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Ezekiel

About this book
Chapter 1

1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles at the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw a divine vision.⁠ 2 (On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile— 3 the Lord’s message came to the priest Ezekiel the son of Buzi, at the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. The hand of the Lord came on him there.) 4 As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north—an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire.⁠ 5 In the fire were what looked like four living beings.⁠ In their appearance they had human form, 6 but each had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like calves’ feet. They gleamed like polished bronze.⁠ 8 They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, 9 their wings touched each other; they did not turn as they moved, but went straight ahead. 10 Their faces had this appearance: Each of the four had the face of a man, with the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and also the face of an eagle.⁠ 11 Their wings were spread out above them; each had two wings touching the wings of one of the other beings on either side and two wings covering their bodies. 12 Each moved straight ahead—wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire.⁠ 14 The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning.⁠ 15 Then I looked, and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four beings.⁠ 16 The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like gleaming jasper, and all four wheels looked alike. Their structure was like a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they moved they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and the rims of all four wheels were full of eyes all around.⁠ 19 When the living beings moved, the wheels beside them moved; when the living beings rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up too. 20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. 21 When the living beings moved, the wheels moved, and when they stopped moving, the wheels stopped. When they rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up from the ground; the wheels rose up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. 22 Over the heads of the living beings was something like a dome41,⁠ glittering awesomely like ice,⁠ stretched out over their heads.⁠ 23 Under the platform their wings were stretched out, each toward the other. Each of the beings also had two wings covering its body. 24 When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings—it was like the sound of rushing waters, or the voice of the Sovereign One,⁠ or the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. 25 Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still. 26 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.⁠ 27 I saw an amber glow like a fire enclosed all around from his waist up. From his waist down I saw something that looked like fire.⁠ There was a brilliant light around it,⁠ 28 like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the Lord.⁠ When I saw it, I threw myself face down,⁠ and I heard a voice speaking.⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare Gudea Cylinders A vi 19 and Ezekiel 1:15

Ancient Near East, Sumerian · Hebrew Bible

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Summary

Ezekiel describes a bright chariot driven by storm winds that recalls the Sumerian Dream of Gudea, where a ruler receives guidance to build a temple. Both portray a chariot decorated with blue stones such as lapis lazuli, showing divine authority.

Passages

Gudea Cylinders A vi 19

Ancient Near East, Sumerian · The Building of Ningirsu's Temple
14 Now heed my counsel and instruction! 15 In Girsu, in the sanctuary of the land of Lagash, you shall set your foot. 16 In your treasure-house break the seal and remove wood from it. 17 For your king prepare a chariot, 18 and harness donkey stallions to it. 19 Adorn that sacred chariot with silver and lapis lazuli; 20 let the arrows come forth from the quiver like daylight! 21 Lavish care upon the sacred battle-mace of heroism, 22 fashion his beloved emblem, 23 and inscribe your name upon it. 24 Accompanied by his beloved balag-lyre, Ushumgal-kalamma (‘Great Dragon of the Land’), 25 the renowned instrument that gives him counsel, 26 to the warrior who loves gifts—
2125 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gudea Cylinders

Ezekiel 1:15

Hebrew Bible
14 The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning. 15 Then I looked, and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four beings. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like gleaming jasper, and all four wheels looked alike. Their structure was like a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they moved they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and the rims of all four wheels were full of eyes all around. 19 When the living beings moved, the wheels beside them moved; when the living beings rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up too.
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Ezekiel

References

"... Ezekiel’s theophany upon the completion of the visionary temple is a repetition of his revelation in chapter one, and includes images evocative of Gudea’s god Ningirsu. The four-winged creatures in Ezekiel’s vision have the figure of a man, and one of the four faces of each creature is that of a lion. Ezekiel’s theophany also consists of many thunderstorm elements (Ezekiel 1:4–28). He comments that the noise of the creatures’ wings is like rushing waters; he describes a huge cloud, a stormy whirlwind, flashing lightning; finally, “as the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about,” (Ezekiel 1:28). Ezekiel’s theophany is surrounded by a rainbow! Ezekiel’s divinity appears the first time, and probably also the second, in a chariot covered with eyes, and “the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone,” (Ezekiel 1:26). Blue lapidary work seems important in both visions: one of the first offerings Gudea is advised to present to the god Ningirsu is a beautifully adorned war chariot, of lapis lazuli ..."
Diane M. Sharon, “A Biblical Parallel to a Sumerian Temple Hymn? Ezekiel 40–48 and Gudea,” JANES 24.1 (1996): 99–109.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Gudea Cylinders A vi 19 and Ezekiel 1:15

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