And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
Parallel translations
- WEB They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness.
- BSB and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
- NKJV and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.
- NASB and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
- NLT There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They saw the God of Israel, with a pavement like sapphire beneath His feet, clear as the sky. God granted a real but veiled vision of His glory.
Overview
This is a guarded theophany: they perceive God's presence and the brilliant beauty beneath His feet rather than His full essence, for no one can see God and live. The sapphire pavement conveys transcendent purity and majesty. That sinners could behold such a vision and live testifies to the covenant just sealed in blood. The fuller revelation of God's glory comes in Christ, in whom we behold God's glory in the face of the Son.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- John 1:18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
- Ezek 10:1Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
- Exod 33:20And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
- Exod 33:23And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
- Gen 32:30And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
- Isa 6:1–5In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
- 1 Tim 6:16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
- Rev 4:3And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
- Ezek 1:26–28And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
- Matt 17:2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
- Rev 21:11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
- 1 Jn 4:12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
- John 14:9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
- John 6:46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
- 1 Kgs 22:19And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
- Rev 1:16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
- Song 6:10Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
- Exod 3:6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
- Judg 13:21–22But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
- Rev 21:18–23And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 24:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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