Ezekiel 43:3

3 And I saw a vision, by the likeness which I had seen, when he came to destroy the city; and the likeness was like the beholding which I had seen beside the flood Chebar. And I fell down on my face, (And I saw a vision, of the same form which I had seen, when he had come to destroy the city; and the form was like what I had seen by the Chebar River. And I fell down on my face,)

Ezekiel 43:3 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 43:3

And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I
saw
Recorded in the first, ninth, and tenth chapters of this book; the form in which the glory of the God of Israel now appeared was like to what he then saw; in each of which visions was the likeness of a throne, and on it the appearance of the glory of God: even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the
city;
the city of Jerusalem; not that the prophet destroyed it, or came to destroy it himself, which was to be done, and was done, by the Chaldeans; but to foretell the destruction of it; which prediction of his made it as certain as if it was done. So the Targum,

``when I prophesied to destroy the city;''

and this was, when he was bid to cause, in a visionary and prophetic manner, six men, with their destroying weapons, to draw near unto it, and smite it; at which time he saw the glory of the God of Israel go up from the cherub, ( Ezekiel 9:1-3 ) . And the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar;
the four living creatures and the wheels; the throne of sapphire stone, and the glorious appearance above it, ( Ezekiel 1:3-28 ) ( 10:1-20 ) only with this difference, then he saw the glory of the God of Israel departing, especially in the last vision, but now returning: and I fell upon my face;
in reverence of such glorious majesty: affected with such a display of grace and goodness, and sensible of his own unworthiness to behold it: the clearer and fuller views saints have of the grace and glory of Christ, the more humble they are; see ( Isaiah 6:1-3 Isaiah 6:5 ) .

Ezekiel 43:3 In-Context

1 And he led me out to the gate, that beheld to the east way. (And he led me out to the gate, that faced east.)

2 And lo! the glory of God of Israel entered by the east way; and a voice was to it, as the voice of many waters, and the earth shined of the majesty of him. (And lo! the glory of the God of Israel entered from the east; and his voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his majesty.)

3 And I saw a vision, by the likeness which I had seen, when he came to destroy the city; and the likeness was like the beholding which I had seen beside the flood Chebar. And I fell down on my face, (And I saw a vision, of the same form which I had seen, when he had come to destroy the city; and the form was like what I had seen by the Chebar River. And I fell down on my face,)

4 and the majesty of the Lord entered into the temple by the way of the gate that beheld to the east. (and the majesty of the Lord entered into the Temple by way of the gate that faced east.)

5 And the Spirit raised me, and led me into the inner foreyard; and lo! the house (of the Lord) was filled with the glory of the Lord. (And the Spirit raised me up, and led me into the inner courtyard; and lo! the Temple was filled with the glory of the Lord.)