What Does the Vision in Ezekiel 1 Mean? .rll-youtube-player, [data-lazy-src]{display:none !important;} Sections Ministry Corner Reading Nook Lecture Hall All Recent Articles Topics Apologetics Bible Study Bible Technology Biblical Archaeology Biblical Languages Biblical Studies Book Reviews Church History Church Technology Counseling Culture and Context Didaktikos Education Logos Live Logos Training Ministry Preaching Scholarship Theology All Recent Articles Contributors Adam Shaeffer Jason Brueckner Jennifer Grisham Karen Engle Mark Barnes Mark Ward Michael S. Heiser Morris Proctor Tavis Bohlinger Tobin Perry See More About What Is Logos Bible Software? Community Guidelines Write for Us Search Search Search Search Sections Ministry Corner Reading Nook Lecture Hall All Recent Articles Topics Apologetics Bible Study Bible Technology Biblical Archaeology Biblical Languages Biblical Studies Book Reviews Church History Church Technology Counseling Culture and Context Didaktikos Education Logos Live Logos Training Ministry Preaching Scholarship Theology All Recent Articles Contributors Adam Shaeffer Jason Brueckner Jennifer Grisham Karen Engle Mark Barnes Mark Ward Michael S. Heiser Morris Proctor Tavis Bohlinger Tobin Perry See More About What Is Logos Bible Software? Community Guidelines Write for Us Search Search Biblical Studies What Does the Vision in Ezekiel 1 Mean? Michael S. Heiser4 min read2 months ago Share FacebookTwitterRedditPinterestEmailLinkedIn We are prone to make assumptions about God and his favor when life has us down due to sin, mistakes, or incomprehensible circumstances. Of all the Scripture passages we might turn to during these times, the bizarre vision that opens the book of Ezekiel would not register high on our list. However, reading this passage with its original ancient context in mind reveals a powerful message for its original recipients and for every believer. The Babylonian context Ezekiel had his vision in Babylon as one of the captive exiles (Ezek 1:1–3). Comparing his vision to Babylonian iconography reveals that Ezekiel saw a divine “throne chariot” of the heavens—widely described in the ancient biblical world. Just as human kings had chariots, so did deities. A deity would traverse the heavens in his chariot throne, inspecting his domain and exercising authority over it. In Ezekiel’s vision, this throne sits atop the “expanse” (רקיע, raqiaʾ, 1:26)—the same word used in Genesis 1:6–8 for the heavens (see also Ps 29:10) and to describe God’s abode (Ps 150:1). Wheels supported the chariot throne, along with four unusual creatures (identified as cherubim in Ezek 10:4). Each creature had four faces: human, lion, eagle, and ox (Ezek 1:10). Next to each cherub were four gleaming wheels (Ezek 1:15–16). These wheels were set on edge, since they are described as “tall” (Ezek 1:18). They had wheels within them—that is, each one had at least one concentric circle within it. The vision describes the outer edge, or “rim,” of each wheel as having “eyes” (עַיִן, ʿayin). The prophet Daniel, who was also in Babylon, described the very same blazing throne with wheels (Dan 7:9). The vision in context The four faces of the four animals or cherubim correspond to the iconography of the Babylonian zodiac. Each represents a seasonal constellation in Babylonian astrology, and each face or constellation also represented one of the four directions (N, S, E, W) or quadrants of the sky. Babylonians knew that the heavens were connected to what happened on earth (times, seasons, crops, weather, etc.), and they believed their gods controlled those functions. Information about the stars was laid out on Mesopotamian astrolabes, clay tablets whose concentric circles could well correspond to the “wheels within wheels” imagery. English translations of Ezekiel’s vision often break down at the point where the prophet describes “eyes” (עַיִן, ʿayin) on the rims of the wheels. ʿAyin occurs a number of places in the vision, but it is not always translated. Taking the ESV as an example, ʿayin occurs six times in chapter 1 (vv. 4, 7, 16, 18, 22, 27) but is left untranslated three times (vv. 4, 7, 27). In the vision’s description of the wheels, the word ʿayin is translated once as “sparkling” (Ezek 10:9). Since ancient astronomical texts commonly describe shining stars as “eyes,” ʿayin can refer to stars or their sparkling appearance. Many translators miss this possibility, failing to consider the astronomical context portrayed by the four faces. The meaning of the vision During their time of exile, the Jewish captives might have easily believed Yahweh had abandoned them forever. Likewise, the Babylonians could have simply assumed their gods had defeated Yahweh and ruled the heavens and the earth unchallenged. But Ezekiel’s imagery sends a message to the Jews in exile—and to their Babylonian captors: Both assumptions are flawed. Yahweh has not been defeated, nor has he turned away from his people, Israel. He remains seated in his chariot throne at the center of his domain—the entire cosmos. When we read Ezekiel 1 through ancient eyes, we can feel the same hope today: even amid difficult circumstances, we can know that an all-powerful God is active and present in our lives. *** Related articles Who Are the Elohim? The Answer Might Rattle Your Theology Satan in the Bible: 14 Sobering Facts Was God Alone in the Beginning? The Bible Says No. Who Are the Nephilim and What Is There Origen? What Really Happened at the Tower of Babel? Related resources Logos 9 Basic Regular price: $0.00 Add to cart The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Regular price: $17.99 Add to cart Angels and Demons Bundle (4 vols.) Regular price: $39.99 Add to cart The Bible Unfiltered: Approaching Scripture on Its Own Terms Regular price: $9.99 Add to cart Lexham Press Bible Study Essentials Bundle (20 vols.) Regular price: $99.99 Add to cart Sons and Daughters of God: The Believer’s Identity, Calling, and Destiny (2.5 hour course) Regular price: $93.99 Add to cart Comments JOIN THE CONVERSATION You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. Create an account or log in to get started. Leave a comment Share FacebookTwitterRedditPinterestEmailLinkedIn Tagged asbabylondr. michael s. heiserezekieli dare you not to bore me with the bibletop 100 Written by Michael S. Heiser Michael S. Heiser is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (M.A., Ancient History) and the University of Wisconsin- Madison (M.A., Ph.D., Hebrew Bible and Semitic Studies). He has a dozen years of classroom teaching experience on the college level and another ten in distance education. He is a former scholar-in-residence at Logos Bible Software. View all articles Related articles min7 Biblical Studies How Judah’s Scepter Connects to Christmas—& Jesus’ Return Lexham Press4 weeks ago min7 Biblical Studies What Are We Missing about ‘In Everything Give Thanks’? Faithlife Staff1 month ago min11 Biblical StudiesChurch History Grammar and Exegesis in the Work of Photius of Constantinople Clark Bates2 months ago min6 Biblical LanguagesBiblical StudiesPreaching Why Did John Piper Say He Hardly Needs BDAG? Mark Ward3 months ago Follow Social Icons / Instagram / invert Wisdom Delivered Weekly Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. Browse by Topic Bible Study Bible Technology Biblical Languages Church History Culture and Context Logos Training Ministry Preaching Theology Logos Live Biblical Studies Education Scholarship All categories Your email address has been added Written by Michael S. Heiser Grammar and Exegesis in the Work of Photius of Constantinople FacebookTwitterRedditPinterestEmailLinkedIn Why Did John Piper Say He Hardly Needs BDAG? Sections Ministry Corner Reading Nook Lecture Hall All Recent Articles Topics Apologetics Bible Study Bible Technology Biblical Archaeology Biblical Languages Biblical Studies Book Reviews Church History Church Technology Counseling Culture and Context Didaktikos Education Logos Live Logos Training Ministry Preaching Scholarship Theology All Recent Articles Contributors Adam Shaeffer Jason Brueckner Jennifer Grisham Karen Engle Mark Barnes Mark Ward Michael S. Heiser Morris Proctor Tavis Bohlinger Tobin Perry See More About What Is Logos Bible Software? Community Guidelines Write for Us Live chat:Chat with an ExpertLearn more about us!