The opening chapter depicts four living creatures in human form, each accompanied by wheels within wheels. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of christ to the glory that should follow. Book of ezekiel read, study bible verses online bible study tools. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth.
The book of ezekiel features one of the eeriest scenes in the bible, a vision of god raising an army of dead mens bones from their graves and bringing them back to life ezekiel 37. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of ezekiel in easy english. In scripture, each of these creatures is significant. When jehoiakims successor, jehoiachin, surrendered in 597, nebuchadnezzar appointed zedekiah king and deported to babylon jehoiachin and the royal family, along with members of the upper class, including ezekiel the priest. Thats just one of many symbolic visions and performances of this ancient prophet, who predicted the destruction of israel and the idolatrous nations around it. Ezekiel was given prophethood at an age thirty after he saw a majestic vision of gods glory during his captivation in babylon. In response to the rebellion of jehoiakim of judah in 601 b. Ezekiel intro, new international version niv the bible app. Among the exiles in babylon, ezekiel shows that israel deserved this. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a. God also showed ezekiel a picture of a new temple in the future ezekiel chapters 4048.
It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc. Ezekiel is a key figure in judaism and is also prominent in other abrahamic biblical texts. The prophet describes massive visions of gods spiritual forces in action behind the scenes and blueprints for the future. Ezekiel 1 ezekiels inaugural vision in my bible gateway. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. As peter said of the prophets, they saw the sufferings and they saw the glory that would follow 1 pet. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a wonderful book filled with strange and powerful visions. Ezekiel 1 nrsv the vision of the chariot bible gateway. We are also not told what to compare these descriptions in the prophets visions to so that we may understand them. The book of ezekiel is distinguished by visions, similes, and allegories, or parables, and especially by performance of symbolic actions, as when ezekiel was told by god to engrave a sketch of jerusalem on a brick and then to stage a mock siege against it as a sign to israel. As i looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it. The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables. A literary masterpiece of the english language, the original king james bible is still in use today.
The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it. Next to the book of revelation, ezekiels probably the weirdest and most dramatic book of the hebrew bible. Other references to this book are also found in the new testament. The book of ezekiel is in the old testament section of the bible. The first chapter of the biblical book of ezekiel served as the textual starting point for the merkavah mysticsand hints at an image of god. Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiel s world, to the last phrase of ezekiel s vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes gods. This summary of the book of ezekiel provides information about the title. Ezekiel book of glossary term meaning as seen in the king james bible. The prophet ezekiel is one of four major prophets along with isaiah, jeremiah, and daniel in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible. On the fifth day of the month it was the fifth year of the exile of king jehoiachin, the word of the lord. Not only does the book present a striking picture of the resurrection and restoration of gods people ezekiel 37, it also. Deported to babylon by the river chebar in 597 bc, ezekiel.
I think ezekiel saw it better than any of the other prophets. Ezekiel had to describe his incredible and foreign to his experience visions using the hebrew language. In the new king james version, this chapter is subtitled ezekiels vision of. Ezekiel in the picture study bible the book of ezekiel. What is the difference between dreams and visions in the. Meaning of ezekiels wheel within wheel bible study. Ezekiel, whose name means strengthened by god, grew up in jerusalem, served as a priest in the temple and was among the second group of captives taken to babylon along with king jehoiachin. Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, dread came upon me, and trembling. Ezekiels vision of the four wheels dramatically illustrates the omnipresence and omniscience of god. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god. So unless youre one of those people that are into figuring out arcane prophecy, why study the book of ezekiel.
How are we to understand ezekiels bizarre vision of the chariot in its. God himself would return to this temple ezekiel 43. The priest ezekiel was the first prophet to be called by the lord outside of israel during the babylonian captivity. These wheels were associated with the four living creatures ezekiel 1. Although ezekiel struggled to describe what he had seen, using words like resembling, looked like, and appearance of, his visions provide guidance for christians. At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric, but getting to know him is worth the effort. This book contains prophecies attributed to the prophetpriest ezekiel, and is one of the books of the prophets. Ezekiels first vision four living creatures accompany a. The abingdon bible commentary states the following. Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book. This is not only the concise overview of the book of isaiah, but also of the book of ezekiel, except that ezekiel adds one more principle, the principle of individual responsibility which was also touched by the prophet, jeremiah. Ezekiel 1 nkjv ezekiels vision of god now it came bible. He engages in startling symbolic activities to teach gods people.
It combines farout visions, judgments of violent destruction and death, and predictions of peace and consolation into a spicy prophetic gumbo. The prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, experienced a series of seven visions during the period that spans the final destruction of jerusalem. Of all the scripture passages we might turn to during these times, the bizarre vision that opens the book of ezekiel would not register high on. Blumrich even used ezekiels description of the craft to patent his own version of an omnidirectional wheel. These doubts were strong enough, in those early days, to raise the question of whether ezekiel should be one of the biblical books. The book of ezekiel is found in the old testament of the bible. Bible survey ezekiel hebrew name yehezqel god is strength greek name iezekiel greek form of the hebrew author ezekiel according to tradition date 595 bc approximately theme the final restoration of israel types and shadows in ezekiel jesus is. The book opens with a unique vision of the glory of the lord. The books closing promises confirm that god will renew the hearts of his people and refresh all life on the face of the earth. Ezekiel 1 is the first chapter of the book of ezekiel in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. Ezekiel book of definition from the bible dictionary. Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel.
The description is full of the splendor of flashing light, so brilliant that the details are minutely revealed, but so dazzling that they are not clearly seen. Ezekiels vision of god now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth. And nowhere in the bible are gods initiative and control expressed more clearly and pervasively than in the book of ezekiel. Ezekiels visions fit the ongoing drama of the bible. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden.
Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. God would send someone from davids family to be their leader ezekiel 37. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know godand god revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel. Book of ezekiel known to be written by prophet ezekiel and is placed immediately after lamentation in ot. Thus, ezekiel saw a vision of god about to go forth on his chariot. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it contains key details god wants us to know about. Ezekiel was undoubtedly describing an advanced spacecraft. The book of ezekiel pronounces judgment on both israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements and adds to the vision of other old and new testament texts. A depiction of ezekiels astonishing, glorious, magnificent, vision of god as described in the bible at ezekiel chapter 1 and 10. Some commentaries do try to describe ezekiel s fantastic wheel vision. Ezekiels in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians.
A depiction of ezekiels astonishing, glorious, magnificent, vision of god as described in the. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. It is composed of 48 chapters divided almost half before and after the fall of jerusalem. You will not be there when my people gather to make decisions. Ezekiel 1 new international version niv ezekiels inaugural vision. The description itself is hard enough for us to understand since there is nothing similar to it in the bible. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the old testament and had more influence on revelation than any other book. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy. Ezekiel was a priest in judah who in the year 597 bc, at the apparent age of 25, was taken into exile along with king jehoiachin and about 10,000 other upper class judeans see 2 ki 24. Visions play an important structural role in the book of ezekiel. Ezekiel 1 new revised standard version nrsv the vision of the chariot. Ezekiel 1 new international version niv ezekiel s inaugural vision. Biographical information about ezekiel can only be found in the book itself, but there is more provided here than is usual among the prophetic writings.
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