Ezekiel 1:26

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Ezekiel narrates a prophetic vision to Israel during a moment of divine revelation, immediately after hearing a voice from above the expanse and before describing the figure’s fiery upper and lower halves. The vision occurs while the living creatures stand still with their wings lowered.

The words — The text uses `סַפִּיר` (sa.Pir), literally sapphire, to describe the throne’s appearance, and `כְּמַרְאֵה` (ke./mar.'Eh), meaning like the appearance of, to denote the visual likeness of both the throne and the figure.

The thread — The sapphire throne motif recurs in Ezekiel 10:1 as the cherubim’s overhead seat, echoes Exodus 24:10 where sapphire pavement appears under God’s feet, and anticipates Revelation 1:13’s vision of a figure resembling the Son of Man among lampstands.

Why it lands — The passage demands a reader to observe the precise spatial hierarchy of the vision without collapsing the throne into the figure or the figure into the throne. It requires noting that the text describes visual likenesses rather than asserting physical identity, leaving the relationship between the sapphire seat and the manlike form as a stated observation rather than a theological explanation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּמִמַּ֗עַלu./mi./Ma.'aland/ [was] from/ above לָרָקִ֙יעַ֙la./ra.Ki.a'<to> the/ expanse אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich עַל־'al-[was] above רֹאשָׁ֔םro.Sha/mhead/ their כְּמַרְאֵ֥הke./mar.'Ehlike/ [the] appearance of אֶֽבֶן־'e.ven-a stone of סַפִּ֖ירsa.Pirsapphire דְּמ֣וּתde.Mut[the] likeness of כִּסֵּ֑אki.Se'a throne וְעַל֙ve./'Aland/ [was] on דְּמ֣וּתde.Mut[the] likeness of הַכִּסֵּ֔אha./ki.Se'the/ throne דְּמ֞וּתde.Muta likeness כְּמַרְאֵ֥הke./mar.'Ehlike/ [the] appearance of אָדָ֛ם'a.Dama human עָלָ֖יו'a.La/von/ it מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃mi/l./Ma.'e.la/hfrom/ to/ above/ <towards>

King James 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 the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 10:1 And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire.
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.
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.
Ezekiel 1:22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.
Daniel 10:18 Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
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 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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.
Daniel 7:9 As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.