Ezekiel 1 · Verse 26

Ezekiel 1:26

And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
Ezekiel 1:26, King James Version

Ezekiel 1:26 in other translations

BSBAbove 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.
WEBAbove the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
ASVAnd above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above.
YLTAnd above the expanse that is over their head, as an appearance of a sapphire stone, is the likeness of a throne, and on the likeness of the throne a likeness, as the appearance of man upon it from above.
DARBYAnd above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
BBEAnd on the top of the arch which was over their heads was the form of a king's seat, like a sapphire stone; and on the form of the seat was the form of a man seated on it on high.
WebsterAnd above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

What does Ezekiel 1:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
26. The Godhead appears in the likeness of enthroned humanity, as in Ex 24:10. Besides the "paved work of a sapphire stone, as it were the body of heaven in clearness," there, we have here the "throne," and God "as a man," with the "appearance of fire round about." This last was a prelude of the incarnation of Messiah, but in His character as Saviour and as Judge (Re 19:11-16). The azure sapphire answers to the color of the sky. As others are called "sons of God," but He "the Son of God," so others are called "sons of man" (Eze 2:1, 3), but He "the Son of man" (Mt 16:13), being the embodied representative of humanity and the whole human race; as, on the other hand, He is the representative of "the fulness of the Godhead" (Col 2:9). While the cherubim are movable, the throne above, and Jehovah who moves them, are firmly fixed. It is good news to man, that the throne above is filled by One who even there appears as "a man."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 A sapphire - The pure oriental sapphire, a large well cut specimen of which is now before me, is one of the most beautiful and resplendent blues that can be conceived. I have sometimes seen the heavens assume this illustrious hue. The human form above this canopy is supposed to represent Him who, in the fullness of time, was manifested in the flesh.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 1:26-28
The eternal Son, the second Person in the Trinity, who afterwards took the human nature, is here denoted. The first thing observed was a throne. It is a throne of glory, a throne of grace, a throne of triumph, a throne of government, a throne of judgment. It is good news to men, that the throne above the firmament is filled with One who appears, even there, in the likeness of a man. The throne is surrounded with a rainbow, the well-known emblem of the covenant, representing God's mercy and covenanted love to his people. The fire of God's wrath was breaking out against Jerusalem, but bounds should be set to it; he would look upon the bow, and remember the covenant. All the prophet saw was only to prepare him for what he was to hear. When he fell on his face, he heard the voice of One that spake. God delights to teach the humble. Let sinners, then, humble themselves before him. And let believers think upon his glory, that they may be gradually changed into his image by the Spirit of the Lord.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ezekiel 1:26 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּמִמַּ֗עַלu.mi.Ma.'aland [was] from aboveH4605
לָרָקִ֙יעַ֙la.ra.Ki.a'<to> the expanseH7549
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhichH834
עַל\־'al-[was] aboveH5921
רֹאשָׁ֔םro.Shamhead theirH7218
כְּמַרְאֵ֥הke.mar.'Ehlike [the] appearance ofH4758
אֶֽבֶן\־'e.ven-a stone ofH68
סַפִּ֖ירsa.PirsapphireH5601
דְּמ֣וּתde.Mut[the] likeness ofH1823
כִּסֵּ֑אki.Se'a throneH3678
וְעַל֙ve.'Aland [was] onH5921
דְּמ֣וּתde.Mut[the] likeness ofH1823
הַכִּסֵּ֔אha.ki.Se'the throneH3678
דְּמ֞וּתde.Muta likenessH1823
כְּמַרְאֵ֥הke.mar.'Ehlike [the] appearance ofH4758
אָדָ֛ם'a.Dama humanH120
עָלָ֖יו'a.Lavon itH5921
מִלְמָֽעְלָה\׃mil.Ma.'e.lahfrom to above <towards>H4605

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 1:26

  • Ezekiel 10:1

    Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

  • Exodus 24:10

    And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

  • Revelation 1:13

    And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

  • Daniel 10:18

    Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

  • Ezekiel 1:22

    And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.

  • Isaiah 54:11

    O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

  • Isaiah 9:6-7

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

  • Revelation 4:2-3

    And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And 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.

  • Isaiah 6:1

    In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

  • Daniel 7:9-10

    I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

  • Hebrews 12:2

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Revelation 20:11

    And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
And above.Abp. 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 judgement, than a luxuriant imagination."
22; 10:1
over.
Mt 28:18; Eph 1:21,22; Php 2:9,10; 1Pe 3:22
the likeness of a.
Ps 45:6; Isa 6:1; Da 7:9,10,14; Zec 6:13; Mt 25:13; Heb 1:8; 8:1
Heb 12:2; Re 4:2,3; 5:13; 20:11
as the.
Ex 24:10; Isa 54:11
the appearance of a man.
Ge 32:24-30; Jos 5:13-15; 6:1,2; Isa 9:6,7; Jer 23:5,6; Da 10:18
Re 1:13; 3:21; 14:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezekiel 1:25

    And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.

  • Ezekiel 1:26

    And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

  • Ezekiel 1:27

    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.

Read all of Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel 1:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y sobre la expansión que había sobre sus cabezas, veíase la figura de un trono que parecía de piedra de zafiro; y sobre la figura del trono había una semejanza que parecía de hombre sentado sobre él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et au-dessus de l’étendue qui était sur leurs têtes, il y avait comme l’aspect d’une pierre de saphir, la ressemblance d’un trône; et, sur la ressemblance du trône, une ressemblance comme l’aspect d’un homme, dessus, en haut.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und oberhalb der Ausdehnung, die über ihren Häuptern war, war die Gestalt eines Thrones wie das Aussehen eines Saphirsteines; und auf der Gestalt des Thrones eine Gestalt wie das Aussehen eines Menschen oben darauf.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et super firmamentum quod erat imminens capiti eorum, quasi aspectus lapidis sapphiri similitudo throni: et super similitudinem throni similitudo quasi aspectus hominis desuper.