Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:27
And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
27. the colour of amber ] the glance (lit. eye). See Eze 1:4.
fire round about within it ] This is the natural sense, but “round about” and “within it” seem to contradict one another. The rendering “fire that is enclosed round about,” and therefore brighter by contrast with what surrounds it (Hitz.), expresses a thought more ingenious than probable, and assumes an unlikely construction. The clause is wanting in LXX.
it had brightness round about ] Rather: and a brightness round about him, viz. him who sat on the throne ( Eze 1:28).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 27. The colour of amber] There are specimens of amber which are very pure and beautifully transparent. One which I now hold up to the light gives a most beautiful bright yellow colour. Such a splendid appearance had the august Being who sat upon this throne from the reins upward; but from thence downward he had the appearance of fire, burning with a clear and brilliant flame. For farther particulars See Clarke on Eze 10:9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I saw as the colour of amber: see Eze 1:4, and what is said there to this phrase. In this colour does Christ now appear against the rebellious Jews; he that would have been a Saviour to them, clot, bed with the garments of salvation, now puts on the garments of vengeance, and is clad with that zeal which is best, but not fully, expressed by such metaphors.
As the appearance of fire round about within it; of most intense degree; as that fire which is shut up in oven or furnace, so this was the appearance of a fire which had a house to it round about (as the Hebrew). The just indignation of Christ, and his glorious majesty, are hereby set forth to us also, which appear within the amber.
From the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire; as was his upward part, so the lower parts also, they appeared as fire. Provoked to wrath, and proceeding to judge, he comes in flames of fire taking vengeance, 2Th 1:8.
And it had brightness round about: see Eze 1:4, where the phrase is explained. Majesty, justice, and unstained holiness shine round about Christ, though he comes in greatest wrath against enemies.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
27. colour of amber“theglitter of chasmal” [FAIRBAIRN].See on Eze 1:4; rather,”polished brass” [HENDERSON].Messiah is described here as in Dan 10:5;Dan 10:6; Rev 1:14;Rev 1:15.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I saw as the colour of amber,…. That is, the man upon the throne looked like the colour of amber; of which
[See comments on Eze 1:4];
as the appearance of fire round about within it; which may denote the deity of Christ, or Christ as God, who is a consuming fire to his enemies; a fire enlightening and warming to his people; as a wall of fire protecting them; and as a pillar of fire guiding and directing them, as he did the Israelites in the wilderness; and who has such light and glory in him, as is incomprehensible to us; and therefore this fire appeared round about within, the colour of amber, and under his human nature, through which it broke forth:
from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire; it reached upwards and downwards, as well as all around him:
and it had brightness round about; the fire; which shone through the human nature, and was upon it, in virtue of its union to the Son of God; and through the Gospel, in which, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord is seen; and which will be brighter and brighter in the latter day; which may be signified by the appearance of his loins downward.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
By these words the Prophet signifies that God appeared so visible under the form of man that the splendor dazzled his eyes. For if the appearance of Christ was such that the Prophet could consider each part separately, as when I behold a man, I not only cast my eyes upon his form from head to foot, but I consider of what kind his eyes are, and also his sides, and what his stature is, whether tall or short.
When we look at men or trees, a glance is sufficient for distinguishing their several parts. But if we wish to cast our eyes upon the sun, they are immediately made dim, for the brightness of the sun is so great that it dazzles us. Then if our eyes cannot bear the light of the sun, how can the glance of our mind penetrate even to God, and comprehend the whole of his glory? This then is the Prophet’s object when he says, I saw as it were the color of amber. We have said that some interpreters understand an angel here, but in my judgment, their view is erroneous: hence I reject it, for I have no doubt that color is meant, and what sort of color. As to Jerome’s version, electrum, I leave it doubtful: as to his saying that it is more precious than gold and silver, this is foolish, because it is composed of both metals. But then its color was remarkable, because it not only attracted the eyes of the Prophet but dazzled them with its splendor, so that he acknowledged it as celestial and divine. Therefore he adds, there was as it were the appearance of fire within, which we have previously explained, and that, too, round about it The fire was apparent, so that the Prophet might understand that there were some marks of the glory of God; and at the same time, that he might perceive, as we shall see at last, this vision to be otherwise useless unless he restrained himself within due limits: because when the majesty of God meets us on the way, it can destroy the angels themselves. What therefore would become of us? But God suits himself to our capacities, so that visions should be useful to us only when we avoid pride and are not carried away by foolish and bold curiosity. He says then, the fire appeared upwards and downwards, that is above and below his loins, and the fire was brilliant round about Afterwards he adds —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(27) As the colour of amber.See on the same expression Eze. 1:4. Literally, as an eye of bright metal. The rest of the verse is simply an attempt, by various repetitions, to convey an idea of the exceeding brightness and glory of the vision, yet also with the notions of purity and holiness, of power and activity always associated with fire. (Comp. Exo. 24:17; Dan. 7:9; Rev. 1:14-15; Rev. 4:5.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. The text is difficult to understand; but it probably means that from the loins downward his body shone like fire, while from the loins upward there was a softer glow like that of amber.
And it had brightness Omit “it had.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 1:27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
Ver. 27. And I saw as the colour of amber. ] See Eze 1:4 . Heb., Chashmal, which being read backward, as the Cabbalists observe, is Lammashach, or Lammashiach – i.e., Messiah.
As the appearance of fire.
From the appearance of his loins even upward.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
as the colour: Eze 1:4, Eze 8:2
the appearance of fire: Deu 4:24, Psa 50:3, Psa 97:2, 2Th 1:8, Heb 12:29, Rev 1:14-16
Reciprocal: Exo 24:10 – of a sapphire stone Exo 24:17 – like devouring fire Eze 40:3 – whose
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 1:27. This verse is a highly figurative description of the Almighty. The meaning is that God is as intense as fire, as resplendent as amber, and that the entire Being was radiant with this indescribable glory.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1:27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire {n} around within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness on all sides.
(n) By which was signified a terrible judgment toward the earth.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Above his waist he seemed similar to hot metal glowing with heat (cf. Eze 1:4), and below his waist he seemed to resemble fire (cf. Eze 8:2; Dan 10:6; Rev 4:3; Rev 4:5). All around him there appeared to be a radiance, like the glow that surrounds red-hot metal and fire.