Chariot 3: Conception

The following verses 1 to 28 from Chapter 1, also known as ’The Glory of the Lord appears to Ezekiel’, are part of the book of Ezekiel, comprised in the Bible.

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the river Kebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth of the month, it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was upon him. 4 As I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north and a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and surrounded by brilliant light, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming copper. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, 6 but each had four faces, and each had four wings.

7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot; and sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. And the four had their faces and their wings. 9 And their wings touched one another; they went straightforward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man in front; and on the right each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; and at the back the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 Each one went straightforward. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 In the midst of the living creatures was something that looked like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth like a flash of lightning; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning. 15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. 16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction; their appearance was like the gleaming of chrysolite; and the four had the same likeness. Each appeared to be a wheel within a wheel. 17 As they moved, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. 18 The four rims were high and dreadful, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. 19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, shining like crystal, spread out above their heads. 23 under the firmament their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another; and each creature had two wings covering its body. 24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of many waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

25 Then there came a voice from above over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above, the firmament over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a likeness like that of a man. 27 I saw what appeared to be his waist up gleaming bronze, as if full of fire and surrounded brightness. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a day of rain, so was the radiance around him. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face and I heard the voice of one speaking.