And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the appearance that I saw in the plain.
- BSB And there I saw the glory of the God of Israel, like the vision I had seen in the plain.
- NKJV And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.
- NASB And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain.
- NLT Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel was there, just as I had seen it before in the valley.
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
The glory of Israel's God is present in the temple, just as Ezekiel had seen it in Babylon. It heightens the horror that idolatry stood in the very place of His glory.
Overview
The same glory Ezekiel saw "in the plain" by the Chebar now appears at Jerusalem, linking the visions and affirming God's presence with both exiles and homeland. Its appearance here sets up the tragic theme of these chapters: the glory will withdraw because of the people's sin. God's holiness cannot coexist indefinitely with deliberate rebellion. The departing glory points forward to its return and ultimate dwelling among us in Jesus, Immanuel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ezek 3:22–23And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.
- 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.
- Exod 25:22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
- Ezek 9:3And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
- 2 Cor 3:18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.
- 2 Cor 4:4–6In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
- Ezek 10:1–4Then 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.
- Heb 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
- Ezek 11:22–23Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
- Exod 40:34–35Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
- Ezek 43:2–4And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 8:4 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.