Ezekiel 1:1--7:27
thirtieth <07970> [in the thirtieth.]
among <08432> [as I.]
exiles <01473> [captives. Heb. captivity. by the river.]
Kebar <03529> [Chebar.]
Chebar, called now Khabour, is a river of Mesopotamia, which taking its rise in the Mysian mountains, falls into the Euphrates near Carchemish, or Circesioum, now Karkisia, about 35 degrees 20' N. lat. and 40 degrees 25' E. long.
heavens <08064> [the heavens.]
saw <07200> [I saw.]
word <01697> [word.]
Ezekiel <03168> [Ezekiel. Heb. Jehezkel. and the.]
windstorm <07307> [a whirlwind.]
enormous <01419> [a great.]
bright light rimmed <03947 05051> [infolding itself. Heb. catching itself. colour.]
looked like ........... form <01823> [the likeness.]
each ... four faces ... four <0259 0702 06440> [And every one had four faces.]
These living creatures were probably hieroglyphical representations of the holy angels, the attendants on "the King of Glory," and the ministers of his providence. They were four, apparently to denote that they were employed in the four corners of the world; and they had the likeness of a man, to signify that they were intelligent and rational creatures.
each ... four .... four wings <0702 03671 0259> [every one had four wings.]
legs ... straight ....... feet ..... feet <07272 03477> [straight feet. Heb. a straight foot. like the sole.]
gleamed <05869> [the colour.]
touched <02266> [joined.]
turn <05437> [they turned.]
appearance <01823> [for the.]
faces ........... face .... man .... face ......... face ........... face <0120 06440> [the face of a man.]
faces ........... face ....... face .... lion ...... face ........... face <0738 06440> [the face of a lion.]
faces ........... face ....... face ......... face .... ox ........ face <07794 06440> [the face of an ox.]
[Cherub.]
faces ........... face ....... face ......... face ........... face .... eagle <05404 06440> [the face of an eagle.]
wings <03671> [and their.]
spread ... above <04605 06504> [stretched upward. or, divided above. and two.]
Each <03212 0376> [they went every.]
spirit <07307> [whither.]
one <0259> [one.]
four <0702> [with.]
gleaming <05869> [the colour.]
wheels .................... wheel .... wheel <0212> [a wheel.]
turning <05437> [and.]
high <01363> [they were so.]
rims ........ rims <01354> [rings. or, stakes. full.]
spirit ................. spirit <07307> [the spirit.]
spirit ................. spirit <07307> [for the.]
living <02416> [of the living creature. or, of life.]
<03212> [When those went.]
living <02416> [of the living creature. or, of life.]
like <01823> [the likeness.]
ice <07140> [crystal.]
The Hebrew {kerach,} which generally denotes ice, doubtless here signifies crystal, ([krystallos,] from [kryos,] cold, ice, and [stellomai,] to concrete,) as it is rendered by the LXX. and Vulgate. It is a very large class of silicious minerals, hard, pellucid, naturally colourless, of regularly angular figures, and of simple plates; not flexible, nor elastic, but giving fire with steel; not fermenting by acid menstrua, but calcinable in a strong fire. There are three orders of pure crystal: the first is perfect columnar crystals, with double pyramids, of eighteen planes, in an hexangular pyramid at each end; the second is that of perfect crystals, without a column, of twelve or sixteen planes, in two hexangular pyramids: and the third is that of imperfect crystals, with single pyramids, of ten or twelve planes, in an hexangular or pentangular column. Terrible crystal seems to denote that which was well cut and polished, vividly refracting the rays of light.
wings <03671> [their wings.]
beings ...... covering <03680> [which.]
sound ......... sound ....... voice <06963> [like.]
sound ......... sound ....... voice <06963> [as the voice.]
sound ......... sound ....... voice <06963> [as the noise.]
still <07503> [and had.]
Above <04605> [And above.]
Abp. Newcome judiciously observes, "We need not allegorize the circumstances of this august vision too minutely. Many of them augment the splendour of the scene, while others, no doubt, have much significance; which should be pointed out rather by a correct judgement, than a luxuriant imagination."
heads <07218> [over.]
like ... throne ...... throne .... form <01823 03678> [the likeness of a.]
like ................. appeared <04758> [as the.]
like ................. appeared ..... man <0120 04758> [the appearance of a man.]
saw <05869> [as the colour.]
like ... fire ............... something that looked like fire <0784 04758> [the appearance of fire.]
[at the appearance of the bow.]
appearance .............. appearance ........ looked <04758> [This.]
threw <05307> [I fell.]
Son <01121> [Son.]
stand <05975> [stand.]
sending <07971> [I send.]
sending ..... house ..... rebellious nations .... rebelled <01471 04775> [a rebellious nation. Heb. rebellious nations.]
sending ..... house ..... rebellious ..... rebelled <04775> [rebelled.]
hard-hearted <07186> [they.]
hard-hearted <07186> [impudent. Heb. hard of face.]
say .......... says <0559> [Thus.]
listen ... not <08085 02308> [whether.]
know <03045> [yet.]
fear ...... fear .................. fear <03372> [be not.]
briers <05621> [briers. or, rebels.]
scorpions <06137> [scorpions.]
rebellious <04805> [though they.]
speak <01696> [thou.]
listen ... not <08085 02308> [whether.]
rebellious <04805> [most rebellious. Heb. rebellion.]
Do <01961> [Be.]
Open <06475> [open.]
hand <03027> [an hand.]
scroll <04039> [a roll.]
[All ancient books were written so as to be rolled up: hence]
{volumen,} a volume, from {volvo,} I roll.
unrolled <06566> [spread.]
before ...... writing .... front .... written <06440 03789> [was written within.]
Contrary to the state of rolls in general, which are written on the inside only.
laments <07015> [lamentations.]
eat <0398> [eat.]
This must have passed in a vision; but the meaning is plain: Receive ny word into thy mind, let it enter into they soul; digest it, let it be they nourishment, they meat and thy drink, to do the will of thy Father who is in heaven.
<03212> [go.]
fill <04390> [and fill.]
feed .................. ate <0398> [Then.]
mouth <06310> [it was.]
sent <07971> [thou.]
unintelligible speech .... language <06012 08193 03515 03956> [of a strange speech and of an hard language. Heb. deep of lip and heavy of tongue: and so.]
unintelligible speech ... difficult language <06012 08193 03515 03956> [of a strange speech and of an hard language. Heb. deep of lip and heavy of language. Surely, etc. or, If I had sent thee to them, would they not have hearkened? etc.]
Israel ... unwilling .......... willing ........... Israel <014 03478> [Israel will.]
house ...................... house <01004> [all the.]
hard-headed ... hard-hearted <07186 02389> [impudent and hard-hearted. Heb. stiff of forehead and hard of heart.]
diamond <08068> [adamant.]
fear <03372> [fear.]
take <03947> [receive.]
<0935> [get.]
countrymen <01121> [the children.]
speak <01696> [speak.]
wind <07307> [spirit.]
sound <06963> [a voice.]
me <01288> [Blessed.]
glory <03519> [glory.]
sound ............. sound .......... sound <06963> [the noise.]
brushing <05401> [touched. Heb. kissed. and the noise.]
wind ............. spirit <07307> [the spirit.]
wind ........... bitterly ... spirit .... fury <04751 02534 07307> [in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit. Heb. bitter in hot anger.]
hand <03027> [but.]
lived ....... sat ......... living <03427> [that dwelt.]
lived ....... sat ......... living <03427> [sat.]
give them <05414> [I have.]
watchman <06822> [a watchman.]
hear <08085> [hear.]
say <0559> [I say.]
live <02421> [to save.]
wicked .................... wicked ......... wicked ......... wicked <07563> [the same.]
accountable <01818> [but.]
warn <02094> [if thou.]
die <04191> [he shall.]
saved <05337> [but thou.]
righteous <06662> [When.]
righteousness ............................ righteous <06664 06666> [righteousness. Heb. righteousnesses.]
I set <05414> [and I lay.]
warned <02094> [because.]
righteous <06666> [and his.]
accountable <01818> [but his.]
warn .................... warned <02094> [if thou.]
certainly live <02421> [he shall.]
saved <05337> [also.]
hand <03027> [the hand.]
Get <06965> [Arise.]
glory ........... glory <03519> [the glory.]
River <05104> [river.]
threw .... down <05307> [and I fell.]
wind <07307> [the spirit.]
came ................. Go <0935> [Go.]
tongue <03956> [I will.]
<0376> [and shalt.]
<0376> [a reprover. Heb. a man reproving. for.]
loosen <06605> [I will.]
say .......... says <0559> [Thus.]
rebellious <04805> [for they.]
take <03947> [take.]
brick <03843> [a tile.]
[Lebˆbnƒh <\\See definition 03843\\>,] {levainah,} generally denotes a brick, and Palladius informs us that the bricks in common use among the ancients were "two feet long, one foot broad, and four inches thick;" and on such a surface the whole siege might be easily pourtrayed. Perhaps, however, it may here denote a flat tile, like a Roman brick, which were commonly used for tablets, as we learn from Pliny, Hist. Nat. 1. vii. c. 57.
Jerusalem <03389> [even.]
Lay ................ Post <05414> [lay.]
battering rams <03733> [battering rams. or, chief leaders.]
iron frying ......... iron <04227 01270> [an iron pan. or, a flat plate, or slice.]
sign <0226> [This.]
left ................ number ........... bear <08042 04557 05375> [upon.]
place <07760> [and lay.]
bear <05375> [thou shalt bear.]
determined <05414> [I have.]
390 <07969> [three.]
This number of years will take us back from the year in which Judea was finally desolated by Nebuzar-adan, B.C. 584, to the establishment of idolatry in Israel by Jeroboam, B.C. 975. "Beginning from 1 Ki 12:33. Ending Jer 52:30."
40 days ...... day ... each <0705 03117> [forty days.]
This represented the forty years during which gross idolatry prevailed in Judah, from the reformation of Josiah, B.C. 624, to the same final desolation of the land. Some think that the period of 390 days also predicts the duration of the siege of the Babylonians, (ver. 9,) deducting from it five months and twenty-nine days, when the besiegers went to meet the Egyptians (2 Ki 25:1-4; Jer 37:5;) and that forty days may have been employed in desolating the temple and city. "Beginning from 2 Ki 23:3, 23. Ending Jer 52:30."
days ...... day ... each year <08141 03117> [each day for a year. Heb. a day for a year, a day for a year.]
<03559> [set.]
arm <02220> [and thine.]
will <05414> [I will.]
side .... other <06654> [from one side to another. Heb. from thy side to thy side.]
wheat <02406> [wheat.]
millet <01764> [millet.]
{Dochan,} in Arabic, {dokhn,} the {holcus dochna} of Forskal, is a kind of millet, of considerable use as a food; the cultivation of which is described by Browne.
spelt <03698> [fitches. or, spelt.]
{Kussemim} is doubtless [zea,] or spelt, as Aquila and Symmachus render here; and so LXX. and Theodotion, [olyra.] In times of scarcity it is customary to mix several kinds of coarser grains with the finer, to make it last the longer.
390 <07969> [three.]
drink ............ drink <08354> [shalt drink.]
[cake. a "round" thing.]
Ah <0162> [Ah.]
ceremonially <05315> [my soul.]
eaten <0398> [have I.]
unclean <06292> [abominable.]
cow's manure ..... excrement <06832 01561 01241> [cow's dung.]
Dried cow-dung is a common fuel in the East, as it is in many parts of England, to the present day; but the prophet was ordered to prepare his bread with human ordure, to shew the extreme degree of wretchedness to which the besieged should be exposed, as they would be obliged literally to use it, from not being able to leave the city to collect other fuel.
remove <07665> [I will.]
eat <0398> [eat.]
The prophet was allowed each day only twenty shekels weight, or about ten ounces, of the coarse food he had prepared, and the sixth part of a hin, scarcely a pint and a half, of water; all of which was intended to shew that they should be obliged to eat the meanest and coarsest food, and that by weight, and their water by measure.
rot <04743> [and consume.]
son <01121> [son.]
In this expressive emblem, the prophet represents the Jewish nation; his hair, the people; the razor, the Chaldeans; the cutting of the hair, the calamities and disgrace coming upon them; the balances, the exact distribution of the Divine judgments; the third part of the hair burnt, those destroyed in the city; the third part smitten with a knife, those slain in attempting to escape; the third part scattered to the winds, those who escaped to other countries; the few hairs in his skirt, those left with Gedaliah; and the burning of these, their destruction in Egypt.
take ............ Shave off ............. take <03947> [take.]
take ............ Shave off ............. take <03947> [then.]
Burn <01197> [shalt burn.]
city <05892> [the city.]
unleash <07324> [I will draw.]
few <04592> [a few.]
ends of your garment <03671> [skirts. Heb. wings.]
take <03947> [take.]
fire ......... fire <0784> [shall a fire.]
Jerusalem <03389> [This.]
placed <07760> [I have.]
defied <04784> [she hath.]
rejected <03988> [for they.]
carried <06213> [neither have done.]
execute <06213> [even I.]
among ...... watch <08432 05869> [in the.]
do ........ done ...... do <06213> [that which.]
The sentence here passed upon Jerusalem is very dreadful, and the manner of expression makes it yet more so: the judgments are various, the threatenings of them varied, reiterated; so that one may well say, Who is able to stand in God's sight when he is angry?
fathers .............. fathers <01> [the fathers.]
survivors <07611> [the whole.]
live <02416> [as I live.]
defiled <02930> [thou hast.]
detestable idols <08251> [detestable.]
withdraw ........... spare <01639 02550> [will I.]
<05869> [neither shall.]
third ...... die ............. third .............. third <07992 04191> [third part of.]
scatter <02219> [and I will scatter.]
unleash <07324> [and I will draw.]
This was particularly fulfilled in the destruction of those who retired to Egypt; and has been remarkably verified in the many persecutions and miseries which the Jews have suffered at different times, in the various countries into which they are dispersed.
anger <0639> [shall mine.]
rage ............................ rage <02534> [I will cause.]
appeased <05162> [I will be.]
spoken <01696> [spoken.]
make <05414> [I will.]
nations <01471> [the nations.]
example <04148> [an instruction.]
execute <06213> [when.]
deadly <07451> [the evil.]
remove <07665> [and will.]
<07451> [and evil.]
Plague <01698> [and pestilence.]
bring <0935> [and I.]
Lord <03068> [I the.]
word <01697> [And the word.]
This is a new prophecy, and was probably given after the 430 days of his lying on his left and right side were accomplished. By Israel here Judea is simply meant; not the ten tribes, who had long before been carried captive.
turn <07760> [set.]
mountains <02022> [the mountains.]
Mountains .................... mountains <02022> [Ye.]
Mountains .................... mountains <02022> [to the mountains.]
destroy <06> [and I will.]
incense altars <02553> [images. or, sun-images. and so.]
will ... down <05307> [and I.]
I will place <05414> [lay. Heb. give.]
dwellings <04186> [all your.]
cities <05892> [the cities.]
high places <01116> [and the.]
altars <04196> [your altars.]
works <04639> [your works.]
slain <02491> [slain.]
know <03045> [and ye.]
remember <02142> [remember.]
will .... I ... crushed <07665> [I am.]
eyes <05869> [their eyes.]
exiled ............................ loathe <07617 06962> [they shall.]
They shall humble themselves on account of their abominations, forsake their idolatry, and worship ME alone: and this they have done from the Babylonish captivity to the present day.
Clap <05221> [Smite.]
Ah <0253> [Alas.]
fall <05307> [fall.]
far <07350> [far off.]
by ...... vent <03615> [thus.]
dead <02491> [when.]
high <07311> [upon.]
stretch out <05186> [will I.]
desolate waste .... wilderness <08077 04057 04923> [more desolate than the wilderness. or, desolate from the wilderness. Diblath.]
[Almon-diblathaim.]
[Beth-diblathaim.]
Diblath was a city of Moab and appears from parallel passages to have been situated between Dibon and Abarim or Nebo.
land <0127> [unto.]
end ... end <07093> [An end.]
Two or three MSS. read {ketz ba, ba hakketz,} "the end cometh, come is the end;" which is supported by all the ancient versions.
release <07971> [and I.]
judge <08199> [will judge.]
I will .... accountable <05414> [recompense. Heb. give.]
<05869> [mine.]
suffer <05414> [but.]
know <03045> [and ye.]
end ............ end <07093> [An end.]
This is similar to the second verse; but there is a paronomasia, or play upon words, here, deserving of notice: {ketz ba, ba hakketz, haikeetz ailayich,} "the end cometh, come is the end: it waketh for thee." {Ketz,} is an end; {haikeetz,} is to wake or watch.
comes .... comes .... awakened against ....... you ..... coming <06974 0935> [watcheth for thee. Heb. awaketh against thee.]
comes .... comes ..... against ........... coming <0935> [behold.]
Doom <06843> [morning.]
time <06256> [the time.]
day <03117> [the day.]
shouts <01906> [sounding again. or, echo.]
pour <08210> [pour.]
vent <03615> [accomplish.]
judge <08199> [and I.]
behavior .................... know <01870 03045> [thee. Heb. upon thee. and ye.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
coming <0935> [behold, it.]
Doom <06843> [the morning.]
staff <04294> [the rod.]
pride <02087> [pride.]
Violence <02555> [Violence.]
crowd <01995> [none.]
crowd <01995> [multitude. or, tumult. theirs. or, their tumultuous persons. neither.]
time <06256> [time.]
customer <07069> [let.]
wrath <02740> [for.]
seller <04376> [the seller.]
both .... alive ....................... life <02416> [they were yet alive. Heb. their life were yet among the living. neither.]
iniquity <05771> [in, etc. or, whose life is in his iniquity. the iniquity of his life. Heb. his iniquity.]
blown <08628> [have.]
anger <02740> [for.]
Their survivors <06403> [they.]
doves <03123> [like.]
moan <01993> [mourning.]
hands <03027> [hands.]
urine <04325 03212> [be weak as water. Heb. go into water.]
<02296> [shall also.]
terror <06427> [and horror.]
discard <07993> [shall cast.]
filth <05079> [removed. Heb. for a separation, or uncleanness. they shall not.]
[it is the stumbling-block of their iniquity. or, their iniquity is their stumbling-block.]
beauty <06643> [the beauty.]
made <06213> [but.]
rendered ....................... render ... filthy <05079 07760 05414> [set it far from them. or, made it unto them an unclean thing.]
face <06440> [face.]
Vandals <06530> [robbers. or, burglars.]
chain <07569> [a chain.]
land <0776> [for.]
bring <0935> [I will bring.]
possession <03423> [they shall.]
That is, "the Chaldeans shall possess the houses of the Jews." The antecedents of pronouns are thus frequently understood in Hebrew poetry.
arrogance <01347> [I will also.]
arrogance <01347> [the pomp.]
That is, the magnificence of their greatest and haughtiest princes.
be desecrated <02490 06942> [their holy places shall be defiled. or, they shall inherit their holy places.]
Terror <07089> [Destruction. Heb. Cutting off. and they.]
Disaster ... disaster ... come <01943 0935> [Mischief shall.]
seek <01245> [then.]
instruction <08451> [but.]
elders <02205> [ancients.]
king <04428> [king.]
deal <06213> [I will.]
justice <04941> [according to their deserts. Heb. with their judgments.]
know <03045> [and they.]
