Ezekiel 1:4
"And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

And I looked,.... Being under the influence of the Spirit and power of God: and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north; which some understand of Nebuchadnezzar and his army coming from Babylon, which lay north of Judea: see Jer 1:14 ; but it seems to me to be, with what follows, only an apparatus to the following vision: and is designed to awaken the mind of the prophet, and to fix his attention to what should proceed from hence, and be seen by him; just as the Lord speared in and answered Job out of, the whirlwind, Job 38:1 ; a great cloud; as is usual when there is much thunder and lightning; though some understand this also of Nebuchadnezzar's army, which came in great human, swiftly and powerfully, as a cloud: and a fire infolding itself: in the cloud; rolling within

it, when it burst out in thunder and lightning. The Targum renders it, "fire inflamed", the same phrase is used of the storm of thunder, lightning, and hail, in Exo 9:24 . Some understand this of the wrath of the Babylonian monarch; or of the wrath of God by him; or of the sins of men, the cause thereof: and a brightness was about it; that is, the cloud. This brightness was an emblem of the glory of the divine Being; who was now present, an enlightened the mind of the prophet to see the following things, and which all proceeded from him: and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber out of the midst of the fire; that is, out of the midst of the fire, and out of the midst of the brightness about it, there was something which was as "the colour of amber"; or, "like the chasmal" (f); which, the Jews (g) say, is the name of an angel. It is asked (h), what is "chasmal?" R. Judah says, , "fiery animals speaking": who, when God speaks, are silent; and when he does not speak, they speak; but Christ is meant; for the appearance of the man upon the throne is said to be as the colour of "chasmal", Eze 1:27 . The word, read the contrary way, is the Messiah, or the anointed, or to be anointed. Jarchi thinks it is the name of a colour, nearest to the colour of fire, Junius and Tremellius render it, "a most lively colour"; and perhaps may mean the colour of a burning coal; and Buxtorf translates it, "a coal exceedingly fired"; a clear, burning, red-hot coal; which may denote the pure light of Christ, who is the brightness of his Father's glory; his flaming love for his people; his burning zeal for the glory of God, and the good of his church; and his fiery indignation against his enemies. We render the word amber, as do others; by which must be meant, not that which is the juice of certain trees, which is hardened by the air, and is of a yellowish colour; nor that liquid substance which comes from sea shores and rocks, and, being hardened in the same way, is of the colour of wax; but a sort of mixed metal, compounded of gold and silver; the fifth part of it is silver, as Pliny (i) says, and four parts gold; though Bochart is of opinion that the "qurichalcum", a metal made of gold and brass, is meant; which is the most fine brass; to which the feet of Christ are compared in Rev 1:15 ; and so this "chasmal" may denote the two natures in Christ; the preciousness of his person; his brightness and glory; and his great strength and power. R. Abendana (k) conjectures, that the colour of "chasmal" means the colour of some precious stone, as the colour of "tarshish", or "beryl", Eze 1:16 ; and so he that sat upon the throne, in Rev 4:3 ; was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone. (f) "tanquam species hasmal, vel chasmal", Calvin, Tigerius version, Starckius; "angeli", Munster; "flammae crepitantis", Montanus; "prunarum ardentissimarum", Polanus; "purissimi aeris", Piscator; Sept. "electri", V. L. Pagninus. (g) Baal Aruch, Philip. Aquinas. Vid. Jarchi & Kimchi ib loc. (h) T. Bab. Chagiga, fol. 13. 1. 2. (i) Nat. Hist. l. 33. c. 4. (k) Not. in Miclol Yophi in loc.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (18 words)

H7200 רָאָה
Definition:

7, compareריחspectacleDeuteronomy 1:12; Sabeanראיsee, expectDHMZMG xxix (1875), 506,599; Arabicsee, so Ethiopicᵑ7רֵו,רֵיוָאhumanappearance, features, etc. (compare Hebrewרְָאִי2)); —Qal1141Perfect3mas 7, compareריחspectacleDeuteronomy 1:12; Sabeanראיsee, expectDHMZMG xxix (1875), 506,599; Arabicsee, so Ethiopicᵑ7רֵו,רֵיוָאhumanappearance, features, etc. (compare Hebrewרְָאִי2)); —Qal1141Perfect3mas

Possible Meanings:
  • vision (semantic_range)
H2009 הִנֵּה
Definition:

2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro 2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro

Possible Meanings:
  • hither (semantic_range)
H7307 רוּחַ
Definition:

8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת 8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת

H5591 סַעַר
Definition:

Or (feminine) ctarah {seh-aw-raw'}; fromca'ar; a hurricane -- storm(-y), tempest, whirlwind.see HEBREWca'arBrown-Driver-Briggsסַ֫עַרnoun masculineJeremiah 23:19tempest; — absolute׳סAmos 1:145t.;סָ֑עַר Or (feminine) ctarah {seh-aw-raw'}; fromca'ar; a hurricane -- storm(-y), tempest, whirlwind.see HEBREWca'arBrown-Driver-Briggsסַ֫עַרnoun masculineJeremiah 23:19tempest; — absolute׳סAmos 1:145t.;סָ֑עַר

H0935 בּוֹא
Definition:

13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti 13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti

Possible Meanings:
  • come in (semantic_range)
  • come (semantic_range)
  • go in (semantic_range)
  • go (semantic_range)
  • come in (semantic_range)
H4480 מִן
Definition:

2; 2Chronicles 20:11) contracted toמִי(asמִידֵיfromמִיְּדֵי), before guttural andר, mostlyמֵ, occasionallyמִ(Ges§ 102, l R.; more fully Köii. 291ff),מִןbefore article in all books much commoner than - 2; 2Chronicles 20:11) contracted toמִי(asמִידֵיfromמִיְּדֵי), before guttural andר, mostlyמֵ, occasionallyמִ(Ges§ 102, l R.; more fully Köii. 291ff),מִןbefore article in all books much commoner than -

Possible Meanings:
  • out of (semantic_range)
  • by (semantic_range)
  • by reason of (semantic_range)
  • at (semantic_range)
H6828 צָפוֹן
Definition:

6north(as thehidden, dark; compare Thes LewyFremdw. 188 f.; perhaps Phoenicianצפלnorth); — absolute׳צJeremiah 26:26+,צָפֹ֫נָהnorthwardGenesis 13:14+, oftenerצָפ֫וֺנָהJeremiah 3:12+, alsoצָפ֫וֺנָה=צָפו 6north(as thehidden, dark; compare Thes LewyFremdw. 188 f.; perhaps Phoenicianצפלnorth); — absolute׳צJeremiah 26:26+,צָפֹ֫נָהnorthwardGenesis 13:14+, oftenerצָפ֫וֺנָהJeremiah 3:12+, alsoצָפ֫וֺנָה=צָפו

H6051 עָנָן
Definition:

16cloud-mass, cloud; —׳(הֶ)עabsoluteExodus 19:9+; constructעֲנַזִHosea 6:4+; suffixעֲנָֽנְךָNumbers 14:14,עֲנָנוֺJob 26:9;Job 37:15; pluralעֲנִיםJeremiah 4:13; —1cloud-mass:a.especially of theophanic 16cloud-mass, cloud; —׳(הֶ)עabsoluteExodus 19:9+; constructעֲנַזִHosea 6:4+; suffixעֲנָֽנְךָNumbers 14:14,עֲנָנוֺJob 26:9;Job 37:15; pluralעֲנִיםJeremiah 4:13; —1cloud-mass:a.especially of theophanic

H1419 גָּדוֹל
Definition:

13 279t.;גָּדֹלDeuteronomy 26:822t.; constructגְּדוֺלEzekiel 17:3,7;Jeremiah 32:19,גְּדָלֿProverbs 19:19,גְּדָו֯לֿPsalm 145:8;Nahum 1:3; suffixגְּדוֺלָםJeremiah 6:132t.; pluralגְּדוֺלִיםExodus 7:411t. 13 279t.;גָּדֹלDeuteronomy 26:822t.; constructגְּדוֺלEzekiel 17:3,7;Jeremiah 32:19,גְּדָלֿProverbs 19:19,גְּדָו֯לֿPsalm 145:8;Nahum 1:3; suffixגְּדוֺלָםJeremiah 6:132t.; pluralגְּדוֺלִיםExodus 7:411t.

Possible Meanings:
  • great (semantic_range)
  • loud (semantic_range)
  • do great things (semantic_range)
  • greatness (semantic_range)
H0784 אֵשׂ
Definition:

23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p 23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p

Possible Meanings:
  • foundation (semantic_range)
H3947 לָקַח
Definition:

22+,לָקָח֑Genesis 27:36+ (קָחEzekiel 17:5is textual error; omitted byᵐ5ᵑ6Co, compare Ges§ 19, 3. a); suffixלְקָחַנִיGenesis 24:7,לְקָחָםJeremiah 27:20(forקָחָםHosea 11:3read probablyאֶקָּחֵםᵐ5ᵑ7Ew St 22+,לָקָח֑Genesis 27:36+ (קָחEzekiel 17:5is textual error; omitted byᵐ5ᵑ6Co, compare Ges§ 19, 3. a); suffixלְקָחַנִיGenesis 24:7,לְקָחָםJeremiah 27:20(forקָחָםHosea 11:3read probablyאֶקָּחֵםᵐ5ᵑ7Ew St

Possible Meanings:
  • learning (semantic_range)
  • teaching (semantic_range)
  • what is received (semantic_range)
  • instruction (semantic_range)
  • teaching (semantic_range)
H5051 נֹגַהּ
Definition:

4brightness; —׳נabsoluteAmos 5:10+; constructIsaiah 4:5+; suffixנָגְהָםJoel 2:10; Joel 4:15; —brightnessof a (clear, sunshiny) dayAmos 5:10(""אוֺר; opposed toאָפֵל,חשֶׁךְ),2 Samuel 23:4(מִמָּטָרafter 4brightness; —׳נabsoluteAmos 5:10+; constructIsaiah 4:5+; suffixנָגְהָםJoel 2:10; Joel 4:15; —brightnessof a (clear, sunshiny) dayAmos 5:10(""אוֺר; opposed toאָפֵל,חשֶׁךְ),2 Samuel 23:4(מִמָּטָרafter

Possible Meanings:
  • daylight (semantic_range)
H5439 סָבִיב
Definition:

— constructסְבִיבAmos 3:11; plural constructסְבִיבֵיJeremiah 32:44;Jeremiah 33:13, suffixסְבִיבֶיךָetc. (10 t.), much oftenerסְבִיבוֺתExodus 7:2422t.,סְבִיבוֺתַי,תֶיךָ-, etc.,Deuteronomy 17:14, etc. ( — constructסְבִיבAmos 3:11; plural constructסְבִיבֵיJeremiah 32:44;Jeremiah 33:13, suffixסְבִיבֶיךָetc. (10 t.), much oftenerסְבִיבוֺתExodus 7:2422t.,סְבִיבוֺתַי,תֶיךָ-, etc.,Deuteronomy 17:14, etc. (

Possible Meanings:
  • circuit (semantic_range)
  • round about (semantic_range)
H8432 תָּוֶךְ
Definition:

10+; constructתּוֺךְGenesis 1:6+;תּוֺכִי,תּוֺכוֺ, etc., 2 feminine singularתּוֺכֵּ֫ כִיPsalm 116:19;Psalm 135:9,תּוֺכֹהEzekiel 48:15,21,תּוֺכֲכֶםGenesis 23:9+,תּוֺכָ֫הְנָהEzekiel 16:53(Ges§ 91f); —mid 10+; constructתּוֺךְGenesis 1:6+;תּוֺכִי,תּוֺכוֺ, etc., 2 feminine singularתּוֺכֵּ֫ כִיPsalm 116:19;Psalm 135:9,תּוֺכֹהEzekiel 48:15,21,תּוֺכֲכֶםGenesis 23:9+,תּוֺכָ֫הְנָהEzekiel 16:53(Ges§ 91f); —mid

Possible Meanings:
  • midst (semantic_range)
H5869 עַיִן
Definition:

9seeעין.עִוְעִיםsee below I.עוה.I.עַ֫יִן859noun feminineGenesis 3:7and (Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 75)masculineeye(ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II.׳עunknown; Late Hebrewid.; Ph 9seeעין.עִוְעִיםsee below I.עוה.I.עַ֫יִן859noun feminineGenesis 3:7and (Zechariah 3:9; 4:10 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 75)masculineeye(ancient Semitic word; √ and relation to II.׳עunknown; Late Hebrewid.; Ph

H2830 חַשְׁמַל
Definition:

4,27;בְּעֵין הַחַשְׁמַ֑לָהEzekiel 8:2(on endingהָ֯see Ges§ 90, 2 R a; Co strike out)Topical LexiconBiblical OccurrencesThe term appears three times, all in Ezekiel’s inaugural and temple visions (Ezek 4,27;בְּעֵין הַחַשְׁמַ֑לָהEzekiel 8:2(on endingהָ֯see Ges§ 90, 2 R a; Co strike out)Topical LexiconBiblical OccurrencesThe term appears three times, all in Ezekiel’s inaugural and temple visions (Ezek

Possible Meanings:
  • shining (semantic_range)
  • amber (semantic_range)
H8432 תָּוֶךְ
Definition:

10+; constructתּוֺךְGenesis 1:6+;תּוֺכִי,תּוֺכוֺ, etc., 2 feminine singularתּוֺכֵּ֫ כִיPsalm 116:19;Psalm 135:9,תּוֺכֹהEzekiel 48:15,21,תּוֺכֲכֶםGenesis 23:9+,תּוֺכָ֫הְנָהEzekiel 16:53(Ges§ 91f); —mid 10+; constructתּוֺךְGenesis 1:6+;תּוֺכִי,תּוֺכוֺ, etc., 2 feminine singularתּוֺכֵּ֫ כִיPsalm 116:19;Psalm 135:9,תּוֺכֹהEzekiel 48:15,21,תּוֺכֲכֶםGenesis 23:9+,תּוֺכָ֫הְנָהEzekiel 16:53(Ges§ 91f); —mid

Possible Meanings:
  • midst (semantic_range)
H0784 אֵשׂ
Definition:

23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p 23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p

Possible Meanings:
  • foundation (semantic_range)

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