- In the thirtieth year , on the fifth day of the fourth month , while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar , the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.
On the fifth day of the month — it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin —
the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel - the priest , the son of Buzi , in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.
I looked and saw a whirlwind ... coming from the north , a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber ... ,
and within it (was) the form of four living creatures. And this (was) their appearance : a human form ,
but each had four faces and four wings ....
Their legs were straight , and the soles of their feet were like the hooves ... ... of a calf , gleaming like polished bronze.
Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four (living creatures) had faces and wings ,
and their wings were touching one another. ... They did not turn as they moved ; each ... one went straight ahead.
The form of their faces was that of a man , and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side , the face of an ox on the left side , and also the face of an eagle ....
Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward ; each (had) two (wings) touching the wings of the creature on either side , and two wings covering its body.
Each (creature) went straight ahead ... .... Wherever - - ... the spirit would go , they would go , without turning as they moved.
In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire , (or) of torches. ... Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures ; it was bright , and lightning flashed out of it.
The creatures were darting back and forth ... as quickly as flashes of lightning.
When I looked at the living creatures , I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
The workmanship of the wheels looked like the gleam of beryl , and all four had the same likeness. Their workmanship looked like ... a wheel within a wheel.
As they moved , they went in any of the four directions , without pivoting as they moved.
Their rims were high and awesome , and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
So as the living creatures moved , the wheels moved beside them , and when the creatures rose from the ground , the wheels also rose.
Wherever - - ... the spirit would go , they would go ... ... ... , and the wheels would rise alongside them , because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
When the creatures moved , the wheels moved ; when the creatures stood still , the wheels stood still ; and when the creatures rose from the ground , the wheels rose alongside them , because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
Spread out above ... the heads of the living creatures (was) the likeness of an awesome expanse , gleaming like crystal.
And under the expanse , their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two (wings) covering its body.
When (the creatures) moved , I heard - the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters , like the voice of the Almighty , like the tumult ... of an army. When they stood still , they lowered their wings.
And there came a voice from above the expanse - over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.
Above the expanse over their heads (was) the likeness of a throne ... with the appearance of sapphire ... , (and) on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man ... ....
From what seemed to be His waist up , I saw a gleam like amber , with what looked like fire within all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down , I saw what looked like fire ; and brilliant light surrounded Him.
The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it , I fell facedown ... and heard a voice speaking.