First, it is worth presenting the original text of the verse, below it the transliteration, and then the literal translation.
This order is indeed convenient for reading the biblical text, especially when dealing with the ancient Hebrew original of Ezekiel 1:28.
In the case of Ezekiel 1:28, it is best to begin not with theological conclusions, but with the biblical text itself. In this way the reader can see how very carefully the prophet describes the heavenly vision. For the Adventist approach to Scripture, this is important: we seek first to hear what the text itself says, and only then draw conclusions. Therefore, if you ask, “first let there be the text itself, below it the transliteration and the literal translation,” this is an entirely proper and useful approach.
The Hebrew text of Ezekiel 1:28
כְּמַרְאֵה הַקֶּשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בֶּעָנָן בְּיוֹם הַגֶּשֶׁם כֵּן מַרְאֵה הַנֹּגַהּ סָבִיב הוּא מַרְאֵה דְּמוּת כְּבוֹד יְהוָה וָאֶרְאֶה וָאֶפֹּל עַל־פָּנַי וָאֶשְׁמַע קוֹל מְדַבֵּר׃
Transliteration
kəmar’eh haqqeshet asher yihyeh be‘anan bəyom haggeshem, ken mar’eh hannogah saviv; hu mar’eh demut kevod YHWH; va’er’eh va’eppol ‘al-panay, va’eshma qol medabber.
Literal translation
“Like the appearance of a rainbow that is in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw it, and I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of One speaking.”
Why this order of presentation is correct
When we first see the original, and only then the transliteration and translation, it becomes clear that Ezekiel is not trying to describe God’s essence directly. He uses the words “appearance,” “likeness,” and “glory.” This is the language of revelation, not a full explanation of God’s nature. That is why the text sounds so careful.
“Like the appearance of a rainbow that is in the cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord! And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of One speaking.” Ezek. 1:28
For biblical interpretation, this is very important. The prophet does not say, “I fully saw God.” Instead, he testifies to “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” There is humility here before divine majesty. Seventh-day Adventists emphasize that God reveals Himself to human beings only as much as they are able to receive.
Step-by-step meaning of the main expressions
Here is how the verse can be briefly divided into meaningful parts:
kəmar’eh haqqeshet — “like the appearance of a rainbow”
asher yihyeh be‘anan — “that is in the cloud”
bəyom haggeshem — “on a rainy day”
ken mar’eh hannogah saviv — “so was the appearance of the brightness all around”
hu mar’eh demut kevod YHWH — “this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh”
va’er’eh — “and I saw”
va’eppol ‘al-panay — “and I fell on my face”
va’eshma qol medabber — “and I heard a voice speaking”
This verse combines two great themes: God’s glory and the human response. First, Ezekiel sees heavenly majesty, and then he falls face down and listens. True revelation always leads not to pride, but to worship and obedience.
The biblical symbolism of the rainbow and God’s glory
The rainbow in the Bible carries deep meaning. It reminds us of God’s covenant, mercy, and faithfulness. Therefore, in Ezekiel the image of the rainbow is not accidental: even in a majestic and awe-inspiring heavenly vision, there is a sign of God’s mercy.
“I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.” Gen. 9:13
In the New Testament, a similar image also appears near God’s throne:
“And He who sat there was in appearance like a jasper and a sardius stone. And there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.” Rev. 4:3
So, Ezekiel 1:28 does not simply portray the beauty of a heavenly vision. It shows that God’s glory is surrounded by signs of mercy, faithfulness, and covenant. This especially encouraged the people in a time of crisis and exile.
The prophet’s response: worship before God’s presence
When Ezekiel saw the vision, he fell on his face. This is the biblical response of a person who has realized God’s holiness. Other servants of God responded in a similar way.
“Then I said: Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Isaiah 6:5
“And when I heard the voice of His words, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground as I heard the voice of His words.” Daniel 10:9
Ellen White repeatedly emphasized that a proper vision of God’s holiness leads a person to repentance, humility, and trust in God, not to self-confidence. This agrees well with Ezekiel’s experience. Where God reveals His glory, a person learns reverence.
What this means for the modern reader
If you are studying Ezekiel 1:28, it is helpful to follow exactly this order: the original text, transliteration, literal translation, and then interpretation. This helps us not to impose foreign ideas on the verse, but to listen carefully to Scripture itself.
In addition, this verse teaches three important truths. First, God’s glory is real, although human language can convey it only partially. Second, even in the radiance of judgment and majesty, the sign of mercy is visible—like the rainbow of the covenant. Third, the right response to divine revelation is humility, worship, and readiness to listen to God’s voice.
Conclusion.
Therefore, if Ezekiel 1:28 is to be presented correctly and clearly, it is truly worth beginning with the Hebrew text itself, then giving the transliteration, and below that the literal translation. This approach is faithful to Scripture and helps reveal the main idea of the verse: Ezekiel beholds not God’s essence in its fullness, but “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord,” which awakens worship and obedience in him.
Practically, this means one thing for us: when reading the Bible, let us first look carefully at the text and only then formulate conclusions. And when the Lord reveals something about Himself to us, let us respond not only with curiosity, but also with reverence, prayer, and a willingness to listen to His voice.
