Ezekiel 1


Ezekiel 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Ezekiel in the Tanakh or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains prophecies attributed to the prophet/priest Ezekiel, and is one of the Books of the Prophets. In the New [King James Version] of the Christian Bible, this chapter is sub-titled "Ezekiel’s Vision of God". In the New International Version of the Christian Bible, the chapter is sub-titled "Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision". In all versions of the text, the first verse refers to "visions".

Text

The original text of this chapter was written in the Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 28 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis, the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets, Aleppo Codex, and Codex Leningradensis. Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q74 with extant verses 10–13, 16–17, 19–24; and 11Q4 with extant verses 8–10.
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Marchalianus.

Superscription (1:1–3)

The first three verses form a superscription of the book, containing the identity of the prophet as well as the time and place that the prophecy was received and delivered. There are two distinct introductions: one in the first person and another in the third person.

Verse 1

The first verse of the book announces that the writer received 'visions of God' while he was among the exiles 'by the river Chebar' in 'the thirtieth year'. The Syriac text refers to "a vision".
Rashi, a medieval French rabbi, suggests that the thirty years are counted "from the beginning of the jubilee cycle", the last of which was started "at the beginning of the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign; that is, the year that Hilkiah found the scroll" recounted in 2 Kings 22. This view is based on Seder Olam, and also based on Ezekiel 40:1: "In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month," which the rabbis said denoted the jubilee year, and which the prophet uses for his reference of time counting. The date corresponds to July 24, 568 BCE, based on an analysis by German theologian Bernhard Lang.

Verse 2

  • "In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year": Rashi wrote that this phrase, this verse and the next are not Ezekiel's words but an added interruption. The date is calculated to the year 593-592 BCE, based on Lang's analysis, Jehoiachin's captivity having commenced with Nebuchadnezzar's deportation of the exiles after his successful siege of Jerusalem in 597 BCE.

Verse [|3]

  • "Came expressly" : literally "is being", formed by the same word "hayah" twice; the word hayah means to "be", "become", "came to pass", "exist."

The Vision of the Throne-Chariot (1:4-28)

Ezekiel's first vision comes when a stormy wind blew in from the north, bringing with it a shiny cloud that contains 'Yahweh's chariot borne by supernatural creatures'. These "four living creatures" are identified in Ezekiel 10:20 as cherubim.

Verse 5

Verse 10

With four faces in different directions simultaneously the creatures can move in any direction and also 'guard the blazing substance around which they stand'.

Verse 16

This description becomes the inspiration for the construction of the "Ezekiel Airship".
  • "Beryl" or "topaz": some kind of "precious, gold-colored stone".

Verse 19

This description becomes the inspiration for the construction of the "Ezekiel Airship".

Verse 26

  • "Sapphire" : "a kind of gem"; "lapis lazuli". records "a pavement of sapphire" under the feet of God.

Verse 27

Ezekiel saw a human form that shines as if with "fire".

Verse 28

The brightness surrounding the human form in Ezekiel's vision looks like a rainbow, and as soon as he sees it, Ezekiel falls prostrate, because he recognizes it as 'the appearance of the likeness of the glory' of Yahweh. The whole report of the vision uses 'the unmistakable symbols of Yahweh's presence for an Israelite reader'.

Jewish

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Christian

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Hebrew Bible">Biblical Hebrew">Hebrew Bible
Category:Cherubim