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Ezekiel 1
New American Standard Bible

The Vision of Four Figures

1 Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the (A)river Chebar among the exiles, the (B)heavens were opened and I saw [a](C)visions of God. 2 (On the fifth of the month [b]in the (D)fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, 3 the (E)word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the (F)land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there (G)the hand of the Lord came upon him.)

4 As I looked, behold, a (H)high wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing intermittently and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like (I)gleaming [c]metal in the midst of the fire. 5 And within it there were figures resembling (J)four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human (K)form. 6 Each of them had (L)four faces and (M)four wings. 7 Their legs were straight and [d]their feet were like a calf’s [e]hoof, and they sparkled like (N)polished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their (O)four sides were human (P)hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, 9 their wings touched one another; their faces did (Q)not turn when they moved, each (R)went straight forward. 10 As for the (S)form of their faces, each had a human (T)face; [f]all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and [g]all four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and (U)two covering their bodies. 12 And (V)each went straight forward; (W)wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 [h]In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of (X)fire, [i]like torches moving among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was [j]flashing from the fire. 14 And the living beings (Y)ran back and forth like bolts of (Z)lightning.

15 Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one (AA)wheel on the ground beside the living beings, for [k]each of the four of them. 16 The (AB)appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like [l]sparkling (AC)topaz, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if [m]one wheel were within another. 17 Whenever they [n]moved, they [o]moved in any of their four [p]directions without (AD)turning as they [q]moved. 18 As for their rims, they were high and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were [r](AE)covered with eyes all around. 19 (AF)Whenever the living beings [s]moved, the wheels [t]moved with them. And whenever the living beings (AG)rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. 20 (AH)Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction[u]. And the wheels rose just as they did; for the spirit of the living [v]beings was in the wheels. 21 (AI)Whenever those went, they went; and whenever those stopped, they stopped. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose just as they did; for the spirit of the living [w]beings was in the wheels.

Vision of Divine Glory

22 Now (AJ)over the heads of the living [x]beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads. 23 Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had (AK)two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other. 24 And I also heard the sound of their wings, like the (AL)sound of abundant waters as they went, like the (AM)voice of [y]the Almighty, a sound of a crowd like the (AN)sound of an army camp; whenever they stopped, they let down their wings. 25 And a voice came from above the (AO)expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they let down their wings.

26 Now (AP)above the expanse that was over their heads there was something (AQ)resembling a throne, like [z](AR)lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a (AS)man. 27 Then I [aa]noticed from the appearance of His waist and upward something (AT)like gleaming [ab]metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. 28 Like the appearance of the (AU)rainbow [ac]in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the (AV)glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I (AW)fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 1:1 Some ancient versions a vision
  2. Ezekiel 1:2 Lit it was
  3. Ezekiel 1:4 Heb uncertain; Gr indicates a gold and silver alloy
  4. Ezekiel 1:7 Lit the sole of their feet
  5. Ezekiel 1:7 Lit sole of a foot
  6. Ezekiel 1:10 Lit the four of them
  7. Ezekiel 1:10 Lit the four of them
  8. Ezekiel 1:13 As in some ancient versions; MT And the likeness of the living beings
  9. Ezekiel 1:13 Lit like the appearance of
  10. Ezekiel 1:13 Lit going out
  11. Ezekiel 1:15 Lit his four faces
  12. Ezekiel 1:16 Or the look of topaz
  13. Ezekiel 1:16 Lit the wheel in the midst of the wheel
  14. Ezekiel 1:17 Lit went
  15. Ezekiel 1:17 Lit went
  16. Ezekiel 1:17 Lit sides
  17. Ezekiel 1:17 Lit went
  18. Ezekiel 1:18 Lit full of
  19. Ezekiel 1:19 Lit went
  20. Ezekiel 1:19 Lit went
  21. Ezekiel 1:20 MT adds the spirit to go
  22. Ezekiel 1:20 MT being
  23. Ezekiel 1:21 MT being
  24. Ezekiel 1:22 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT being
  25. Ezekiel 1:24 Heb Shaddai
  26. Ezekiel 1:26 Heb eben-sappir
  27. Ezekiel 1:27 Lit saw
  28. Ezekiel 1:27 See note v 4
  29. Ezekiel 1:28 Lit which occurs in
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Ezekiel 1
Lexham English Bible

Date of Vision of Living Creatures and Glory of the Throne of Yahweh

1 And it was in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, and I was in the midst of[a] the exiles[b] by the Kebar River.[c] The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of the king Jehoiachin— 3 the word of Yahweh came[d] clearly[e] to Ezekiel the son of Buzi, the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans at the Kebar River,[f] and the hand of Yahweh was on him there.

4 And I looked,[g] and look! A storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud, and fire flashing back and forth, and brightness around and within it,[h] and from its midst[i] it was like the outward appearance of amber stone from the midst[j] of the fire. 5 And from its midst[k] was the likeness of four living creatures, and this was their appearance: a human form,[l] 6 and each had four faces,[m] and each of them had four wings.[n] 7 And their legs were straight legs, and the sole of their feet was like the sole of the foot of a calf, and they were sparkling like the outward appearance of polished bronze. 8 And under their wings were human hands[o] on their four sides. And their faces and their wings for the four of them were as follows: 9 their wings were touching one another;[p] each of them went straight forward,[q] without turning right or left.[r] 10 The likeness of their faces was the face of a human in front, and the face of a lion on the right of each of them,[s] and the face of an ox on the left of each of them,[t] and the face of an eagle for each of them.[u] 11 So were their faces; their wings were spread out upward;[v] each had two touching one another and two covering their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward;[w] wherever the spirit went[x] they went, and they did not turn as they went.[y] 13 As for[z] the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches. It[aa] was moving to and fro between the living creatures, and the fire was very bright[ab] and lightning was going out from the fire. 14 And the living creatures were speeding to and fro[ac] like the appearance of lightning.

15 And I saw the living creatures, and look! A wheel was on the earth[ad] beside each of the living creatures that had four faces.[ae] 16 The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like the appearance of beryl,[af] and they all looked alike,[ag] and their appearance and their construction was like a wheel within a wheel.[ah] 17 When they moved, they went toward their four sides; they did not veer at all as they went.[ai] 18 And their rims were high and awesome,[aj] and all four of[ak] their rims were full of eyes all around. 19 And at the going of the living creatures, the wheels next to them also went, and when the creatures were lifted from the ground[al] the wheels also rose. 20 Wherever[am] the spirit went they would go there, and the wheels rose, for the spirit of the living creatures[an] was in the wheels. 21 At their[ao] going, they[ap] go, and at their standing, they stood, and at their being lifted up from on the earth,[aq] the wheels rose,[ar] for the spirit of the living creatures[as] was in the wheels.

22 Now[at] the likeness above the heads of the living creatures was an expanse like the outward appearance of awesome[au] ice[av] spread out above their heads upward.[aw] 23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight one toward the other;[ax] each had two wings covering them, and each had two wings covering their bodies. 24 And I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the voice of Shaddai,[ay] and when they moved[az] there was a sound of tumult like the sound of an army; when they stood still[ba] they lowered their wings. 25 And there was[bb] a sound from above the expanse that was above their heads, and when they stood[bc] they lowered their wings. 26 And from above the expanse that was above their heads there was the likeness of a throne, looking like a sapphire,[bd] and above the likeness of the throne was a likeness similar to[be] the appearance of a human on it, but above it.[bf] 27 And I saw something like the outward appearance of amber, something like the appearance of fire, with a covering around it, from the likeness of his loins and upward.[bg] And from the likeness of his loins and downward[bh] I saw something like the appearance of fire, and it was radiant all around.[bi] 28 Like the appearance[bj] of a bow that is in the cloud on a rainy day,[bk] such was the radiance[bl] 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.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 1:1 Or “among”
  2. Ezekiel 1:1 Hebrew “exile”
  3. Ezekiel 1:1 Literally “river of Kebar”
  4. Ezekiel 1:3 Literally “was”
  5. Ezekiel 1:3 Or “certainly”
  6. Ezekiel 1:3 Literally “river of Kebar”
  7. Ezekiel 1:4 Or “saw”
  8. Ezekiel 1:4 Literally “for it”
  9. Ezekiel 1:4 Or “middle”
  10. Ezekiel 1:4 Or “middle”
  11. Ezekiel 1:5 Or “middle”
  12. Ezekiel 1:5 Literally “this their appearance the likeness of a human to them”
  13. Ezekiel 1:6 Literally “and four faces to each”
  14. Ezekiel 1:6 Literally “and four wings to each for them”
  15. Ezekiel 1:8 Literally “hand his a man”
  16. Ezekiel 1:9 Literally “their wings were touching each her sister”
  17. Ezekiel 1:9 Literally “they did not turn at their going”
  18. Ezekiel 1:9 Literally “each toward the side of his face they went”
  19. Ezekiel 1:10 Literally “of the four of them”
  20. Ezekiel 1:10 Literally “of the four of them”
  21. Ezekiel 1:10 Literally “of the four of them”
  22. Ezekiel 1:11 Literally “from to above”
  23. Ezekiel 1:12 Literally “toward the side of his face they went”
  24. Ezekiel 1:12 Literally “towards which it was there the spirit”
  25. Ezekiel 1:12 Literally “they did not turn at their going”
  26. Ezekiel 1:13 Or “And”
  27. Ezekiel 1:13 That is, the fire
  28. Ezekiel 1:13 Literally “brightness was for the fire”
  29. Ezekiel 1:14 Literally “sped forth and returned”
  30. Ezekiel 1:15 Or “ground”
  31. Ezekiel 1:15 Literally “the living creatures for the four of his/its faces.” The LXX has “for the four of them.”
  32. Ezekiel 1:16 Or “chrysolite,” or “topaz”; this stone is difficult to identify exactly
  33. Ezekiel 1:16 Literally “likeness was one for the four of them”
  34. Ezekiel 1:16 Literally “as that it was a wheel in the midst of a wheel”
  35. Ezekiel 1:17 Literally “turn away when they went”
  36. Ezekiel 1:18 Literally “height was for them and awesomeness was for them”
  37. Ezekiel 1:18 Literally “of the four of them”
  38. Ezekiel 1:19 Literally “and at the lifting up of the creatures from the earth”
  39. Ezekiel 1:20 Literally “Toward which”
  40. Ezekiel 1:20 Hebrew “creature”
  41. Ezekiel 1:21 That is, the living creatures
  42. Ezekiel 1:21 That is, the wheels
  43. Ezekiel 1:21 Or “ground”
  44. Ezekiel 1:21 Or “were lifted up”
  45. Ezekiel 1:21 Hebrew “creature”
  46. Ezekiel 1:22 Or “And”
  47. Ezekiel 1:22 Literally “terrible”
  48. Ezekiel 1:22 Literally “frozen water”
  49. Ezekiel 1:22 Literally “from to upward”
  50. Ezekiel 1:23 Literally “each towards its sister”
  51. Ezekiel 1:24 Often translated “Almighty”
  52. Ezekiel 1:24 Literally “at their going”
  53. Ezekiel 1:24 Literally “at their standing”
  54. Ezekiel 1:25 Or “it was”
  55. Ezekiel 1:25 Literally “at their standing”
  56. Ezekiel 1:26 Literally “the appearance of a stone of sapphire”
  57. Ezekiel 1:26 Or “like”
  58. Ezekiel 1:26 Literally “from to above”
  59. Ezekiel 1:27 Literally “to above”
  60. Ezekiel 1:27 Literally “to down”
  61. Ezekiel 1:27 Literally “brightness was for it around”
  62. Ezekiel 1:28 Or “likeness”
  63. Ezekiel 1:28 Literally “the day of the rain”
  64. Ezekiel 1:28 Or “brightness”
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Ezekiel 1
New International Version

Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision

1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles(A) by the Kebar River,(B) the heavens were opened(C) and I saw visions(D) of God.

2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin(E)— 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel(F) the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians.[a] There the hand of the Lord was on him.(G)

4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm(H) coming out of the north(I)—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,(J) 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures.(K) In appearance their form was human,(L) 6 but each of them had four faces(M) and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.(N) 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.(O) All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.(P)

10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.(Q) 11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings(R) spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.(S) 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals(T) of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning(U) flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.(V)

15 As I looked at the living creatures,(W) I saw a wheel(X) on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz,(Y) and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction(Z) as the creatures went. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes(AA) all around.

19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go,(AB) and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.(AC)

22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault,(AD) sparkling like crystal, and awesome. 23 Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. 24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing(AE) waters, like the voice(AF) of the Almighty,[b] like the tumult of an army.(AG) When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

25 Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne(AH) of lapis lazuli,(AI) and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.(AJ) 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.(AK) 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow(AL) in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.(AM)

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory(AN) of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown,(AO) and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 1:3 Or Chaldeans
  2. Ezekiel 1:24 Hebrew Shaddai
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