Ezekiel
The character of Ezekiel, as a Writer and Poet, is thus admirably drawn by the masterly hand of Bishop Lowth: "Ezekiel is much inferior to Jeremiah in elegance; in sublimity he is not even excelled by Isaiah; but his sublimity is of a totally different kind. He is deep, vehement, tragical; his sentiments are elevated, animated, full of fire and indignation; his imagery is crowded, magnificent, terrific; his language is grand, solemn, austere, rough, and at times unpolished; he abounds in repetitions, not for the sake of grace or elegance, but from vehemence and indignation. Whatever subject he treats of, that he sedulously puruses; from that he rarely departs, but cleaves, as it were, to it; whence the connexion is in general evident and well preserved. In other respects he may perhaps be exceeded by the other prophets; but, for that species of composition to which he seems adapted by natural gifts, the forcible, impetuous, grave, and grand, not one of the sacred writers is superior to him. His diction is sufficiently perspicuous; all his obscurity arises from the nature of his subjects. Visions (as for instance, among others, those of Hosea, Amos, and Zechariah), are necessarily dark and confused. The greater part of Ezekiel, particularly towards the middle of the book, is poetical, whether we regard the matter of the language." Abp. Newcombe judiciously observes, The Prophet is not to be considered merely as a poet, or as a framer of those august and astonishing visions, and of those admirable poetical representations, which he committed to writing; but as an instrument in the hands of God, who vouchsafed to reveal himself, through a long succession of ages, not only in divers parts constituting a magnificant and uniform whole, but also in different manners, as by voice, by dreams, by inspiration, and by plain or enigmatical vision. "Ezekiel is a great poet, full of originality; and, in my opinion, whoever censures him as if he were only an imitator of the old prophets, can never have felt his power. He must not, in general, be compared with Isaiah, and the rest of the old prophets. Those are great, Ezekiel is also great; those in their manner of poetry, Ezekiel in his." To justify this character the learned prelate descends to particulars, and gives apposite examples, not only of the clear, flowing, and nervous, but also of the sublime; and concludes his observations on his style, by stating it to be his deliberate opinion, that if his "style is the old age of Hebrew language and composition (as has been alleged), it is a firm and vigorous one, and should induce us to trace its youth and manhood with the most assiduous attention." As a Prophet, Ezekiel must ever be allowed to occupy a very high rank; and few of the prophets have left a more valuable treasure to the church of God than he has. It is true, he is in several places obscure; but this resulted either from the nature of his subjects, or the events predicted being still unfulfilled; and, when time has rolled away the mist of futurity, successive generations will then perceive with what heavenly wisdom this much neglected prophet has spoken. There is, however, a great proportion of his work which is free from every obscurity, and highly edifying. He has so accurately and minutely foretold the fate and condition of various nations and cities, that nothing can be more interesting than to trace the exact accomplishment of these prophecies in the accounts furnished by historians and travellers; while, under the elegant type of a new temple to be erected, a new worship to be introduced, and a new Jerusalem to be built, with new land to be allotted to the twelve tribes, may be discovered the vast extent and glory of the New Testament Church.
Ezekiel 1
Overview
1:1 The time of Ezekiel's prophecy at Chebar;
1:4 His vision of four cherubims;
1:15 of the four wheels;
1:26 and of the glory of God. Verse 1 in the thirtieth Numbers 4:3; Luke 3:23 as I Ecclesiastes 9:1, 9:2; Jeremiah 24:5-7 captivesHeb. captivityby the river Ezekiel 1:3, 3:15, 3:23, 10:15, 10:20, 10:22, 43:3 ChebarChebar, called now Khabour, is a river of Mesopotamia, which taking its rise in the Mysian mountains, falls into the Euphrates near Carchemish, or Circesioum, now Karkisia, about 35 degrees 20 minutes n lat. and 40 degrees 25 minutes e long.the heavens Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:21; John 1:51; Acts 7:56, 10:11; Revelation 4:1, 19:11 I saw Ezekiel 8:3, 11:24; Genesis 15:1, 46:2; Numbers 12:6; Isaiah 1:1; Daniel 8:1, 8:2; Hosea 12:10; Joel 2:28; Matthew 17:9; Acts 9:10-12, 10:3; 2 Corinthians 12:1 Reciprocal 2 Kings 24:14 - Jerusalem; Ezra 8:15 - the river that runneth; Psalm 137:1 - the rivers; Isaiah 6:1 - I saw also; Jeremiah 29:15 - General; Ezekiel 40:2 - the visions; Daniel 7:1 - visions Verse 2 Ezekiel 8:1, 20:1, 29:1, 29:17, 31:1, 40:1; 2 Kings 24:12-15 Reciprocal 24:14 - Jerusalem; 2 Chronicles 36:10 - when the year was expired; Isaiah 48:15 - General; Ezekiel 17:12 - Behold; 24:1 - the ninth year; 26:1 - General; 30:20 - General; 32:1 - in the twelfth; 32:17 - in the twelfth; 33:21 - in the twelfth Verse 3 word Jeremiah 1:2, 1:4; Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1; 1 Timothy 4:1 EzekielHeb. Jehezkeland the Ezekiel 3:14, 3:22, 8:1, 33:22, 37:1, 40:1; 1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 3:15 Reciprocal 1 Chronicles 28:19 - by his hand upon me; Jeremiah 1:1 - of the priests; 29:15 - General; Ezekiel 1:1 - by the river; 11:24 - into; 43:3 - the river; Daniel 10:4 - as; Zephaniah 1:1 - word; Luke 3:2 - the word Verse 4 a whirlwind Isaiah 21:1; Jeremiah 1:13, 1:14, 4:6, 6:1, 23:19, 25:9, 25:32; Habakkuk 1:8, 1:9 a great Ezekiel 10:2-4; Exodus 19:16-18, 24:16, 24:17; Deuteronomy 4:11, 4:12; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 5:14, 6:1, 7:1-3; Psalm 18:11-13, 50:3, 97:2, 97:3, 104:3, 104:4; Isaiah 19:1; Nahum 1:3-6; Habakkuk 3:3-5; 3:1 infolding itselfHeb. catching itselfcolour Ezekiel 1:27, 8:2, 10:8, 10:9; Revelation 1:15 Reciprocal 1 Kings 19:11 - and a great; 22:17 - I saw; 2 Kings 2:11 - General; Job 38:1 - General; Isaiah 6:2 - seraphims; Ezekiel 3:23 - the glory; 43:3 - according to the appearance; Zechariah 6:6 - the north; Matthew 28:3 - countenance; Revelation 4:6 - the midst; 14:1 - I looked Verse 5 the likeness Revelation 4:6, 6:6 *Gr.Reciprocal Exodus 36:8 - cherubims; Psalm 18:10 - rode; Ezekiel 10:15 - This; Zechariah 1:10 - These; 6:5 - These Verse 6 And every one had four facesThese living creatures were probably hieroglyphical representations of the holy angels, the attendants on "the King of Glory," and the ministers of his providence. They were four, apparently to denote that they were employed in the four corners of the world; and they had the likeness of a man, to signify that they were intelligent and rational creatures. Ezekiel 1:10, 1:15, 10:10, 10:14, 10:21, 10:22; Revelation 4:7, 4:8 every one had four wings Ezekiel 1:8-11; Exodus 25:20; 1 Kings 6:24-27; Isaiah 6:2
Verse 7 straight feetHeb. a straight footlike the sole Leviticus 11:3, 11:47 the colour Ezekiel 1:13; Psalm 104:4; Daniel 10:6; Revelation 1:15 Reciprocal Ezekiel 40:3 - whose Verse 8 Ezekiel 8:3, 10:2, 10:7, 10:8, 10:18, 10:21; Isaiah 6:6 Reciprocal Ezekiel 1:6 - every one had four wings; Revelation 4:7 - a flying Verse 9 joined Ezekiel 1:11; 2 Chronicles 3:11, 3:12; 1 Corinthians 1:10 they turned Ezekiel 1:12, 10:11, 10:22; Proverbs 4:25-27; Luke 9:51, 9:62 Reciprocal Isaiah 6:2 - wings; Ezekiel 1:17 - and Verse 10 for the Ezekiel 10:14; Revelation 4:7 the face of a man Numbers 2:10; Isaiah 46:8; Luke 15:10; 1 Corinthians 14:20 the face of a lion Numbers 2:3; Judges 14:18; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Revelation 5:5 the face of an ox Ezekiel 10:14, Cherub, Numbers 2:18; Proverbs 14:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9, 9:10 the face of an eagle Numbers 2:25; Deuteronomy 28:49; Job 39:27; Isaiah 40:31; Daniel 7:4 Reciprocal Exodus 36:8 - cherubims; 1 Kings 7:25 - General; 7:29 - lions; 2 Chronicles 4:3 - And under; Ezekiel 1:6 - And every one had four faces; 10:22 - the likeness; 41:18 - and every Verse 11 and their Ezekiel 10:16, 10:19 stretched upwardor, divided aboveand two 1:23; Isaiah 6:2 Reciprocal Nehemiah 7:7 - Zerubbabel; Ezekiel 1:9 - joined; Daniel 9:21 - to fly Verse 12 they went every Ezekiel 1:9, 1:17, 10:22 whither 1:20, 1:21; Habakkuk 1:14 Reciprocal Ezekiel 1:23 - their wings; 10:17 - for; 46:9 - he that entereth in Verse 13 Ezekiel 1:7; Genesis 15:17; Psalm 104:4; Daniel 10:5, 10:6; Matthew 28:3; Revelation 4:5, 10:1, 18:1 Reciprocal 2 Kings 6:17 - full of horses; Psalm 80:1 - dwellest; Ezekiel 10:2 - coals; 10:7 - unto the; 10:15 - This; Daniel 7:9 - and his wheels; Habakkuk 1:7 - Who Verse 14 Psalm 147:15; Daniel 9:21; Zechariah 2:3, 2:4, 4:10; Matthew 24:27, 24:31; Mark 13:27 Reciprocal Ezekiel 10:15 - This; Daniel 10:6 - his face; Habakkuk 1:7 - Who; Revelation 14:6 - another Verse 15 one Ezekiel 1:19-21, 10:9, 10:13-17; Daniel 7:9 with Ezekiel 1:6; Revelation 4:7 Reciprocal 1 Kings 7:30 - wheels; 1 Chronicles 28:18 - the chariot; Psalm 68:17 - chariots; Ezekiel 10:2 - Go Verse 16 the colour Ezekiel 10:9; Exodus 39:13; Daniel 10:6 a wheel Ezekiel 10:10; Job 9:10; Psalm 36:6, 40:5; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:10 Reciprocal Exodus 28:20 - a beryl; 1 Kings 7:33 - General Verse 17 and Ezekiel 1:9, 1:12, 10:1-11:25; Isaiah 55:11 Reciprocal Ezekiel 10:11 - they went upon; 10:19 - the cherubims; 46:9 - he that entereth in Verse 18 they were so Job 37:22-24; Psalm 77:16-19, 97:2-5; Isaiah 55:9 ringsor, stakesfull Ezekiel 10:12; Proverbs 15:3; Zechariah 4:10; Revelation 4:6, 4:8 Reciprocal 1 Kings 7:33 - General; Psalm 66:5 - terrible Verse 19 Ezekiel 10:16; Psalm 103:20 Reciprocal Ezekiel 1:15 - one; 1:21 - When those went; 11:22 - General Verse 20 the spirit Ezekiel 1:12; 1 Corinthians 14:32 for the Ezekiel 10:17; Zechariah 6:1-8 of the living creatureor, of lifeReciprocal Exodus 25:20 - toward; Ezekiel 1:21 - When those went; 10:11 - whither; 11:22 - General Verse 21 When those went Ezekiel 1:19, 1:20, 10:17 of the living creatureor, of life, Romans 8:2 Reciprocal Ezekiel 1:12 - whither Verse 22 the likeness Ezekiel 1:26, 10:1; Exodus 24:10; Job 37:22; Revelation 4:3, 4:6, 21:11 crystalThe Hebrew kerach which generally denotes ice, doubtless here signifies crystal κρυσταλλος, from κρυος, cold, ice, and στελλομαι,, to concrete
as it is rendered by the LXX and Vulgate. It is a very large class of silicious minerals, hard, pellucid, naturally colourless, of regularly angular figures, and of simple plates; not flexible, nor elastic, but giving fire with steel; not fermenting by acid menstrua, but calcinable in a strong fire. There are three orders of pure crystal. The first is perfect columnar crystals, with double pyramids, of eighteen planes, in an hexangular pyramid at each end; the second is that of perfect crystals, without a column, of twelve or sixteen planes, in two hexangular pyramids; and the third is that of imperfect crystals, with single pyramids, of ten or twelve planes, in an hexangular or pentangular column. Terrible crystal seems to denote that which was well cut and polished, vividly refracting the rays of light.Reciprocal Job 28:17 - crystal; Psalm 150:1 - in the firmament; Ezekiel 10:20 - the living Verse 23 their wings Ezekiel 1:12, 1:24 which 1:11; Job 4:18; Psalm 89:7; Luke 17:10
Verse 24 like Ezekiel 43:2; Revelation 1:15, 19:6 as the voice Ezekiel 10:5; Job 37:2, 37:4, 37:5; Psalm 18:13, 29:3-9, 68:33 as the noise Daniel 10:6; 2 Kings 7:6 Reciprocal Isaiah 6:2 - wings; 6:4 - posts; 6:8 - I heard; Ezekiel 1:23 - their wings; 1:25 - and had; 3:13 - the noise Verse 25 and had Ezekiel 1:24 Reciprocal Isaiah 6:1 - I saw also Verse 26 And aboveAbp. Newcome judiciously observes, "We need not allegorize the circumstances of this august vision too minutely. Many of them augment the splendour of the scene, while others, no doubt, have much significance; which should be pointed out rather by a correct judgment, than a luxuriant imagination." Ezekiel 1:22, 10:1 over Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:21, 1:22; Philippians 2:9, 2:10; 1 Peter 3:22 the likeness of a Psalm 45:6; Isaiah 6:1; Daniel 7:9, 7:10, 7:14; Zechariah 6:13; Matthew 25:13; Habakkuk 1:8, 3:1; 3:1; Revelation 4:2, 4:3, 5:13, 20:11 as the Exodus 24:10; Isaiah 54:11 the appearance of a man Genesis 32:24-30; Joshua 5:13-15, 6:1, 6:2; Isaiah 9:6, 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5, 23:6; Daniel 10:18; Revelation 1:13, 3:21, 14:14 Reciprocal Exodus 28:18 - sapphire; Judges 13:20 - fell on; 1 Kings 22:19 - I saw the Lord; Song of Songs 5:14 - his belly; Jeremiah 3:17 - the throne; 17:12 - General; Ezekiel 8:2 - I beheld; 8:4 - General; 10:19 - and the glory; 43:7 - the place of my throne; Daniel 7:13 - one like; 8:15 - as; 10:16 - like; John 1:18 - he hath; Acts 7:55 - and saw; Colossians 1:15 - the image; Revelation 21:11 - her Verse 27 as the colour Ezekiel 1:4, 8:2 the appearance of fire Deuteronomy 4:24; Psalm 50:3, 97:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Habakkuk 3:1; Revelation 1:14-16 Reciprocal Exodus 24:10 - of a sapphire stone; 24:17 - like devouring fire; Ezekiel 40:3 - whose Verse 28 at the appearance of the bow Genesis 9:13-16; Isaiah 54:8-10; Revelation 4:3, 10:1 This Ezekiel 8:4, 10:19, 10:20, 43:3; Exodus 16:7, 16:10, 24:16, 33:18-23; Numbers 12:6-8; 1 Kings 8:10, 8:11; 1 Corinthians 13:12 I fell Ezekiel 3:23; Genesis 17:3; Leviticus 9:24; Daniel 8:17, 10:7-9, 10:16, 10:17; Matthew 17:5, 17:6; Acts 9:4; Revelation 1:17, 1:18 Reciprocal Genesis 17:17 - fell; Exodus 24:10 - saw; Numbers 24:4 - falling; Judges 13:20 - fell on; Ezekiel 2:1 - stand; 10:4 - the glory; 43:2 - the glory; 44:4 - and I fell; Amos 9:1 - I saw; Matthew 26:39 - and fell; Revelation 4:2 - a throne