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The Divine Glory
Ezekiel 1:22–28 describes a vision of God’s glory using careful comparison words such as likeness, appearance and like. The passage helps readers notice both God’s majesty and the limits of human description.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, Ezekiel continues describing what he saw above the living creatures. The focus moves upward from the expanse over their heads, to the sound of wings, to a voice above, and finally to the appearance of Yahweh’s glory and Ezekiel’s response.
Ezekiel 1:22–28Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh’s glory is overwhelming, beautiful and beyond ordinary human description.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The expanse above the living creaturesEzekiel first describes an expanse over the heads of the living creatures. It looks like awesome crystal and is stretched out above them.
Explanation
Ezekiel first describes an expanse over the heads of the living creatures. It looks like awesome crystal and is stretched out above them. The repeated word likeness shows that he is describing a vision with comparison language, speaking carefully about what it looked like rather than claiming ordinary earthly objects were literally there.
02Wings, sound and stillnessUnder the expanse, the creatures’ wings are arranged in an ordered way, with some stretched toward one another and others covering their bodies.
Explanation
Under the expanse, the creatures’ wings are arranged in an ordered way, with some stretched toward one another and others covering their bodies. When they move, the wings sound like great waters, the voice of the Almighty, tumult and an army. When they stand still, they let down their wings, and Ezekiel then reports a voice above the expanse.
03A throne above the expanseAbove the expanse Ezekiel sees the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire stone.
Explanation
Above the expanse Ezekiel sees the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne is a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. The repeated comparison words matter here, because Ezekiel reports how the vision appeared to him.
04Fire, brightness and rainbow gloryThe figure on the throne shines with glowing metal, fire and brightness all around. The brightness is compared to a rainbow in a rain cloud.
Explanation
The figure on the throne shines with glowing metal, fire and brightness all around. The brightness is compared to a rainbow in a rain cloud. Ezekiel finally names what he has been describing: this was the appearance of the likeness of Yahweh’s glory. His response is to fall on his face and hear a voice speaking.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Ezekiel keep using words like likeness, appearance and like?
Look at how these words show he is carefully describing a vision that is hard to express in ordinary language.
02What changes when the living creatures stand and let down their wings?
Notice the movement from loud wing sounds to the voice above the expanse.
03How does Ezekiel respond when he recognises the appearance of Yahweh’s glory?
Read the end of the passage and observe both his posture and what happens next.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 1:22–28
22Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like an awesome crystal to look at, stretched out over their heads above.
23Under the expanse, their wings were straight, one toward the other. Each one had two which covered on this side, and each one had two which covered their bodies on that side.
24When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stood, they let down their wings.
25There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads. When they stood, they let down their wings.
26Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
27I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.
28As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of Yahweh’s glory. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.