Ezekiel 1:28

28 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.

Ezekiel 1:28 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 1:28

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.

Ezekiel 1:28 In-Context

26 Above the dome that was over their heads was something like a throne that looked like a sapphire. On it, above it, was what appeared to be a person.
27 I saw what looked like gleaming, amber-colored fire radiating from what appeared to be his waist upward. Downward from what appeared to be his waist, I saw what looked like fire, giving a brilliant light all around him.
28 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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.