Ezekiel 1:26-28

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This is precious lapis lazuli, a deep blue stone with golden specks. The same stone appears in Revelation 21:19. The enthroned figure with the appearance of a man is the culmination of this vision. Fire like burning metal and rainbow-like brightness surrounded the One on the throne. Human likeness here may reflect the personal nature of God’s revelation of Himself. Further, it points forward to the plan of a more personal revelation of God coming as the Messiah. The glory indicates the wonder, majesty, and worthiness of the living God. Amid the wheels, the creatures, the colors, and the dazzling light was a figure who appeared like a man. Compare the vision of Daniel who saw One “like the Son of Man”. The prophet’s response was to fall down in worship and submission. All believers should recognize God’s great glory and fall down in humble submission before Him. NKJ Bible.

Ezekiel is careful to liken what he sees to something recognizable. The descriptive Hebrew word used here, sappir, indicates sapphire stone or lapis lazuli, a bright blue semiprecious stone that was highly prized in the ancient world. Compare the sapphire pavement under God’s feet in Exodus 24:10. Ezekiel acknowledges that he’s been describing a vision of Yahweh in His glory. He acts out of reverence and fear, a typical response in human encounters with the divine. Faithlife Bible.

Ezekiel 1:26-28

26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

Genesis 9:13 | I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

Ezekiel 3:23 | So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face.

Ezekiel 8:2 | Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire—from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber.

Ezekiel 8:4 | And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.

Revelation 4:3 | And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.