Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 43:3
And [it was] according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, [even] according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions [were] like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
3. And it was according to ] And the appearance which I saw was like the appearance which I saw when I came the word “appearance” at the beginning of the verse being omitted.
I came to destroy ] Reference is to ch. 8 11. and the destruction of the city there seen in vision by the prophet. He was carried to Jerusalem to witness the destruction, and he calls this his coming to destroy it. Vulg., when he (Jehovah) came.
the visions were like the vision ] like the appearance. The words “and the visions” are rather unnatural; LXX. reads: and the vision of the chariot which I saw was like &c. The “chariot,” i.e. the whole theophany of cherubim and wheels is often spoken of in later times (e.g. Ecclesus. 49:8), but is nowhere named in the Bible (cf. 1Ch 28:18). The reading of LXX. is probably a gloss in explanation of the Heb., which is awkward. Possibly the word “visions” should be omitted: the city, and like the appearance that I saw by the river Chebar. Cf. Eze 3:23, where LXX. interpolates “according to the vision.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And it, this glory of the God of Israel,
was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw: see Eze 1:4,28.
To destroy the city; to declare that their sins would ruin their city, Eze 9:3; 10:4, which see. Here the effect seems ascribed to him, though he only declares it will be.
By the river Chebar: see Eze 1:1,3.
Fell upon my face; overwhelmed, and as it were swallowed up: see Eze 1:28.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. when I came to destroy thecitythat is, to pronounce God’s word for its destruction. Socompletely did the prophets identify themselves with Him in whosename they spake.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw,…. Recorded in the first, ninth, and tenth chapters of this book; the form in which the glory of the God of Israel now appeared was like to what he then saw; in each of which visions was the likeness of a throne, and on it the appearance of the glory of God:
even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city; the city of Jerusalem; not that the prophet destroyed it, or came to destroy it himself, which was to be done, and was done, by the Chaldeans; but to foretell the destruction of it; which prediction of his made it as certain as if it was done. So the Targum,
“when I prophesied to destroy the city;”
and this was, when he was bid to cause, in a visionary and prophetic manner, six men, with their destroying weapons, to draw near unto it, and smite it; at which time he saw the glory of the God of Israel go up from the cherub, Eze 9:1.
And the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; the four living creatures and the wheels; the throne of sapphire stone, and the glorious appearance above it, Eze 1:3 only with this difference, then he saw the glory of the God of Israel departing, especially in the last vision, but now returning:
and I fell upon my face; in reverence of such glorious majesty: affected with such a display of grace and goodness, and sensible of his own unworthiness to behold it: the clearer and fuller views saints have of the grace and glory of Christ, the more humble they are; see Isa 6:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) When I came to destroy the city.That is, to announce its destruction. (Comp. Eze. 32:18; Gen. 49:7; Isa. 6:10; Jer. 1:10.)
Like the vision that I saw.Comp. Eze. 1:4, &c.; Eze. 3:23; Eze. 10:15; Eze. 10:22. The manifestation of Divine glory to the prophet was the same throughout.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 43:3. When I came to destroy, &c. When he came, &c. Houbigant, and Vulgate. The Chaldee paraphrases it, “When I prophesied concerning the destruction of the city.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 43:3 And [it was] according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, [even] according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions [were] like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
Ver. 3. And it was according to the vision. ] Being so much the sweeter and the welcomer to me. Hence he so oft repeateth it; and the Jewish doctors observe that eight times in this one verse, visionis ac videndi vocabulum repetitur, the word for vision and to see it is made use of.
When I came to destroy the city,
And I fell upon my face.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
that I saw. See Eze 1:28; Eze 3:23.
to destroy. Hebrew idiom, by which the doer is said to do what he declares shall be done. See Eze 9:1, Eze 9:5; note on Jer 14:8, Jer 14:9; Jer 20:25.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
according to the appearance: Eze 1:4-28, Eze 8:4, Eze 9:3, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 11:22, Eze 11:23
to destroy the city: or, to prophesy that the city should be destroyed, Eze 9:1, Eze 9:5, Eze 32:18, Jer 1:10, Rev 11:3-6
the river: Eze 1:3, Eze 3:23
Reciprocal: Gen 41:13 – me he restored Jer 25:17 – and made Jer 38:23 – shalt cause Eze 1:1 – by the river Eze 1:28 – This Eze 3:15 – that dwelt Eze 10:15 – This Eze 44:4 – and I fell Hos 6:5 – have I Mat 17:6 – General Rev 11:5 – fire
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 43:3. When I came to destroy the city is correctly rendered in the margin, “When I came to prophesy that the city should be destroyed. (See the comments on a like passage in Jer 1:10.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 43:3-5. And it This glory of the God of Israel; was according to the vision, &c., when I came to destroy the city That is, to prophesy that the city would be destroyed. The prophets are often said to do those things which they foretel shall be done. And I fell upon my face In humble and reverent adoration of the divine majesty, or overwhelmed, as it were, and not able to bear the lustre of such glory. But the Spirit took him up, when the glory of the Lord was come into the house, that he might see how the house was filled with it. He had formerly seen, to his great grief, how the glory of the Lord, in this same appearance, departed from the temple; because it was profaned; and now he sees, to his great satisfaction, how it returns to it. As we do not find that ever the Shechinah did in such a manner take possession of the second temple, it seems evident that this was to have its accomplishment in that glory of the divine grace which shines so bright in the gospel church, and fills it.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
43:3 And [it was] according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, [even] according to the vision that I saw {a} when I came to destroy the city: and the visions [were] like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
(a) When I prophesied the destruction of the city of the Chaldeans.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
This vision reminded Ezekiel of the vision of God that he had seen by the river Chebar (Eze 1:3), when he saw God coming to judge Jerusalem (cf. Eze 1:4-28; Eze 9:1; Eze 9:5; Eze 32:18). He responded by prostrating himself before the Lord again (cf. Eze 1:28; Eze 3:23). [Note: See Michael Fishbane, "Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Eze 43:3, Num 12:8 and 1Co 13:8," Hebrew Annual Review 10 (1986):63-75.]