Ezekiel 1:27

27 And 1upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were 2gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and 3there was brightness around him.[a]

Ezekiel 1:27 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 1:27

And I saw as the colour of amber
That is, the man upon the throne looked like the colour of amber; of which (See Gill on Ezekiel 1:4); as the appearance of fire round about within it;
which may denote the deity of Christ, or Christ as God, who is a consuming fire to his enemies; a fire enlightening and warming to his people; as a wall of fire protecting them; and as a pillar of fire guiding and directing them, as he did the Israelites in the wilderness; and who has such light and glory in him, as is incomprehensible to us; and therefore this fire appeared round about within, the colour of amber, and under his human nature, through which it broke forth: from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance
of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire;
it reached upwards and downwards, as well as all around him: and it had brightness round about;
the fire; which shone through the human nature, and was upon it, in virtue of its union to the Son of God; and through the Gospel, in which, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord is seen; and which will be brighter and brighter in the latter day; which may be signified by the appearance of his loins downward.

Ezekiel 1:27 In-Context

25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.
26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.
27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.
28 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.

Cross References 3

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.