Ezekiel 8:2

Christian Standard Bible ®

I looked, and there was someone who looked like a man. From what seemed to be his waist down was fire, and from his waist up was something that looked bright, like the gleam of amber.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Then I saw, and, behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.

King James Version
Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

English Standard Version
Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal.

New American Standard Bible
Then I looked, and behold, something like the appearance of a man; from His waist and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His waist and upward like the appearance of a glow, like gleaming metal.

New Century Version
I looked and saw something that looked like a human. From the waist down it looked like fire, and from the waist up it looked like bright glowing metal.

Amplified Bible
Then I looked, and behold, a likeness [of a man] with the appearance of fire; from His loins downward He was like fire, and from His loins upward He had the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal (bronze).

World English Bible
Then I saw, and, behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then I beheld, and lo, there was a likenesse, as the appearance of fire, to looke to, from his loynes downeward, & from his loynes vpward, as the appearance of brightnes, & like vnto amber.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of one on fire; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the gleam of glowing metal.

Berean Standard Bible
Then I looked and saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be His waist down was fire, and from His waist up his appearance was as bright as the gleam of amber.

Contemporary English Version
and I saw something in the shape of a human. This figure was like fire from the waist down, and it was bright as polished metal from the waist up.

Complete Jewish Bible
I looked and saw what seemed like a man made of fire. From what appeared to be his waist downward was fire, and from his waist upward was what appeared to be a gleaming amber-colored brilliance.

Darby Translation
And I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the look of glowing brass.

Easy-to-Read Version
I saw something that looked like fire, like a man's body. From the waist down, he was like fire. From the waist up, he was bright and shining like hot metal in a fire.

George Lamsa Translation
Then I beheld, and 1o, a likeness as of the appearance of fire; from the loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, brightness, as the appearance of God.

Good News Translation
I looked up and saw a vision of a fiery human form. From the waist down his body looked like fire, and from the waist up he was shining like polished bronze.

Lexham English Bible
and I saw, and look! A figure like the appearance of a man; from the appearance of his waist and below was fire, and from his waist and upward was like the appearance of brightness, like the outward appearance of amber.

Literal Translation
And I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire, from the appearance of His loins and downward, like fire, and from His loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, like the color of polished bronze.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And as I loked vp, I sawe as it were a licknesse off fyre from his loynes downwarde, and from his loynes vpwarde it shyned maruelous cleare.

American Standard Version
Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.

Bible in Basic English
And looking, I saw a form like fire; from the middle of his body and down there was fire: and up from the middle of his body a sort of shining, like electrum.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of electrum.

King James Version (1611)
Then I beheld, and loe, a likenesse as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loines euen downeward, fire: and from his loines euen vpward, as the appearance of brightnesse, as the colour of amber.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then I behelde, and lo, there was a likenesse as the appearaunce of fire: from the appearaunce of his loynes downewarde, fire: and from his loynes vpwarde as the appearaunce of brightnesse, lyke the colour of amber.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I looked, and, behold, the likeness of a man: from his loins and downwards there was fire, and from his loins upwards there was as the appearance of amber.

English Revised Version
Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire: and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y siy, and lo! a licnesse as the biholdyng of fier; fro the biholding of hise leendis and bynethe was fier, and fro hise leendis and aboue was as the biholdyng of schynyng, as the siyt of electre.

Update Bible Version
Then I looked and saw a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the color of amber.

New English Translation
As I watched, I noticed a form that appeared to be a man. From his waist downward was something like fire, and from his waist upward something like a brightness, like an amber glow.

New King James Version
Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire--from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber.

New Living Translation
I saw a figure that appeared to be a man. From what appeared to be his waist down, he looked like a burning flame. From the waist up he looked like gleaming amber.

New Life Bible
Then I saw what looked like a man. From the center of His body and down to his feet, there was what looked like fire. And from the center of His body and up to his head, there was a bright light which looked like shining brass.

New Revised Standard
I looked, and there was a figure that looked like a human being; below what appeared to be its loins it was fire, and above the loins it was like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming amber.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So I looked, and lo! a likeness as the appearance of a man, from the appearance of his loins and downward fire, and from his loins and upwards as an appearance of shining, as the look of amber,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I saw, and behold a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins, and downward, fire: and from his loins, and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the appearance of amber.

Revised Standard Version
Then I beheld, and, lo, a form that had the appearance of a man; below what appeared to be his loins it was fire, and above his loins it was like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming bronze.

Young's Literal Translation
and I look, and lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire, from the appearance of His loins and downward -- fire, and from His loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of copper.

Contextual Overview

¹In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting in front of me, and there the hand of the Lord God came down on me. ²I looked, and there was someone who looked like a man. From what seemed to be his waist down was fire, and from his waist up was something that looked bright, like the gleam of amber. ³He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousy was located. ⁴I saw the glory of the God of Israel there, like the vision I had seen in the plain. ⁵The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” I looked to the north, and there was this offensive statue north of the Altar Gate, at the entrance. ⁶He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing here—more detestable acts that the house of Israel is committing—so that I must depart from my sanctuary? You will see even more detestable acts.”

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I beheld: Ezekiel 1:4, Ezekiel 1:26, Ezekiel 1:27, Daniel 7:9, Daniel 7:10, Revelation 1:14, Revelation 1:15

amber: Amber is a hard, inflammable, bituminous substance, of a beautiful yellow colour, very transparent, and susceptible of an exquisite polish. When rubbed it is highly endowed with electricity; a name which the moderns have formed from its Greek name חכוךפסןם. But, as amber becomes dim as soon as it feels the fire, and is speedily consumed, it is probable that the original chashmal which Bochart derives from the Chaldee nechash copper, and melala gold, was a mixed metal, similar to that which the Greeks called חכוךפסןם, electrum, as the LXX and Vulgate render, from its resemblance to amber in colour.

Reciprocal: Philippians 2:6 - thought

Cross-References

Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the sources of the vast watery depths burst open, the floodgates of the sky were opened,

Genesis 8:11
When the dove came to him at evening, there was a plucked olive leaf in its beak. So Noah knew that the water on the earth’s surface had gone down.

Genesis 8:13
In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water that had covered the earth was dried up. Then Noah removed the ark’s cover and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.

Job 38:37
Who has the wisdom to number the clouds?Or who can tilt the water jars of heaven

Proverbs 8:28
when he placed the skies above,when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,

Jonah 2:3
You threw me into the depths,into the heart of the seas,and the current overcame me.All your breakers and your billows swept over me.

Matthew 8:9
For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And then one beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire,.... The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "behold the likeness of a man"; reading איש, "a man", for אש, "fire"; but without supposing such a reading, for which there is no foundation, this likeness may very well be understood of the likeness of a man; since mention is made of his joins in the next clause, and of his hand in Ezekiel 8:3; and the description agrees with the appearance of a man in Ezekiel 1:26; it was usual for the Son of God, who doubtless is here meant, to appear in a human form; and so Junius and Tremellius supply the words,

"and lo a likeness "of a man", as in the appearance of fire:''

it was the form of a fiery man that was seen, as he is further described:

from the appearance of his loins, even downward, fire; his lower parts, thighs, legs, and feet; expressive either of the light of grace communicated from Christ to his people; or of his fervent love towards them, or flaming zeal for God and his house; or rather of his wrath against an idolatrous people; see Revelation 1:15; a like description is in Ezekiel 1:27;

and from his loins, even upward, as the appearance of brightness; his upper parts, back, belly, breast, shoulders, arms, head, c. which may denote his incomprehensible majesty and glory his glory being the glory of the only begotten, the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person. The Targum renders both the one and the other part of the description thus,

"and I saw, and twelve a likeness as the look of fire, the look of glory, which the eye cannot see, nor is it possible to look upon it; and beneath the look of fire, and the look of glory, which the eye cannot behold, nor is it possible to contemplate it; and above, as the look of brightness:''

as the colour of amber: or "chasmal": which some take to be the name of an angel. The Syriac version is, "as the look of God";

Ezekiel 1:27- :; and

Ezekiel 1:27- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The appearance of fire - In margin reference, seen as the appearance of a man enthroned upon the cherubim. Here He stands apart from the throne revealing Himself to His servant. Compare Daniel 3:25 note.

Amber - See the margin reference note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 8:2. The appearance of fire — Ezekiel 1:27.