Ezekiel 8:3

"Then I saw, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire—from the appearance of his waist and downward, fire, and from his waist and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal."

Key Reflection

In Ezekiel 8:3, the prophet describes a vision where he sees a figure with an appearance of fire extending from their waist downward and brightness from their waist upward, resembling glowing metal. This vivid imagery would have struck the original audience as highly significant, evoking the glory and power of God in a way that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, given the historical context of divine presence and judgment.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

In the visions of God -Ezekiel was not transported “in the body,” but rapt “in spirit,” while he still sat amidst the elders of Judah. The inner gate -Or, the gate of the inner court. This gate, leading from the outer to the inner court (the court of the priests), is calledEzekiel 8:5“the gate of the altar,” because it was from this side that the priests approached the brass altar. The prophet is on the “outside” of this gate, so that the “image of jealousy” was set up in the outer or people’s court over against the northern entrance to the priest’s court. This image was the image of a false god provoking Yahweh to “jealousy”Deuteronomy 32:16,Deu 32:21;1 Kings 14:22.

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