1In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, Ezk 3:15,23; 10:15,20,22 the heavens opened Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:21; Jn 1:51; Ac 7:56; 10:11; Rv 4:1; 19:11 and I saw visions of God. Ex 24:10; Nm 12:6; Ezk 8:3; 11:24; 40:2

2On the fifth day of the month — it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile 2Kg 24:8,12,15,17; 25:27,29 —

3the word of the Lord came Gn 15:1; 1Sm 15:10; 2Sm 7:4; 1Kg 6:11; 21:17; Is 38:4; Jr 1:2; Jnh 1:1; Hg 1:1; Zch 1:1 directly to Ezekiel Ezk 24:24 the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans Gn 11:28 by the Chebar Canal. And the Lord’s hand was on him there. 1Kg 18:46; 2Kg 3:15; 1Ch 28:19; Ezk 3:14-22; 37:1; 40:1; Ezr 7:6,28

4I looked and there was a whirlwind 2Kg 2:1; Jb 38:1; 40:6; Ps 77:18; Is 66:15; Nah 1:3 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, there was a gleam like amber. Ezk 1:27; 8:2

5The form of four living creatures came from it. Ezk 10:14,21; Rv 4:6-8 And this was their appearance: They had human form,

6but each of them had four faces and four wings.

7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, sparkling like the gleam of polished bronze. Dn 10:6; Rv 1:15

8They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. Ezk 1:17; 10:11 All four of them had faces and wings. Ezk 10:8,21

9Their wings were touching. The creatures did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead. Ezk 10:22

10The form of each of their faces was that of a man, Rv 4:7 and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle. Ezk 10:14-21

11That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching that of another and two wings covering its body. Is 6:2; Ezk 1:23

12Each creature went straight ahead. Ezk 10:11,22 Wherever the Spirit Or spirit wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved. Ezk 1:20

13The form of the living creatures was like the appearance of burning coals of fire and torches. Ps 104:4; Rv 4:5 Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it.

14The creatures were darting back and forth Zch 4:10 like flashes of lightning. Mt 24:27; Lk 17:24

15When I looked at the living creatures, there was one wheel on the ground beside each creature that had four faces.

16The appearance of the wheels Ezk 10:9-11 and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl, Dn 10:6 and all four had the same form. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel.

17When they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved.

18Their rims were large and frightening. Each of their four rims were full of eyes Ezk 10:12; Rv 4:6,8 all around.

19So when the living creatures moved, Ezk 10:16-17,19 the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels also rose.

20Wherever the Spirit Or spirit wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

21When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

22The shape of an expanse, Gn 1:6-8 with a gleam like awe-inspiring crystal, Rv 4:6 was spread out over the heads of the living creatures. Ezk 10:1

23And under the expanse their wings extended one toward another. Each of them also had two wings covering their bodies.

24When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of mighty waters, Ezk 43:2; Rv 1:15; 19:6 like the voice of the Almighty, Ezk 10:5 and a sound of commotion like the noise of an army. Dn 10:6 When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

25A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stood still, they lowered their wings.

26The shape of a throne with the appearance of sapphire Or lapis lazuli stone was above the expanse. Lit expanse that was over their head Ezk 10:1 There was a form with the appearance of a human on the throne high above. Is 6:1; Ezk 24:10

27From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. Ezk 1:4; 8:2 From what seemed to be His waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around Him.

28The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. Gn 9:13; Rv 4:3; 10:1 This was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory. Ex 24:16; Ezk 8:4; 11:22-23; 43:4-5 When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking. Gn 17:3; Ezk 3:23; Dn 8:17; Rv 1:17