Ezekiel-Chapter-1
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(SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job,
the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth,
Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of
Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been
corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD
TO THE WORD which I command
you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT,
that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy
4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Ezekiel Chapter 1 serves as the inaugural
vision of the prophet Ezekiel while he was in Babylonian exile. Known as the Vision
of the Chariot, this passage describes a magnificent and overwhelming
revelation of the Divine presence. It establishes Ezekiel’s authority as a
prophet and emphasizes that the presence of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) is not confined to the
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Below is Ezekiel Chapter 1:1-28: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
First are the verses, and below each one there is a good Explanation:
Verse 1: “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
Explanation: The prophet
identifies his specific location in exile. The opening of the heavens signifies
a direct, authentic communication from the Divine to a person situated in a
foreign land.
Verse 2: In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
Explanation: This chronological
marker anchors the vision in history, specifically five years after the first
wave of elite Judeans was deported to
Verse 3: the word of יְהוָה - the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of יְהוָה - the LORD was there upon him.
Explanation: Ezekiel’s priestly lineage is noted, and the “hand of יְהוָה - the LORD” indicates a powerful, physical sense of prophetic appointment and Divine pressure to speak.
Verse 4: And I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with a fire flashing up, so that a brightness was round about it; and out of the midst thereof as the colour of electrum, out of the midst of the fire.
Explanation: The vision begins with elements of nature, ‘wind’, ‘cloud’, and ‘fire’, shielding the intense brilliance of the Divine presence, described as the glowing colour of electrum.
Verse 5: And out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Explanation: These “living creatures” are the primary subjects of the vision. Despite their complexity, their general upright posture is described as human-like.
Verse 6: And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings.
Explanation: Each creature is multi-dimensional, representing a totality of perspective and the ability to move without turning.
Verse 7: And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
Explanation: The description of their feet suggests stability and a polished, heavenly radiance.
Verse 8: And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and as for the faces and the wings of them four,
Explanation: Human hands signify the capacity for action and agency, even while under the cover of their celestial wings.
Verse 9: their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
Explanation: The joining of the wings represents perfect unity. Their movement is direct and purposeful, never needing to veer or adjust.
Verse 10: As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle.
Explanation: The faces represent the highest forms of creation: man (intelligence), lion (wild majesty), ox (domestic strength), and eagle (swiftness/soaring).
Verse 11: Thus were their faces; and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
Explanation: The arrangement of the wings shows both their connection to one another and their humility in covering themselves before the Divine.
Verse 12: And they went every one straight forward; whither the spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went.
Explanation: The creatures are entirely submissive to the “spirit”, moving in total alignment with the Divine will.
Verse 13: As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like coals of fire, burning like the appearance of torches; it flashed up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
Explanation: The creatures glow with an internal energy, appearing as moving fire and lightning, illustrating the intense power of the vision.
Verse 14: And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
Explanation: Their movement is instantaneous and constant, moving between the heavenly and earthly realms at incredible speed.
Verse 15: Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces thereof.
Explanation: Ezekiel now notices wheels (Ofannim) on the ground, corresponding to each creature, bridging the gap between the firmament and the earth.
Verse 16: The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl; and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.
Explanation: The wheels are identical and complex, described as a “wheel within a wheel”, suggesting a mechanism that can move in any direction simultaneously.
Verse 17: When they went, they went toward their four sides; they turned not when they went.
Explanation: Like the creatures, the wheels move with total efficiency and directness.
Verse 18: As for their rings, they were high and they were dreadful; and they four had their rings full of eyes round about.
Explanation: The “eyes” on the rims of the wheels symbolize the all-seeing nature of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s providence and His awareness of all things on earth.
Verse 19: And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
Explanation: There is a perfect synchronization between the celestial creatures and the wheels, showing that the physical world moves in harmony with the spiritual.
Verse 20: Whithersoever the spirit was to go, as the spirit was to go thither, so they went; and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Explanation: The “spirit” is the driving force for both, emphasizing that one singular Divine purpose animates all parts of the vision.
Verse 21: When those went, these went, and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Explanation: This reiterates the absolute unity of the Chariot’s movement; nothing moves independently of the Divine spirit.
Verse 22: And over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, like the colour of the terrible ice, stretched forth over their heads above.
Explanation: Above the creatures is a crystalline expanse or “firmament”, acting as a boundary between the created beings and the throne of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
Verse 23: And under the firmament were their wings conformable the one to the other; every one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.
Explanation: The creatures maintain their posture of reverence beneath the firmament, using their wings to shield their bodies
Verse 25: And there was a voice above the firmament that was over their heads; when they stood, they let down their wings.
Explanation: This verse indicates that the movements and sounds of the living creatures are governed by a higher authority. The voice comes from above the expanse, and in a gesture of reverence and readiness to listen, the creatures cease their motion and lower their wings.
Verse 26: And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above.
Explanation: Ezekiel’s vision ascends to the highest level, describing a celestial throne. The use of the word “likeness” emphasizes that these are prophetic representations of the Divine Glory rather than physical descriptions. The sapphire color suggests a deep, heavenly purity.
Verse 27: And I saw as the colour of electrum, as the appearance of fire round about enclosing it, from the appearance of his loins and upward; and from the appearance of his loins and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him.
Explanation: The figure on the throne is described as being composed of brilliant, fiery light and electrum (a glowing metal). This radiance signifies the overwhelming power and holiness of the Divine presence, which is too intense for direct human perception.
Verse 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 יְהוָה - the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
Explanation: The vision concludes with the image of a rainbow, symbolizing a bridge between the heavenly and the earthly. Ezekiel identifies this entire spectacle as the “glory of יְהוָה - the LORD”. Overcome by the weight of this revelation, he performs an act of total submission by falling on his face, ready to receive his prophetic mission.
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My Closing Comment:
This chapter establishes that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence
is mobile and global, present even in exile. The complex imagery of the ‘Chayot’ and ‘Ofannim’ highlights
the absolute sovereignty of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, whose glory is not restricted to the
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