Ezekiel 1:28

28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Ezekiel 1:28 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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.
New Living Translation (NLT)
28 All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the LORD looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.
The Message Bible (MSG)
28 The way a rainbow springs out of the sky on a rainy day - that's what it was like. It turned out to be the Glory of God! When I saw all this, I fell to my knees, my face to the ground. Then I heard a voice.
American Standard Version (ASV)
28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
28 The brightness all around him looked like a rainbow in the clouds. It was like the LORD's glory. When I saw it, I immediately bowed down, and I heard someone speaking.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the form of the Lord's glory. When I saw [it], I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
28 The glow around him looked like a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day. That's what the glory of the LORD looked like. When I saw it, I fell with my face toward the ground. Then I heard the voice of someone 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 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.
27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.
28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Cross References 4

  • 1. S Genesis 9:13; Revelation 10:1
  • 2. S Revelation 4:2
  • 3. S Exodus 16:7; S Exodus 24:16; Luke 2:9; Ezekiel 8:4
  • 4. S Genesis 17:3; S Numbers 14:5; Ezekiel 3:23; Daniel 8:17; Revelation 1:17
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