Ezekiel 1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 1

In this chapter we have, I. The common circumstances of the prophecy now to be delivered, the time when it was delivered (Ezek. 1:1), the place where (Ezek. 1:2), and the person by whom, Ezek. 1:3. II. The uncommon introduction to it by a vision of the glory of God, 1. In his attendance and retinue in the upper world, where his throne is surrounded with angels, here called ?living creatures,? Ezek. 1:4-14. 2. In his providences concerning the lower world, represented by the wheels and their... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 1

WHEN we entered upon the writings of the prophets, which speak of the things that should be hereafter, we seemed to have the same call that St. John had (Revelation 4:1), Come up hither; but, when we enter upon the prophecy of this book, it is as if the voice said, Come up higher; as we go forward in time (for Ezekiel prophesied in the captivity, as Jeremiah prophesied just before it), so we soar upward in discoveries yet more sublime of the divine glory. These waters of the sanctuary... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 1:1-3

The circumstances of the vision which Ezekiel saw, and in which he received his commission and instructions, are here very particularly set down, that the narrative may appear to be authentic and not romantic. It may be of use to keep an account when and where God has been pleased to manifest himself to our souls in a peculiar manner, that the return of the day, and our return to the place of the altar (Gen. 13:4), may revive the pleasing grateful remembrance of God's favour to us. ?Remember,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 1:4-14

The visions of God which Ezekiel here saw were very glorious, and had more particulars than those which other prophets saw. It is the scope and intention of these vision, 1. To possess the prophet's mind with very great, and high, and honourable thoughts of that God by whom he was commissioned and for whom he was employed. It is the likeness of the glory of the Lord that he sees (Ezek. 1:28), and hence he may infer that it is his honour to serve him, for he is one whom angels serve. He may... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 1:15-25

The prophet is very exact in making and recording his observations concerning this vision. And here we have, I. The notice he took of the wheels, Ezek. 1:15-21. The glory of God appears not only in the splendour of his retinue in the upper world, but in the steadiness of his government here in this lower world. Having seen how God does according to his will in the armies of heaven, let us now see how he does according to it among the inhabitants of the earth; for there, on the earth, the... read more

Matthew Henry

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

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 1 This chapter contains a vision, which is the introduction to the prophet's call and commission to perform his office; in the account of which may be observed the time when it was seen, Ezekiel 1:1 ; and the place both where the prophet was when he saw it, and the object or things that were beheld by him; and the original, form, and manner of the vision, Ezekiel 1:3 ; next follow the particulars of it; and first, four living creatures appear, described by their... read more

John Gill

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

Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year ,.... Either from the last jubilee, as R. Joseph Kimchi F18 Apud R. D. Kimchi in loc. , Jarchi, and Abendana; or from the time that the book of the law was found by Hilkiah the priest F19 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 26. ; so the Targum, which paraphrases the words thus, "and it was in the thirtieth year after Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law, in the house of the sanctuary, in the court under the porch, in the middle of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 1:2

In the fifth day of the month ,.... The month Tammuz, as before: (which was the fifth year of Jehoiachin's captivity ); the same with Jeconiah and Coniah, as he is sometimes called; he was taken by the king of Babylon, when he had reigned but three months, and his captivity held seven and thirty years, 2 Kings 24:8 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 1:3

The word of the Lord came expressly ,.... Or, "in being was" F4 היה היה "essendo fuit", Pagninus, Montanus. Heb.; "existendo exstitit", Polanus. ; which phrase denotes the reality, certainty, substantiality and evidence of the word of the Lord to him: unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi ; which Buzi, some say, was Jeremiah. Kimchi observes, that, in the Jerusalem Targum, the Prophet Ezekiel is called the son of Jeremiah the prophet: and Jeremiah was called Buzi because... read more

Group of Brands