CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Ezekiel 1:3 Commentaries: the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the LORD came upon him.)</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/ezekiel/1-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/ezekiel/1-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > Ezekiel 1:3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezekiel/1-2.htm" title="Ezekiel 1:2">◄</a> Ezekiel 1:3 <a href="../ezekiel/1-4.htm" title="Ezekiel 1:4">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/barnes/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/ezekiel/18-4.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kad/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Keil and Delitzsch OT">KD</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/ezekiel/1.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/ezekiel/1.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">Came expressly</span>.—Or, <span class= "ital">came certainly, </span>with the fullest proof of reality. In the original there is simply the ordinary form of the repetition of the verb for the sake of emphasis. The prophet mentions his own name only here and in <a href="/ezekiel/24-24.htm" title="Thus Ezekiel is to you a sign: according to all that he has done shall you do: and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.">Ezekiel 24:24</a>.<p><span class= "bld">The hand of the Lord was there upon him.</span>—A form of expression to indicate that special power and influence which the Spirit exercised over the prophets at times when they were called to become the means of the Divine communications. (Comp. <a href="/1_kings/18-46.htm" title="And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.">1Kings 18:46</a>, and <a href="/ezekiel/3-22.htm" title="And the hand of the LORD was there on me; and he said to me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with you.">Ezekiel 3:22</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/37-1.htm" title="The hand of the LORD was on me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the middle of the valley which was full of bones,">Ezekiel 37:1</a>; see also <a href="/daniel/8-18.htm" title="Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.">Daniel 8:18</a>; <a href="/daniel/10-10.htm" title="And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands.">Daniel 10:10</a>; <a href="/revelation/1-17.htm" title="And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand on me, saying to me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:">Revelation 1:17</a>.) It is noticeable that Ezekiel here speaks of himself in the third person, while in <a href="/ezekiel/1-1.htm" title="Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.">Ezekiel 1:1</a>, and always after this, he uses the first person. It had been suggested that this, together with the mention of his own name, may indicate the insertion of these two verses on a revision of his work by the prophet.<p>In entering upon the vision of the glory of the Lord, which fills the rest of this chapter, it is to be remembered that Ezekiel is struggling to portray that which necessarily exceeds the power of human language; it is not therefore surprising that there should be something of repetition and of obscurity in the detail. All similar descriptions of Divine manifestations are marked more or less strongly by the same characteristics. (See <a href="/context/exodus/24-9.htm" title="Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:">Exodus 24:9-10</a>; <a href="/context/isaiah/6-1.htm" title="In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.">Isaiah 6:1-4</a>; <a href="/context/daniel/7-9.htm" title="I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.">Daniel 7:9-10</a>; <a href="/context/revelation/1-12.htm" title="And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;">Revelation 1:12-20</a>; <a href="/context/revelation/4-2.htm" title="And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.">Revelation 4:2-6</a>, &c.) It is also to be borne in mind that what the prophet saw was not the eternal Father in His own absolute essence, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom “no man hath seen, nor can see” (<a href="/1_timothy/6-16.htm" title="Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach to; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.">1Timothy 6:16</a>); and had it been possible that Ezekiel should have been so transported out of the body as to behold this, it would then have been impossible for him to describe it. But what he saw in vision was such manifestation as man could bear, in which God hides His face, and allows to be seen only His uttermost parts (<a href="/context/exodus/33-22.htm" title="And it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I pass by:">Exodus 33:22-23</a>). In the description that follows may be recognised a mingling of the symbols of the Divine manifestation at Sinai with the “patterns of heavenly things” in the most holy place of the Temple, the whole modified to suit the present occasion, and possibly somewhat coloured by the now familiar symbolic art of Babylonia.<p><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/ezekiel/1.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>1:1-14 It is a mercy to have the word of God brought to us, and a duty to attend to it diligently, when we are in affliction. The voice of God came in the fulness of light and power, by the Holy Spirit. These visions seem to have been sent to possess the prophet's mind with great and high thoughts of God. To strike terror upon sinners. To speak comfort to those that feared God, and humbled themselves. In ver. 4-14, is the first part of the vision, which represents God as attended and served by a vast company of angels, who are all his messengers, his ministers, doing his commandments. This vision would impress the mind with solemn awe and fear of the Divine displeasure, yet raise expectations of blessings. The fire is surrounded with a glory. Though we cannot by searching find out God to perfection, yet we see the brightness round about it. The likeness of the living creatures came out of the midst of the fire; angels derive their being and power from God. They have the understanding of a man, and far more. A lion excels in strength and boldness. An ox excels in diligence and patience, and unwearied discharge of the work he has to do. An eagle excels in quickness and piercing sight, and in soaring high; and the angels, who excel man in all these respects, put on these appearances. The angels have wings; and whatever business God sends them upon, they lose no time. They stood straight, and firm, and steady. They had not only wings for motion, but hands for action. Many persons are quick, who are not active; they hurry about, but do nothing to purpose; they have wings, but no hands. But wherever the angels' wings carried them, they carried hands with them, to be doing what duty required. Whatever service they went about, they went every one straight forward. When we go straight, we go forward; when we serve God with one heart, we perform work. They turned not when they went. They made no mistakes; and their work needed not to be gone over again. They turned not from their business to trifle with any thing. They went whithersoever the Spirit of God would have them go. The prophet saw these living creatures by their own light, for their appearance was like burning coals of fire; they are seraphim, or burners; denoting the ardour of their love to God, and fervent zeal in his service. We may learn profitable lessons from subjects we cannot fully enter into or understand. But let us attend to the things which relate to our peace and duty, and leave secret things to the Lord, to whom alone they belong.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/ezekiel/1.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>Came expressly - The phrase marks that it was in truth a heaven-sent vision.<p>The hand of the Lord - A phrase in all prophecy implying a "constraining" power, because the spirit "constrains" the prophet independently of his own will. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/ezekiel/1.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>2. Jehoiachin's captivity—In the third or fourth year of Jehoiakim, father of Jehoiachin, the first carrying away of Jewish captives to Babylon took place, and among them was Daniel. The second was under Jehoiachin, when Ezekiel was carried away. The third and final one was at the taking of Jerusalem under Zedekiah.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/ezekiel/1.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> What was <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">visions, <a href="/ezekiel/1-1.htm" title="Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.">Ezekiel 1:1</a></span>, is here <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">the word, </span> both as signifying and declaring the mind of God, what he would do, and as containing his commands to Ezekiel and to the people, to whom these visions spake by signs. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The word of the Lord:</span> lest the prophet should want his warrant, or the Jews except to his advice, it is plainly told them that Jehovah the sovereign Lord and eternal God, by Ezekiel, counsels, warns, commands, and threatens. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Came expressly unto; </span> emphatically translated as it is emphatically expressed in the Hebrew, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">being with him, </span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">it was with him; </span> so long he might discern, so clear he might understand, so near he could not be deceived, or easily forget what he was to tell them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Ezekiel</span> signifies either, the strength of God, or, strengthened by God, and in a few syllables contains what is more largely set forth, <span class="bld"><a href="/ezekiel/3-8.htm" title="Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads.">Ezekiel 3:8</a>,9</span>. He speaks of himself in the third person. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The priest; </span> who therefore should be regarded as one whose interest among the priests at Jerusalem would be best promoted if better things might be hoped and shortly expected than he must now tell them; it was likely he dealt truly with them, when he must share so much in the sad things foretold. He was of the priests originally, he was a prophet by extraordinary call. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The son of Buzi; </span> of a contemned man, so the etymology of the Hebrew, which gave the rabbins occasion to apply it to Jeremiah, and to account the prophet either son or servant to Jeremiah; but it is a proper name. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">In the land of the Chaldeans, </span> enemies to, and now masters of, poor captive Jews, the church of God: there God makes him a prophet, who was an ordinary priest in the land of Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The river Chebar, </span> though a river of Mesopotamia, yet here seems placed in Chaldea, because Mesopotamia was part of the kingdom of the Chaldeans; so Chebar or Chobar was in the land, i.e. within the kingdom, of Chaldea, but particularly in Mesopotamia, a province of that kingdom. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The hand of the Lord; </span> the Divine impulse moving with power and efficacy on Ezekiel for the work, and clearly confirming and demonstrating to the captive Jews that he was the prophet of the Lord, and spake to them in his name; the Spirit of prophecy, as the Chaldee Paraphrase. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Was upon him there:</span> God is not confined; though most prophets were in the land of Israel, yet here in Chaldea also appears a great prophet, and should be hearkened unto. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/ezekiel/1.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>The word of the Lord came expressly,.... Or, "in being was" (d); which phrase denotes the reality, certainty, substantiality and evidence of the word of the Lord to him: <p>unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi; which Buzi, some say, was Jeremiah. Kimchi observes, that, in the Jerusalem Targum, the Prophet Ezekiel is called the son of Jeremiah the prophet: and Jeremiah was called Buzi because they despised him; this is rejected by Abarbinel; nor is there any reason to believe it, any more than what Nazianzen (e) says, that Ezekiel was a servant of Jeremiah: <p>in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chebar; See Gill on <a href="/ezekiel/1-1.htm">Ezekiel 1:1</a>. The Chaldee paraphrase makes the word of the Lord to come to him at two distinct times and places; <p>"the word of prophecy from before the Lord was with Ezekiel the son of Buzi the priest in the land of Israel: it returned a second time, and spoke with him in the province, the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chebar:'' <p>and the hand of the Lord was there upon him; by which is meant the gift and word of prophecy, which came with power and efficacy, clearness and evidence; so the Targum, and the <p>"spirit of prophecy from before the Lord there abode by him;'' <p>by which he saw all later visions, and delivered out the following prophecies; see <a href="/2_peter/1-21.htm">2 Peter 1:21</a>. <p>(d) "essendo fuit", Pagninus, Montanus. Heb. ; "existendo exstitit", Polanus. (e) Orat. 47. vol. 1. p. 724. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/ezekiel/1.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">The word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the <span class="cverse3">{d}</span> hand of the LORD was there upon him.</span><p>(d) That is, the spirit of prophecy, as in Eze 3:22,37:1.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/ezekiel/1.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">3</span>. <span class="ital">came expressly</span>] Omit <span class="ital">expressly</span>. The name Ezekiel probably means “God is strong.” Nothing further is known of Ezekiel or of his father Buzi. The designation “priest” appears to apply to Ezekiel, not to his father. As the prophet excludes all Levites from priestly office except the “sons of Zadok” (<a href="/ezekiel/40-46.htm" title="And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister to him.">Ezekiel 40:46</a>, <a href="/ezekiel/43-19.htm" title="And you shall give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach to me, to minister to me, said the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering.">Ezekiel 43:19</a>, <a href="/context/ezekiel/44-15.htm" title="But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister to me, and they shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood, said the Lord GOD:...">Ezekiel 44:15-16</a>), it may be inferred that he belonged himself to this family. It appears from <a href="/jeremiah/29-1.htm" title="Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;">Jeremiah 29:1</a> <span class="ital">seq</span>. that among the captives carried away with Jehoiachin were both priests and prophets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">hand of the Lord</span>] the prophetic ecstasy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The word of the Lord came expressly,</span> etc.; literally, <span class="accented">coming, there come the word of the Lord</span>; the iteration having (as commonly in this combination in Hebrew) the force of emphasis. The phrase stands, as elsewhere, for the conscious inspiration which made men feel that Jehovah had indeed spoken unto them, and that they had a message from him to deliver. To give parallel passages would be to copy several pages from a concordance, but it may not be without interest to note its first (<a href="/genesis/15-1.htm">Genesis 15:1</a>) and last (<a href="/malachi/1-1.htm">Malachi 1:1</a>) occurrences in the Old Testament, and its reappearance in the New Testament (<a href="/luke/3-2.htm">Luke 3:2</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Unto Ezekiel.</span> We note the transition from the first person to the third; but it does not give sufficient ground for rejecting either ver. 1 or ver. 2, 3 as an interpolation. (For the prophet's name, which appears only here and in <a href="/ezekiel/24-24.htm">Ezekiel 24:24</a>, see Introduction; and for "land of Chaldeans," note on ver. 1.) <span class="cmt_word">The hand of the Lord.</span> Here again we haw a phrase of frequent occurrence, used of Elijah (<a href="/1_kings/18-46.htm">1 Kings 18:46</a>), of Elisha (<a href="/2_kings/3-15.htm">2 Kings 3:15</a>), of Daniel (<a href="/daniel/8-18.htm">Daniel 8:18</a>; <a href="/daniel/10-10.htm">Daniel 10:10</a>), of Isaiah (<a href="/isaiah/8-11.htm">Isaiah 8:11</a>), of St. John (<a href="/revelation/1-17.htm">Revelation 1:17</a>). The "hand" of the Lord is the natural symbol of his power, and the phrase seems to be used to add to the consciousness of inspiration, that of a constraining, irresistible power. Ezekiel continually uses it (<a href="/ezekiel/3-14.htm">Ezekiel 3:14, 22</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/8-1.htm">Ezekiel 8:1</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/33-22.htm">Ezekiel 33:22</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/37-1.htm">Ezekiel 37:1</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/40-1.htm">Ezekiel 40:1</a>). Ezekiel 1:3<a name="kad" id="kad"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/kad/ezekiel/1.htm">Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament</a></div>The Appearance of the Glory of the Lord. - <a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/1-1.htm">Ezekiel 1:1-3</a>. Time and place of the same. - <a href="/ezekiel/1-1.htm">Ezekiel 1:1</a>. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth (month), on the fifth (day) of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. <a href="/ezekiel/1-2.htm">Ezekiel 1:2</a>. On the fifth day of the month, it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, <a href="/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3</a>. The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Busi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.<p>Regarding ויהי at the beginning of a book, as e.g., in <a href="http://biblehub.com/jonah/1-1.htm">Jonah 1:1</a>, cf. the note on <a href="/joshua/1-1.htm">Joshua 1:1</a>. The two notices of the year in <a href="/ezekiel/1-1.htm">Ezekiel 1:1</a> and <a href="/ezekiel/1-2.htm">Ezekiel 1:2</a> are closely connected with the twofold introduction of the theophany. This is described in verse first, according to its form or phenomenal nature, and then in verses second and third, according to its intended purpose, and its effect upon the prophet. The phenomenon consisted in this, that the heavens were opened, and Ezekiel saw visions of God. The heaven opens not merely when to our eye a glimpse is disclosed of the heavenly glory of God (Calvin), but also when God manifests His glory in a manner perceptible to human sight. The latter was the case here. מראות אלהים, "visions of God," are not "visiones praestantissimae," but visions which have divine or heavenly things for their object; cf. <a href="/isaiah/6-1.htm">Isaiah 6:1</a>; <a href="/1_kings/22-19.htm">1 Kings 22:19</a>; <a href="/2_kings/6-17.htm">2 Kings 6:17</a>. Here it is the manifestation of Jehovah's glory described in the following verses. This was beheld by Ezekiel in the thirtieth year, which, according to verse second, was in the fifth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin. The real identity of these two dates is placed beyond doubt by the mention of the same day of the month, "on the fifth day of the month" (<a href="/ezekiel/1-2.htm">Ezekiel 1:2</a> compared with <a href="/ezekiel/1-1.htm">Ezekiel 1:1</a>). The fifth year from the commencement of Jehoiachin's captivity is the year 595 b.c.; the thirtieth year, consequently, is the year 625 b.c. But the era, in accordance with which this date is reckoned, is matter of dispute, and can no longer be ascertained with certainty. To suppose, with Hengstenberg, that the reference is to the year of the prophet's own life, is forbidden by the addition "in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month," which points to an era generally recognised. In the year 625 b.c., Nabopolassar became king of Babylon, and therefore many of the older expositors have supposed that Ezekiel means the thirtieth year of the era of Nabopolassar. Nothing, however, is know of any such era. Others, as the Chaldee paraphrast and Jerome, and in modern times also Ideler, are of opinion that the thirtieth year is reckoned from the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah, because in that year the book of the law was discovered, and the regeneration of public worship completed by a solemn celebration of the Passover. No trace, however, can elsewhere be pointed out of the existence of a chronology dating from these events. The Rabbins in Seder Olam assume a chronology according to the periods of the years of jubilee, and so also Hitzig; but for this supposition too all reliable proofs are wanting. At the time mentioned, Ezekiel found himself בּתוך הגּולה, "in the midst of the exiles," i.e., within the circuit of their settlements, not, in their society; for it is evident from <a href="/ezekiel/3-15.htm">Ezekiel 3:15</a> that he was alone when the theophany was imparted to him, and did not repair till afterwards to the residences of the settlers. <a href="/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3</a>. By the river Chebar, in the land of the Chaldees, i.e., in Babylon or Mesopotamia. The river כּבר, to be distinguished from חבור, the river of Gosan, which flows into the Tigris, see on <a href="http://biblehub.com/2_kings/17-6.htm">2 Kings 17:6</a>, is the Mesopotamian Chabioras, ̓Αβορρας (Strabo, xvi. 748), or Χαβώρας (Ptolem. v. 18, 3), Arab. cha equals bu equals r (Edrisi Clim. iv. p. 6, ii. p. 150, ed. Jaubert and Abulf. Mesopot. in the N. Repertor. III. p. xxiv.), which according to Edrisi takes its rise from "nearly three hundred springs," near the city Ras-el-'Ain, at the foot of the mountain range of Masius, flows through Upper Mesopotamia in a direction parallel with its two principal streams, and then, turning westward, discharges itself into the Euphrates near Kirkesion. There the hand of Jehovah came upon Ezekiel. The expression יד יי' היתה על )אל( always signifies a miraculous working of the power or omnipotence of God upon a man-the hand being the organ of power in action-by which he is placed in a condition to exert superhuman power, <a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/18-46.htm">1 Kings 18:46</a>, and is the regular expression for the supernatural transportation into the state of ecstasy for the purpose of beholding and announcing (cf. <a href="/2_kings/3-15.htm">2 Kings 3:15</a>), or undertaking, heavenly things; and so throughout Ezekiel, cf. <a href="/ezekiel/3-22.htm">Ezekiel 3:22</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/8-1.htm">Ezekiel 8:1</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/33-22.htm">Ezekiel 33:22</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/37-1.htm">Ezekiel 37:1</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/40-1.htm">Ezekiel 40:1</a>. <div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 Interlinear</a><br /><a href="/texts/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 Parallel Texts</a><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/niv/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://bibleapps.com/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 Parallel</a><br /><a href="http://bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="http://holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="http://saintebible.com/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="http://bibeltext.com/ezekiel/1-3.htm">Ezekiel 1:3 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td align="center"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="../ezekiel/1-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 1:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 1:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../ezekiel/1-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 1:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 1:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>