3 And it was according to the appearance H4758 of the vision H4758 which I saw, H7200 even according to the vision H4758 that I saw H7200 when I came H935 to destroy H7843 the city: H5892 and the visions H4759 were like the vision H4758 that I saw H7200 by the river H5104 Chebar; H3529 and I fell H5307 upon my face. H6440
The word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came expressly unto Ezekiel H3168 the priest, H3548 the son H1121 of Buzi, H941 in the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 by the river H5104 Chebar; H3529 and the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 was there upon him. And I looked, H7200 and, behold, a whirlwind H7307 H5591 came H935 out of the north, H6828 a great H1419 cloud, H6051 and a fire H784 infolding H3947 itself, and a brightness H5051 was about H5439 it, and out of the midst H8432 thereof as the colour H5869 of amber, H2830 out of the midst H8432 of the fire. H784 Also out of the midst H8432 thereof came the likeness H1823 of four H702 living creatures. H2416 And this was their appearance; H4758 they H2007 had the likeness H1823 of a man. H120 And every one H259 had four H702 faces, H6440 and every one H259 had four H702 wings. H3671 And their feet H7272 were straight H3477 feet; H7272 and the sole H3709 of their feet H7272 was like the sole H3709 of a calf's H5695 foot: H7272 and they sparkled H5340 like the colour H5869 of burnished H7044 brass. H5178 And they had the hands H3027 of a man H120 under their wings H3671 on their four H702 sides; H7253 and they four H702 had their faces H6440 and their wings. H3671 Their wings H3671 were joined H2266 one H802 to another; H269 they turned H5437 not when they went; H3212 they went H3212 every one H376 straight H5676 forward. H6440 As for the likeness H1823 of their faces, H6440 they four H702 had the face H6440 of a man, H120 and the face H6440 of a lion, H738 on the right side: H3225 and they four H702 had the face H6440 of an ox H7794 on the left side; H8040 they four H702 also had the face H6440 of an eagle. H5404 Thus were their faces: H6440 and their wings H3671 were stretched H6504 upward; H4605 two H8147 wings of every one H376 were joined H2266 one H376 to another, H376 and two H8147 covered H3680 their bodies. H1472 And they went H3212 every one H376 straight H5676 forward: H6440 whither the spirit H7307 was to go, H3212 they went; H3212 and they turned H5437 not when they went. H3212 As for the likeness H1823 of the living creatures, H2416 their appearance H4758 was like burning H1197 coals H1513 of fire, H784 and like the appearance H4758 of lamps: H3940 it went up and down H1980 among the living creatures; H2416 and the fire H784 was bright, H5051 and out of the fire H784 went forth H3318 lightning. H1300 And the living creatures H2416 ran H7519 and returned H7725 as the appearance H4758 of a flash of lightning. H965 Now as I beheld H7200 the living creatures, H2416 behold one H259 wheel H212 upon the earth H776 by H681 the living creatures, H2416 with his four H702 faces. H6440 The appearance H4758 of the wheels H212 and their work H4639 was like unto the colour H5869 of a beryl: H8658 and they four H702 had one H259 likeness: H1823 and their appearance H4758 and their work H4639 was as it were a wheel H212 in the middle H8432 of a wheel. H212 When they went, H3212 they went H3212 upon their four H702 sides: H7253 and they turned H5437 not when they went. H3212 As for their rings, H1354 they were so high H1363 that they were dreadful; H3374 and their rings H1354 were full H4392 of eyes H5869 round about H5439 them four. H702 And when the living creatures H2416 went, H3212 the wheels H212 went H3212 by them: H681 and when the living creatures H2416 were lifted up H5375 from the earth, H776 the wheels H212 were lifted up. H5375 Whithersoever the spirit H7307 was to go, H3212 they went, H3212 thither was their spirit H7307 to go; H3212 and the wheels H212 were lifted up H5375 over against H5980 them: for the spirit H7307 of the living creature H2416 was in the wheels. H212 When those went, H3212 these went; H3212 and when those stood, H5975 these stood; H5975 and when those were lifted up H5375 from the earth, H776 the wheels H212 were lifted up H5375 over against H5980 them: for the spirit H7307 of the living creature H2416 was in the wheels. H212 And the likeness H1823 of the firmament H7549 upon the heads H7218 of the living creature H2416 was as the colour H5869 of the terrible H3372 crystal, H7140 stretched forth H5186 over their heads H7218 above. H4605 And under the firmament H7549 were their wings H3671 straight, H3477 the one H802 toward the other: H269 every one H376 had two, H8147 which covered H3680 on this side, H2007 and every one H376 had two, H8147 which covered H3680 on that side, H2007 their bodies. H1472 And when they went, H3212 I heard H8085 the noise H6963 of their wings, H3671 like the noise H6963 of great H7227 waters, H4325 as the voice H6963 of the Almighty, H7706 the voice H6963 of speech, H1999 as the noise H6963 of an host: H4264 when they stood, H5975 they let down H7503 their wings. H3671 And there was a voice H6963 from the firmament H7549 that was over their heads, H7218 when they stood, H5975 and had let down H7503 their wings. H3671 And above H4605 the firmament H7549 that was over their heads H7218 was the likeness H1823 of a throne, H3678 as the appearance H4758 of a sapphire H5601 stone: H68 and upon the likeness H1823 of the throne H3678 was the likeness H1823 as the appearance H4758 of a man H120 above H4605 upon it. And I saw H7200 as the colour H5869 of amber, H2830 as the appearance H4758 of fire H784 round about H5439 within H1004 it, from the appearance H4758 of his loins H4975 even upward, H4605 and from the appearance H4758 of his loins H4975 even downward, H4295 I saw H7200 as it were the appearance H4758 of fire, H784 and it had brightness H5051 round about. H5439 As the appearance H4758 of the bow H7198 that is in the cloud H6051 in the day H3117 of rain, H1653 so was the appearance H4758 of the brightness H5051 round about. H5439 This was the appearance H4758 of the likeness H1823 of the glory H3519 of the LORD. H3068 And when I saw H7200 it, I fell H5307 upon my face, H6440 and I heard H8085 a voice H6963 of one that spake. H1696
Then I looked, H7200 and, behold, in the firmament H7549 that was above the head H7218 of the cherubims H3742 there appeared H7200 over them as it were a sapphire H5601 stone, H68 as the appearance H4758 of the likeness H1823 of a throne. H3678 And he spake H559 unto the man H376 clothed H3847 with linen, H906 and said, H559 Go in H935 between H996 the wheels, H1534 even under the cherub, H3742 and fill H4390 thine hand H2651 with coals H1513 of fire H784 from between H996 the cherubims, H3742 and scatter H2236 them over the city. H5892 And he went in H935 in my sight. H5869 Now the cherubims H3742 stood H5975 on the right side H3225 of the house, H1004 when the man H376 went in; H935 and the cloud H6051 filled H4390 the inner H6442 court. H2691 Then the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 went up H7311 from the cherub, H3742 and stood over the threshold H4670 of the house; H1004 and the house H1004 was filled H4390 with the cloud, H6051 and the court H2691 was full H4390 of the brightness H5051 of the LORD'S H3068 glory. H3519 And the sound H6963 of the cherubims' H3742 wings H3671 was heard H8085 even to the outer H2435 court, H2691 as the voice H6963 of the Almighty H7706 God H410 when he speaketh. H1696 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded H6680 the man H376 clothed H3847 with linen, H906 saying, H559 Take H3947 fire H784 from between the wheels, H1534 from between the cherubims; H3742 then he went in, H935 and stood H5975 beside H681 the wheels. H212 And one cherub H3742 stretched forth H7971 his hand H3027 from between the cherubims H3742 unto the fire H784 that was between the cherubims, H3742 and took H5375 thereof, and put H5414 it into the hands H2651 of him that was clothed H3847 with linen: H906 who took H3947 it, and went out. H3318 And there appeared H7200 in the cherubims H3742 the form H8403 of a man's H120 hand H3027 under their wings. H3671 And when I looked, H7200 behold the four H702 wheels H212 by H681 the cherubims, H3742 one H259 wheel H212 by H681 one H259 cherub, H3742 and another H259 wheel H212 by H681 another H259 cherub: H3742 and the appearance H4758 of the wheels H212 was as the colour H5869 of a beryl H8658 stone. H68 And as for their appearances, H4758 they four H702 had one H259 likeness, H1823 as if a wheel H212 had been in the midst H8432 of a wheel. H212 When they went, H3212 they went H3212 upon their four H702 sides; H7253 they turned H5437 not as they went, H3212 but to the place H4725 whither the head H7218 looked H6437 they followed H3212 H310 it; they turned H5437 not as they went. H3212 And their whole body, H1320 and their backs, H1354 and their hands, H3027 and their wings, H3671 and the wheels, H212 were full H4392 of eyes H5869 round about, H5439 even the wheels H212 that they four H702 had. As for the wheels, H212 it was cried H7121 unto them in my hearing, H241 O wheel. H1534 And every one H259 had four H702 faces: H6440 the first H259 face H6440 was the face H6440 of a cherub, H3742 and the second H8145 face H6440 was the face H6440 of a man, H120 and the third H7992 the face H6440 of a lion, H738 and the fourth H7243 the face H6440 of an eagle. H5404 And the cherubims H3742 were lifted up. H7426 This is the living creature H2416 that I saw H7200 by the river H5104 of Chebar. H3529 And when the cherubims H3742 went, H3212 the wheels H212 went H3212 by them: H681 and when the cherubims H3742 lifted up H5375 their wings H3671 to mount up H7311 from the earth, H776 the same wheels H212 also H1992 turned H5437 not from beside H681 them. When they stood, H5975 these stood; H5975 and when they were lifted up, H7311 these lifted up H7426 themselves also: for the spirit H7307 of the living creature H2416 was in them. Then the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 departed H3318 from off the threshold H4670 of the house, H1004 and stood H5975 over the cherubims. H3742 And the cherubims H3742 lifted up H5375 their wings, H3671 and mounted up H7426 from the earth H776 in my sight: H5869 when they went out, H3318 the wheels H212 also were beside H5980 them, and every one stood H5975 at the door H6607 of the east H6931 gate H8179 of the LORD'S H3068 house; H1004 and the glory H3519 of the God H430 of Israel H3478 was over them above. H4605 This is the living creature H2416 that I saw H7200 under the God H430 of Israel H3478 by the river H5104 of Chebar; H3529 and I knew H3045 that they were the cherubims. H3742 Every one H259 had four H702 faces H6440 apiece, H259 and every one H259 four H702 wings; H3671 and the likeness H1823 of the hands H3027 of a man H120 was under their wings. H3671 And the likeness H1823 of their faces H6440 was the same H1992 faces H6440 which I saw H7200 by the river H5104 of Chebar, H3529 their appearances H4758 and themselves: they went H3212 every one H376 straight H5676 forward. H6440
Then did the cherubims H3742 lift up H5375 their wings, H3671 and the wheels H212 beside H5980 them; and the glory H3519 of the God H430 of Israel H3478 was over them above. H4605 And the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 went up H5927 from the midst H8432 of the city, H5892 and stood H5975 upon the mountain H2022 which is on the east side H6924 of the city. H5892
And G2532 I will give G1325 power unto my G3450 two G1417 witnesses, G3144 and G2532 they shall prophesy G4395 a thousand G5507 two hundred G1250 and threescore G1835 days, G2250 clothed in G4016 sackcloth. G4526 These G3778 are G1526 the two G1417 olive G1636 trees, and G2532 the two G1417 candlesticks G3087 standing G2476 before G1799 the God G2316 of the earth. G1093 And G2532 if any man G1536 G846 will G2309 hurt G91 them, G846 fire G4442 proceedeth G1607 out of G1537 their G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 devoureth G2719 their G846 enemies: G2190 and G2532 if any man G1536 will G2309 hurt G91 them, G846 he must G1163 in this manner G3779 be killed. G615 These G3778 have G2192 power G1849 to shut G2808 heaven, G3772 that G3363 it rain G1026 G5205 not G3363 in G1722 the days G2250 of their G846 prophecy: G4394 and G2532 have G2192 power G1849 over G1909 waters G5204 to turn G4762 them G846 to G1519 blood, G129 and G2532 to smite G3960 the earth G1093 with all G3956 plagues, G4127 as often G3740 as G1437 they will. G2309
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 43
Commentary on Ezekiel 43 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 43
Eze 43:1-27. Jehovah's Return to the Temple.
Everything was now ready for His reception. As the Shekinah glory was the peculiar distinction of the old temple, so it was to be in the new in a degree as much more transcendent as the proportions of the new exceeded those of the old. The fact that the Shekinah glory was not in the second temple proves that it cannot be that temple which is meant in the prophecy.
2. the way of the east—the way whereby the glory had departed (Eze 11:22, 23), and rested on Mount Olivet (compare Zec 14:4).
his voice … like … many waters—So English Version rightly, as in Eze 1:24, "voice of the Almighty"; Re 1:15; 14:2, prove this. Not as Fairbairn translates, "its noise."
earth his glory—(Re 18:1).
3. when I came to destroy the city—that is, to pronounce God's word for its destruction. So completely did the prophets identify themselves with Him in whose name they spake.
6. the man—who had been measuring the buildings (Eze 40:3).
7. the place—that is, "behold the place of My throne"—the place on which your thoughts have so much dwelt (Isa 2:1-3; Jer 3:17; Zec 14:16-20; Mal 3:1). God from the first claimed to be their King politically as well as religiously: and He had resisted their wish to have a human king, as implying a rejection of Him as the proper Head of the state. Even when He yielded to their wish, it was with a protest against their king ruling except as His vicegerent. When Messiah shall reign at Jerusalem, He shall then first realize the original idea of the theocracy, with its at once divine and human king reigning in righteousness over a people all righteous (Eze 43:12; Isa 52:1; 54:13; 60:21).
9. carcasses of their kings—It is supposed that some of their idolatrous kings were buried within the bounds of Solomon's temple [Henderson]. Rather, "the carcasses of their idols," here called "kings," as having had lordship over them in past times (Isa 26:13); but henceforth Jehovah, alone their rightful lord, shall be their king, and the idols that had been their "king" would appear but as "carcasses." Hence these defunct kings are associated with the "high places" in Eze 43:7 [Fairbairn]. Le 26:30 and Jer 16:18, confirm this. Manasseh had built altars in the courts of the temple to the host of heaven (2Ki 21:5; 23:6).
I will dwell in the midst … for ever—(Re 21:3).
10. show the house … that they may be ashamed of their iniquities—When the spirituality of the Christian scheme is shown to men by the Holy Ghost, it makes them "ashamed of their iniquities."
12. whole … most holy—This superlative, which had been used exclusively of the holy of holies (Ex 26:34), was now to characterize the entire building. This all-pervading sanctity was to be "the law of the (whole) house," as distinguished from the Levitical law, which confined the peculiar sanctity to a single apartment of it.
13-27. As to the altar of burnt offering, which was the appointed means of access to God.
15. altar—Hebrew, Harel, that is, "mount of God"; denoting the high security to be imparted by it to the restored Israel. It was a high place, but a high place of God, not of idols.
from the altar—literally, "the lion of God," Ariel (in Isa 29:1, "Ariel" is applied to Jerusalem). Menochius supposes that on it four animals were carved; the lion perhaps was the uppermost, whence the horns were made to issue. Gesenius regards the two words as expressing the "hearth" or fireplace of the altar.
16. square in the four squares—square on the four sides of its squares [Fairbairn].
17. settle—ledge [Fairbairn].
stairs—rather, "the ascent," as "steps" up to God's altar were forbidden in Ex 20:26.
18-27. The sacrifices here are not mere commemorative, but propitiatory ones. The expressions, "blood" (Eze 43:18), and "for a sin offering" (Eze 43:19, 21, 22), prove this. In the literal sense they can only apply to the second temple. Under the Christian dispensation they would directly oppose the doctrine taught in Heb 10:1-18, namely, that Christ has by one offering for ever atoned for sin. However, it is possible that they might exist with a retrospective reference to Christ's sufferings, as the Levitical sacrifices had a prospective reference to them; not propitiatory in themselves, but memorials to keep up the remembrance of His propitiatory sufferings, which form the foundation of His kingdom, lest they should be lost sight of in the glory of that kingdom [De Burgh]. The particularity of the directions make it unlikely that they are to be understood in a merely vague spiritual sense.
20. cleanse—literally, "make expiation for."
21. burn it … without the sanctuary—(Heb 13:11).
26. Seven days—referring to the original directions of Moses for seven days' purification services of the altar (Ex 29:37).
consecrate themselves—literally, "fill their hands," namely, with offerings; referring to the mode of consecrating a priest (Ex 29:24, 35).
27. I will accept you—(Eze 20:40, 41; Ro 12:1; 1Pe 2:5).