10:16 - like John 1:18 - he hath Acts 7:55 - and saw Colossians 1:15 - the image Revelation 21:11 - her

Verse 27

as the colour: Ezekiel 1:4, Ezekiel 8:2

the appearance of fire: Deuteronomy 4:24, Psalms 50:3, Psalms 97:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Hebrews 12:29, Revelation 1:14-16

Reciprocal: Exodus 24:10 - of a sapphire stone Exodus 24:17 - like devouring fire Ezekiel 40:3 - whose

Verse 28

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