Ezekiel 1:28 Meaning and Explanation
“As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This 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 a voice of one that spake.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The brightness around the figure resembles a rainbow, revealing the glory of the LORD; the prophet falls in worship as a voice speaks.
The Context of Ezekiel 1:28
The vision culminates in the revelation of God's glory and the beginning of divine communication.
What Does Ezekiel 1:28 Mean?
The rainbow comparison is profound—rainbows appear after judgment (rain/storm) has passed, and they are signs of covenant and promise. The brightness of the divine figure is compared to this arch of light, suggesting that in God's glory there is both the severity of judgment and the mercy of covenant. The rainbow's appearance in clouds indicates the divine figure is above the realm of weather and earthly phenomena, yet condescends to be perceived through images earthly observers can grasp.
Ezekiel's response—falling on his face—is the proper human reaction to an overwhelming encounter with divine glory. This physical prostration indicates that the intellectual and sensory marvel of the vision moves the prophet to complete submission. The voice that speaks is the culmination of the entire vision: movement, wheels, creatures, throne, and fire all converge to deliver a message from the God whose glory Ezekiel has beheld.
Ezekiel 1:28 in the Original Language
kabod (כָּבוֹד), 'glory' — the visible manifestation of God's weightiness, majesty, and substantial presence; the radiant outshining of His character and rule.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 1:28
What does Ezekiel 1:28 mean?
The brightness around the figure resembles a rainbow, revealing the glory of the LORD; the prophet falls in worship as a voice speaks.
What is the context of Ezekiel 1:28?
The vision culminates in the revelation of God's glory and the beginning of divine communication.