Ezekiel 1:28
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 the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
Original Language Analysis
מַרְאֵ֖ה
As the appearance
H4758
מַרְאֵ֖ה
As the appearance
Strong's:
H4758
Word #:
1 of 23
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
הַקֶּ֡שֶׁת
of the bow
H7198
הַקֶּ֡שֶׁת
of the bow
Strong's:
H7198
Word #:
2 of 23
a bow, for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
3 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִֽהְיֶ֨ה
H1961
יִֽהְיֶ֨ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
4 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בֶעָנָ֜ן
that is in the cloud
H6051
בֶעָנָ֜ן
that is in the cloud
Strong's:
H6051
Word #:
5 of 23
a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud
בְּי֣וֹם
in the day
H3117
בְּי֣וֹם
in the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 23
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
כֵּ֣ן
H3651
כֵּ֣ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
8 of 23
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
מַרְאֵ֖ה
As the appearance
H4758
מַרְאֵ֖ה
As the appearance
Strong's:
H4758
Word #:
9 of 23
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
הַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙
of the brightness
H5051
הַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙
of the brightness
Strong's:
H5051
Word #:
10 of 23
brilliancy (literally or figuratively)
סָבִ֔יב
round about
H5439
סָבִ֔יב
round about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
11 of 23
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
ה֕וּא
H1931
ה֕וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
12 of 23
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
מַרְאֵ֖ה
As the appearance
H4758
מַרְאֵ֖ה
As the appearance
Strong's:
H4758
Word #:
13 of 23
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
דְּמ֣וּת
of the likeness
H1823
דְּמ֣וּת
of the likeness
Strong's:
H1823
Word #:
14 of 23
resemblance; concretely, model, shape; adverbially, like
כְּבוֹד
of the glory
H3519
כְּבוֹד
of the glory
Strong's:
H3519
Word #:
15 of 23
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
16 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וָֽאֶרְאֶה֙
And when I saw
H7200
וָֽאֶרְאֶה֙
And when I saw
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
17 of 23
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
וָאֶפֹּ֣ל
it I fell
H5307
וָאֶפֹּ֣ל
it I fell
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
18 of 23
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
19 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פָּנַ֔י
upon my face
H6440
פָּנַ֔י
upon my face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
20 of 23
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
Revelation 10:1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:Revelation 4:3And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.Genesis 17:3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,Ezekiel 3:23Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.Acts 9:4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?Exodus 24:16And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.Ezekiel 8:4And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.Daniel 8:17So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Historical Context
Ezekiel's vision occurred in a context where Israel had largely abandoned faithful worship. The rainbow's appearance reminded the exiles of God's covenant promises extending back to Noah and forward through Abraham, Moses, and David. Despite the catastrophe of exile, God's commitment to His people remained intact. The glory Ezekiel saw was the same kavod Yahweh (glory of the LORD) that filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35) and Solomon's temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). Ezekiel would later witness this glory departing the temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19; 11:22-23), explaining theologically why Jerusalem fell—God's presence had withdrawn due to persistent abominations. Yet here in exile, the glory appeared to Ezekiel, demonstrating God's faithfulness beyond the temple's destruction.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the rainbow imagery assure us that God's judgment operates within the framework of His covenant faithfulness?
- What does Ezekiel's prostrate response teach us about the proper human posture before God's revealed glory?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The vision concludes with overwhelming glory that prostrates the prophet. The rainbow (qeshet) surrounding the throne evokes God's covenant faithfulness, recalling Noah's rainbow (Genesis 9:13-16) as a sign that God remembers His promises even in judgment. The 'brightness round about' (nogah saviv) depicts radiant glory emanating from God's presence, creating an atmosphere of unapproachable holiness. The phrase 'the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD' employs three distancing terms (appearance/likeness/glory) to indicate that this is visible manifestation, not God's essential being which no one can see and live (Exodus 33:20). Ezekiel's response—falling on his face—demonstrates proper human response to divine holiness: reverent fear, humility, and worship. This posture anticipates worship in God's presence (Revelation 4:10). Hearing 'a voice of one that spake' transitions from vision to auditory revelation, preparing for the prophet's commission in chapter 2.