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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
- Ezek 10:1Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
- Exod 33:20He said, “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.”
- Exod 33:23then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
- Gen 32:30Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, he said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
- Isa 6:1–5In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.
- 1 Tim 6:16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
- Rev 4:3that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
- Ezek 1:26–28Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
- Matt 17:2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
- Rev 21:11having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
- 1 Jn 4:12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.
- John 14:9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’
- John 6:46Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.
- 1 Kgs 22:19Micaiah said, “Therefore hear Yahweh’s word. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
- Rev 1:16He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Song 6:10Who is she who looks out as the morning, beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun, and awesome as an army with banners?
- Exod 3:6Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look at God.
- Judg 13:21–22But Yahweh’s angel didn’t appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was Yahweh’s angel.
- Rev 21:18–23The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure 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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