Ezekiel’s Vision by the River Kebar (Psalm 137:1–9)
1 Brenton Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, that I was in the midst of the captivity by the river of Chobar; and the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. BSB BSB: In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.
2 Brenton On the fifth day of the month; this was the fifth year of the captivity of king Joakim. BSB BSB: On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—
3 Brenton And the word of the Lord came to Jezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river of Chobar; and the hand of the Lord was upon me. BSB BSB: the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.
The Four Living Creatures 4 Brenton And I looked, and, behold, a sweeping wind came from the north, and a great cloud on it, and there was brightness round about it, and gleaming fire, and in the midst of it as it were the appearance of amber in the midst of the fire, and brightness in it. BSB BSB: I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,
5 Brenton And in the midst as it were the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; the likeness of a man was upon them. BSB BSB: and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form,
6 Brenton And each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. BSB BSB: but each had four faces and four wings.
7 Brenton And their legs were straight; and their feet were winged, and there were sparks, like gleaming brass, and their wings were light. BSB BSB: Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze.
8 Brenton And the hand of a man was under their wings on their four sides. BSB BSB: Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,
9 Brenton And the faces of them four turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. BSB BSB: and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.
10 Brenton And the likeness of their faces was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right to the four; and the face of a calf on the left to the four; and the face of an eagle to the four. BSB BSB: The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle.
11 Brenton And the four had their wings spread out above; each one had two joined to one another, and two covered their bodies. BSB BSB: Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.
12 Brenton And each one went straight forward: wherever the spirit was going they went, and turned not back. BSB BSB: Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they moved.
13 Brenton And in the midst of the living creatures there was an appearance as of burning coals of fire, as an appearance of lamps turning among the living creatures; and the brightness of fire, and out of the fire came forth lightning. BSB BSB: In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
The Four Wheels 15 Brenton And I looked, and, behold, the four had each one wheel on the ground near the living creatures. BSB BSB: When I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
16 Brenton And the appearance of the wheels was as the appearance of beryl: and the four had one likeness: and their work was as it were a wheel in a wheel. BSB BSB: The workmanship of the wheels looked like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their workmanship looked like a wheel within a wheel.
17 Brenton They went on their four sides: they turned not as they went; BSB BSB: As they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved.
18 Brenton neither did their backs turn : and they were high: and I beheld them, and the backs of them four were full of eyes round about. BSB BSB: Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
19 Brenton And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures lifted themselves off the earth, the wheels were lifted off. BSB BSB: So as the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
20 Brenton Wherever the cloud happened to be, there was the spirit ready to go: the wheels went and were lifted up with them; because the spirit of life was in the wheels. BSB BSB: Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
21 Brenton When those went, the wheels went; and when those stood, the wheels stood; and when those lifted themselves off the earth, they were lifted off with them: for the spirit of life was in the wheels. BSB BSB: When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
The Divine Glory 22 Brenton And the likeness over the heads of the living creatures was as a firmament, as the appearance of crystal, spread out over their wings above. BSB BSB: Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.
23 Brenton And their wings were spread out under the firmament, reaching one to the other; two wings to each, covering their bodies. BSB BSB: And under the expanse, their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two wings covering its body.
24 Brenton And I heard the sound of their wings when they went, as the sound of much water: and when they stood, their wings were let down. BSB BSB: When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25 Brenton And lo! a voice from above the firmament BSB BSB: And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.
26 Brenton that was over their head, there was as the appearance of a sapphire stone, and the likeness of a throne upon it: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as an appearance of a man above. BSB BSB: Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
27 Brenton And I saw as it were the resemblance of amber from the appearance of the loins and upwards, and from the appearance of the loins and under I saw an appearance of fire, and the brightness thereof round about. BSB BSB: From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire within it all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down, I saw what looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded Him.
28 Brenton As the appearance of the bow when it is in the cloud in days of rain, so was the form of the brightness round about. BSB BSB: The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.