Ezekiel 43:3

3 This vision was like the one I had seen when God came to destroy Jerusalem, and the one I saw by the Chebar River. Then I threw myself face downward on the ground.

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 The man took me to the gate that faces east,

2 and there I saw coming from the east the dazzling light of the presence of the God of Israel. God's voice sounded like the roar of the sea, and the earth shone with the dazzling light.

3 This vision was like the one I had seen when God came to destroy Jerusalem, and the one I saw by the Chebar River. Then I threw myself face downward on the ground.

4 The dazzling light passed through the east gate and went into the Temple.

5 The Lord's spirit lifted me up and took me into the inner courtyard, where I saw that the Temple was filled with the glory of the Lord.