Ezekiel 1:27

Authorized King James Version

And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
רָאִ֙יתִי֙
And I saw
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
#2
כְּעֵ֣ין
as the colour
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
#3
חַשְׁמַ֗ל
of amber
probably bronze or polished spectrum metal
#4
כְּמַרְאֵה
and from the appearance
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
#5
אֵ֔שׁ
of fire
fire (literally or figuratively)
#6
בֵּֽית
within
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#7
לָהּ֙
H0
#8
סָבִֽיב׃
round about
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
#9
כְּמַרְאֵה
and from the appearance
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
#10
מָתְנָיו֙
of his loins
properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins
#11
וּלְמָ֑עְלָה
even upward
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
#12
כְּמַרְאֵה
and from the appearance
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
#13
מָתְנָיו֙
of his loins
properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins
#14
וּלְמַ֔טָּה
even downward
downward, below or beneath; often adverbially with or without prefixes
#15
רָאִ֙יתִי֙
And I saw
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
#16
כְּמַרְאֵה
and from the appearance
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
#17
אֵ֔שׁ
of fire
fire (literally or figuratively)
#18
וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ
and it had brightness
brilliancy (literally or figuratively)
#19
ל֖וֹ
H0
#20
סָבִֽיב׃
round about
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ezekiel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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