Ezekiel 1:26
New International Version
Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.

New Living Translation
Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man.

English Standard Version
And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.

New American Standard Bible
Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.

NASB 1995
Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.

NASB 1977
Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something in the likeness of a throne, like sapphire stone in appearance; and upon the likeness of the throne, high up, was the likeness of one with the appearance of a man.

Amplified Bible
Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, it appeared like [it was made of] sapphire or lapis lazuli; and [seated] on that which looked like a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.

Christian Standard Bible
Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads. On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The shape of a throne with the appearance of sapphire stone was above the expanse. There was a form with the appearance of a human on the throne high above.

American Standard Version
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 a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And above the tabernacle, above their heads, there was as it were the appearance of stone of sapphire and as the likeness of a throne, and upon the form of the throne was as it were the likeness and the appearance of a son of man upon it from above

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Contemporary English Version
I then saw what looked like a throne made of sapphire, and sitting on the throne was a figure in the shape of a human.

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

English Revised Version
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 a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Above the dome over their heads was something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. On the throne was a figure that looked like a human.

Good News Translation
Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne made of sapphire, and sitting on the throne was a figure that looked like a human being.

International Standard Version
From above the canopy that was spread out over their heads, there appeared to be something reminiscent of a throne, resembling sapphire in form. There was the likeness of the appearance of a human being seated on the likeness of the throne high above.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above.

Literal Standard Version
And 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 on it from above.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
Above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne that looked like sapphire; and upon this likeness of a throne was seated, up above, a figure that looked like a human being.

NET Bible
Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man.

New Revised Standard Version
And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form.

New Heart English Bible
Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Above 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.

Young's Literal Translation
And 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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Divine Glory
25And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered. 26Above 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. 27From 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.…

Cross References
Revelation 1:13
and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.

Revelation 4:2
At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.

Exodus 24:10
and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.

1 Kings 22:19
Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.

Isaiah 6:1
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 54:11
"O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.

Ezekiel 1:5
and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form,


Treasury of Scripture

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

And above.

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.

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.

over

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Ephesians 1:21,22
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: …

Philippians 2:9,10
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: …

the likeness of a

Psalm 45:6
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

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 7:9,10,14
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…

as the

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.

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.

the appearance of a man

Genesis 32:24-30
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day…

Joshua 5:13-15
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? …

Joshua 6:1,2
Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in…

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Ezekiel 1
1. The time of Ezekiel's prophecy at Chebar.
4. His vision of four cherubim;
15. of the four wheels;
26. and of the glory of God.














(26) As the appearance of a sapphire stone.--Comp. Exodus 24:10, where the same description is applied to "the pavement under His feet" as here and in Ezekiel 10:1 to his throne, in either case indicating the intense clearness of the heavenly blue. The constant repetition of the words "likeness" and "appearance" is very striking throughout this vision. They occur five times in this verse, and four times in each of the two following. The prophet thus labours to make it plain that what he saw was not the realities of existing things, but certain symbolic representations given for the purpose of producing their fitting impression upon the mind. It is especially important to remember this in connection with "the likeness as the appearance of a man" "upon the likeness of the throne." It was not the Divine Being Himself whom Ezekiel saw, but certain appearances to impress upon him the character and attributes of Him whom "no man hath seen, nor can see."

The appearance of a man--As in the case of the cherubim the form of a man, as the highest known in nature, was made the groundwork to which all their peculiarities were attached, so here, in rising to something still higher, the same basis must be retained in the impossibility of anything better; only that which is added is more vague, as being incapable of any definite description, Yet possibly there may be even her a hint at the great truth of the incarnation. (Comp. Daniel 7:13; Revelation 1:13.)

Verse 26. - The likeness of a throne. The greatest glory was kept to the last. High above the azure expanse was the likeness of a throne (we note the constant recurrence of the word "likeness," nine times in this one chapter, as indicating Ezekiel's consciousness of the vision character of what he saw). The idea of the throne of the great King first appears in 1 Kings 22:19, is frequent in the Psalms (Psalm 9:4, 7; Psalm 11:4; Psalm 45:6), notably in Isaiah 6:1. In the visions of St John (Revelation 1:4, and passim) it is the dominant, central object throughout. As the appearance of a sapphire stone. The intense blue of the sapphire has made it in all ages the natural symbol of a heavenly purity. Ezekiel's vision reproduces that of Exodus 24:10. It appears among the gems of the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:18; Exodus 39:11) and in the "foundations" of Revelation 21:19. The description of the sapphire given by Pliny ('Hist. Nat.,' 37:9), as "never transparent, and refulgent with spots of gold," suggests lapis lazuli. As used in the Old Testament, however, the word probably means the sapphire of modern jewellery (Braun, 'De Vest. Sacerd.,' p. 630, edit. 1680). A likeness as of the appearance of a man. The throne, the symbol of the sovereignty of God over the "living creatures" and the "wheels," over the forces and the laws which they represented, is not empty. There was "a likeness as of the appearance" (we note again the accumulation of words intended to guard against the thought that what was seen was more than an approximate symbolism) "of a man." In that likeness there was the witness that we can only think of God by reasoning upward from all that is highest in our conceptions of human greatness and goodness, and thinking of them as free from their present limitations. Man's highest thought of God is that it is "a face like his face that receives him." He finds a humanity in the Godhead. It is noticeable that this preluding anticipation of the thought of the Incarnation, not recognized in the vision of Moses (Exodus 24:10) or Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1), appears prominently in the two prophets of the exile - here and in the memorable Messianic vision of "One like unto the ['a,' Revised Version] Son of man" in Daniel 7:13. What might have been perilously anthropomorphic in the early stages of the growth of Israel, when men tended to identify the symbol with the thing symbolized, was now made subservient to the truth which underlies even anthropomorphic thought (comp. Revelation 1:13). Irenaeus ('Adv. Haer.,' 4:20. 10), it may be noted, dwells on the fact that Ezekiel uses the words, "'haec visio similitudmis gloriae Domini,' ne quis putaret forte eum in his proprie vidisse Deum."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Above
וּמִמַּ֗עַל (ū·mim·ma·‘al)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 4605: The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top

the expanse
לָרָקִ֙יעַ֙ (lā·rā·qî·a‘)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7549: An expanse, the firmament, visible arch of the sky

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

their heads
רֹאשָׁ֔ם (rō·šām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7218: The head

[was]
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the likeness
דְּמ֣וּת (də·mūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1823: Resemblance, model, shape, like

of a throne
כִּסֵּ֑א (kis·sê)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3678: Seat of honor, throne

with the appearance
כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה (kə·mar·’êh)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision

of sapphire,
סַפִּ֖יר (sap·pîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5601: A gem, the sapphire

[and] on the throne
הַכִּסֵּ֔א (hak·kis·sê)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3678: Seat of honor, throne

high above
עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

was a figure
דְּמ֣וּת (də·mūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1823: Resemblance, model, shape, like

like that
כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה (kə·mar·’êh)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision

of a man.
אָדָ֛ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse that was over their (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 1:25
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