The Skeptics Annotated Bible (620 page)

22 And the likeness of
the firmament
upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of
the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above
.

(1.22)
“The firmament … the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.”

23 And
under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.

(1.23)
“Under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.”

24 And when they went,
I heard the noise of their wings
, like the noise of great waters,
as the voice of the Almighty
, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

(1.24)
“I heard the noise of their wings … as the voice of the Almighty.”

25 And
there was a voice from the firmament
that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.

26
And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne
, as the appearance of a sapphire stone:
and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

(1.25-26) “There was a voice from the firmament … and above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne … and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.”

(1.27-28) When Ezekiel saw God’s loins (“the glory of the Lord”), which were on fire, he fell on his face.

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.

(1.27)
“I saw … 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.”
49 Can God be seen?
17 Does God have a body?

28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

(1.28)
“This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face.”

(2.1-7) After Ezekiel saw God’s loins (“the glory of the Lord”), he fell on his face. (1.27-28) Then God tells him to stand up and get ready to tell the Israelites how awful they are.

2
And
he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

(2.1)
“He said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.”

2
And the spirit entered into me
when he spake unto me,
and set me upon my feet
, that I heard him that spake unto me.

(2.2)
“And the spirit entered into me … and set me upon my feet.”

3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.

5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

7 And
thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

(2.7) “Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.”

(2.8-9) But first, God wants Ezekiel to eat a scroll. And sure enough, a detached hand shows up from out of nowhere with a scroll for Ezekiel to eat.

8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

(2.8)
“Open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.”

9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;

(2.9)
“And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein.”

10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

(3.1-3.3) God tells Ezekiel to eat a scroll and to “fill his bowels” with it. He does, and finds it to be as sweet as honey.

3
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.

(3.1)
“He said unto me, Son of man … eat this roll.”

2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

(3.2)
“So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.”

3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

(3.3)
“And he said unto me, Son of man … fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.”

(3.4-7) After Ezekiel eats the scroll, God sends him off to preach to the Israelites, though God knows they won’t listen to him.

4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

(3.4)
“He said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.”

5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;

6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.

7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

(3.7)
“But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me.”

8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.

9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.