Ezekiel 1:28

28 Like the appearance of 1the 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 2the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, 3I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one 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 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

  • 1. Genesis 9:13; [Revelation 4:3; Revelation 10:1]
  • 2. Ezekiel 3:23; Ezekiel 8:4; Ezekiel 9:3; Ezekiel 10:4, 18, 19; Ezekiel 11:22, 23; Ezekiel 43:4, 5; Ezekiel 44:4; [Exodus 24:16]
  • 3. Ezekiel 3:23; Ezekiel 43:3; Ezekiel 44:4; [Genesis 17:3, 17; Joshua 5:14; Daniel 8:17; Acts 9:4; Revelation 1:17]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.