Ezekiel 1:26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 1:26-28

All the other parts of this vision were but a preface and introduction to this. God in them had made himself known as Lord of angels and supreme director of all the affairs of this lower world, whence it is easy to infer that whatever God by his prophets either promises or threatens to do he is able to effect it. Angels are his servants; men are his tools. But now that a divine revelation is to be given to a prophet, and by him to the church, we must look higher than the living creatures or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 1:26

And above the firmament that was over their heads ,.... The heads of the living creatures: was the likeness of a throne ; a symbol of Christ's kingly power and authority, who is the person that sat upon it; as he is God, he is on the same throne with his Father; as Mediator, he is King of saints, and was so from eternity; he exercised his office before his incarnation; and as he was prophesied of as a King, he came as one, though little known, and his kingdom was not with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 1:26

A sapphire - The pure oriental sapphire, a large well cut specimen of which is now before me, is one of the most beautiful and resplendent blues that can be conceived. I have sometimes seen the heavens assume this illustrious hue. The human form above this canopy is supposed to represent Him who, in the fullness of time, was manifested in the flesh. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 1:1-28

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 1:4-28

The providential government of God. This is acknowledged even by some of the ablest expositors to be a most difficult portion of sacred Scripture. Isaac Casaubon says that "in the whole of the Old Testament there is nothing more obscure than the beginning and the end of the Book of Ezekiel." And Calvin "acknowledges that he does not understand this vision." Yet we would humbly and reverently endeavour to set forth what appear to us to be the principal teachings of this marvellous vision.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 1:22-28

The vision of God is the source of prophetic inspiration. We cannot fail to observe in Scripture that the prominent prophets were prepared for their responsible work by an ecstatic sight of Deity. Without a clear and overpowering sense of the greatness of God, along with the undeserved honour of being his messenger, mortal men shrink from the perilous task of reproving and warning their fellows. This was the royal university in which the prophets received their high commission; and every... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 1:26

The likeness of a throne. The greatest glory was kept to the last. High above the azure expanse was the likeness of a throne (we note the constant recurrence of the word "likeness," nine times in this one chapter, as indicating Ezekiel's consciousness of the vision character of what he saw). The idea of the throne of the great King first appears in 1 Kings 22:19 , is frequent in the Psalms ( Psalms 9:4 , Psalms 9:7 ; Psalms 11:4 ; Psalms 45:6 ), notably in Isaiah 6:1 . In the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 1:26-28

He who is upon the throne. There is a natural tendency to clothe the spiritual in material form, and thus to bring the invisible and impalpable within the range and sphere of sense. It must not be supposed that, when the inspired writers, in this and similar passages, depict in imagery of material splendour the presence of the Almighty, they are misled by their own language, and forget that "God is a Spirit." Their aim is to represent, in such a way as shall impress the mind, the glorious... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 1:26

Sapphire - Clear heavenly blue.The appearance of a man - Deeply significant is the form of this manifestation. Here is no angel conveying God’s message to man, but the glory of the Lord Himself. We recognize in this vision the prophetic annunciation of the Holy Incarnation. We are told little of the extent to which the human form was made evident to the prophet. For the vision was rather to the mind than to the bodily eye, and even inspired language was inadequate to convey to the hearer the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 1:26-27

Ezekiel 1:26-27. Above the firmament was the likeness of a throne Namely, the throne of God. God having given his prophet emblems of his attendants and ministers, while he was coming forth in the chariot of his power and justice, to execute judgment, and of the mysterious dispensations of his providence toward his church and the world, he now proceeds to discover to him some glimpses of his divine glory. The prophet does not say that he saw a real throne, but only the likeness of a throne,... read more

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