Ezekiel by the Chebar River

The words

1. Amber

   The NET note links the term’s ancient Greek rendering with electrum, a silver-and-gold alloy.

   The KJV uses amber for the brightness within the fire and again for the radiance of the figure above the throne.

   Ezekiel 1:4 (opens a new tab) · Ezekiel 1:26–27 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Ezekiel 1:4 (opens a new tab)

2. Beryl

   The wheels resemble beryl in the KJV; the NET uses “gleaming jasper” and notes that the stone’s identification is uncertain.

   Ezekiel 1:16 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Ezekiel 1:16 (opens a new tab)

3. Buzi

   Ezekiel is introduced as Buzi’s son in the land of the Chaldeans, where the word of the LORD comes to him.

   Ezekiel 1:3 (opens a new tab)

4. Captivity

   The vision’s opening dates it to the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, while Ezekiel is among the captives by Chebar.

   Ezekiel 1:1–2 (opens a new tab)

5. Chaldeans

   The KJV places Ezekiel’s vision in the land of the Chaldeans; the NET renders this as the land of the Babylonians.

   Ezekiel 1:3 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Ezekiel 1:1-3 (opens a new tab)

6. Chebar

   Kebar, the spelling used in the NET Bible.

   Ezekiel is among the captives beside Chebar when the heavens open and he sees what the KJV calls “visions of God.”

   Ezekiel 1:1–3 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Ezekiel 1:1-3 (opens a new tab)

7. Creatures

   Four living creatures appear within the fiery cloud, with a human likeness, four faces and four wings apiece.

   Did you know?

   A later vision identifies the beings seen by Chebar as cherubim; the KJV spells that plural “cherubims.”

   Ezekiel 1:4–8 (opens a new tab) · Ezekiel 10:20–22 (opens a new tab)

8. Crystal

   The KJV compares the expanse above the creatures to “terrible crystal”; the NET describes it as “glittering awesomely like ice.”

   Ezekiel 1:22 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Ezekiel 1:22 (opens a new tab)

9. Ezekiel

   Ezekiel, introduced as a priest, falls on his face when he sees the likeness of the LORD’s glory and hears a voice.

   Did you know?

   The NET note explains Ezekiel’s Hebrew name as “May God strengthen,” giving the priest’s name the form of a wish.

   Ezekiel 1:3 (opens a new tab) · Ezekiel 1:28 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Ezekiel 1:1-3 (opens a new tab)

10. Four Faces

    Each creature has four faces: those of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle, as Ezekiel describes their likeness.

    Ezekiel 1:6 (opens a new tab) · Ezekiel 1:10 (opens a new tab)

11. River

    After the vision, Ezekiel sits astonished among the captives at Telabib beside Chebar for seven days, before receiving the watchman’s charge.

    Ezekiel 3:15–17 (opens a new tab)

12. Sapphire

    Above the expanse, Ezekiel sees the likeness of a throne resembling sapphire, with a humanlike figure upon it.

    Ezekiel 1:26 (opens a new tab)

13. Watchman

    The LORD appoints Ezekiel to warn Israel; the charge includes warnings of death and accountability if he fails to warn.

    Ezekiel 3:17–21 (opens a new tab)

14. Wheels

    Wheels stand beside the creatures, appearing as a wheel within a wheel; their eye-covered rims rise and move with the creatures.

    Ezekiel 1:15–21 (opens a new tab)

15. Wings

    Each creature has four wings: two join neighboring wings and two cover its body; when the creatures stop, they lower their wings.

    Did you know?

    Ezekiel describes the wings by sound as well as sight, comparing their noise to great waters and to an army.

    Ezekiel 1:6 (opens a new tab) · Ezekiel 1:11 (opens a new tab) · Ezekiel 1:24 (opens a new tab)