26 Now above e the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne , like [1] lapis e lazuli e in appearance ; and on that which resembled a throne , high e up, was a figure with the appearance of a man . 27 Then I [2]noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like [3]glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire ; and there was a radiance around Him. 28 As the appearance of the rainbow [4]in the clouds on a rainy day , so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance . Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord . And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:26-28
Commentary on Ezekiel 1:26-28
(Read Ezekiel 1:26-28)
The eternal Son, the second Person in the Trinity, who afterwards took the human nature, is here denoted. The first thing observed was a throne. It is a throne of glory, a throne of grace, a throne of triumph, a throne of government, a throne of judgment. It is good news to men, that the throne above the firmament is filled with One who appears, even there, in the likeness of a man. The throne is surrounded with a rainbow, the well-known emblem of the covenant, representing God's mercy and covenanted love to his people. The fire of God's wrath was breaking out against Jerusalem, but bounds should be set to it; he would look upon the bow, and remember the covenant. All the prophet saw was only to prepare him for what he was to hear. When he fell on his face, he heard the voice of One that spake. God delights to teach the humble. Let sinners, then, humble themselves before him. And let believers think upon his glory, that they may be gradually changed into his image by the Spirit of the Lord.