Ezekiel’s Vision by the River Kebar
(Psalm 137:1–9)

1  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (in the thirtieth) שָׁנָ֗ה (year), בָּֽרְבִיעִי֙ (in the fourth month) בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֣ה (on five) לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ (of the month), וַאֲנִ֥י (and as I was) בְתֽוֹךְ־ (in the midst) הַגּוֹלָ֖ה (of the captivity) עַל־ (by) נְהַר־ (the River) כְּבָ֑ר (Kebar), נִפְתְּחוּ֙ (that were opened), הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens) וָאֶרְאֶ֖ה (and I saw) מַרְא֥וֹת (visions) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (of God).

2  בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה (On the fifth) לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ (of the month), הִ֚יא (it was) הַשָּׁנָ֣ה (the year) הַחֲמִישִׁ֔ית (fifth) לְגָל֖וּת (of the captivity), הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (of king) יוֹיָכִֽין׃ (Jehoiachin). 3  הָיֹ֣ה (Being) הָיָ֣ה (it is) דְבַר־ (the word) יְ֠הוָה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) יְחֶזְקֵ֨אל (Ezekiel) בֶּן־ (son) בּוּזִ֧י (of Buzi), הַכֹּהֵ֛ן (the priest), בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים (of the Chaldeans) עַל־ (by) נְהַר־ (the River) כְּבָ֑ר (Kebar); וַתְּהִ֥י (and was) עָלָ֛יו (upon him) שָׁ֖ם (there) יַד־ (the hand) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

The Four Living Creatures

4  וָאֵ֡רֶא (And I looked), וְהִנֵּה֩ (and behold), ר֨וּחַ (a wind) סְעָרָ֜ה (of a tempest) בָּאָ֣ה (was coming) מִן־ (from) הַצָּפ֗וֹן (the north), עָנָ֤ן (a cloud), גָּדוֹל֙ (great) וְאֵ֣שׁ (and fire) מִתְלַקַּ֔חַת (taking hold of it), וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ (and a brightness) ל֖וֹ (to it) סָבִ֑יב (all around) וּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּ (and in the midst of it) כְּעֵ֥ין (was like the color) הַחַשְׁמַ֖ל (of amber), מִתּ֥וֹךְ (from the midst) הָאֵֽשׁ׃ (of the fire). 5  וּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּ (And in the midst of it) דְּמ֖וּת (was the likeness) אַרְבַּ֣ע (of four) חַיּ֑וֹת (living creatures).

וְזֶה֙ (And this was) מַרְאֵֽיהֶ֔ן (their appearance); דְּמ֥וּת (the likeness) אָדָ֖ם (of a man was) לָהֵֽנָּה׃ (unto them). 6  וְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה (And with four) פָנִ֖ים (faces), לְאֶחָ֑ת (for each one) וְאַרְבַּ֥ע (and four) כְּנָפַ֖יִם (wings) לְאַחַ֥ת (for each one) לָהֶֽם׃ (unto them). 7  וְרַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם (And their feet) רֶ֣גֶל (feet); יְשָׁרָ֑ה (were straight) וְכַ֣ף (and the soles) רַגְלֵיהֶ֗ם (of their feet) כְּכַף֙ (were like the soles) רֶ֣גֶל (of the foot); עֵ֔גֶל (of a calf) וְנֹ֣צְצִ֔ים (and they sparkled) כְּעֵ֖ין (like an eye) נְחֹ֥שֶׁת (of bronze) קָלָֽל׃ (polished).

8  וְיָדוֹ (And the hands) אָדָ֗ם (of a man) מִתַּ֙חַת֙ (were under) כַּנְפֵיהֶ֔ם (their wings) עַ֖ל (on) אַרְבַּ֣עַת (four) רִבְעֵיהֶ֑ם (of their sides); וּפְנֵיהֶ֥ם (and the faces) וְכַנְפֵיהֶ֖ם (and wings) לְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽם׃ (were unto the four of them). 9  חֹֽבְרֹ֛ת (Joining) אִשָּׁ֥ה (each one) אֶל־ (to) אֲחוֹתָ֖הּ (her sister); כַּנְפֵיהֶ֑ם (their wings) לֹא־ (not) יִסַּ֣בּוּ (did turn) בְלֶכְתָּ֔ן (in their going); אִ֛ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) עֵ֥בֶר (straight) פָּנָ֖יו (ahead) יֵלֵֽכוּ׃ (went).

10  וּדְמ֣וּת (And the likeness) פְּנֵיהֶם֮ (of their faces), פְּנֵ֣י (each had the face) אָדָם֒ (of a man), וּפְנֵ֨י (and the face) אַרְיֵ֤ה (of a lion), אֶל־ (on) הַיָּמִין֙ (the right side); לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֔ם (was unto the four of them) וּפְנֵי־ (and the face) שׁ֥וֹר (of an ox) מֵֽהַשְּׂמֹ֖אול (on the left side); לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ן (was unto the four of them) וּפְנֵי־ (and the face) נֶ֖שֶׁר (of an eagle) לְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽן׃ (was unto the four of them). 11  וּפְנֵיהֶ֕ם (And such were their faces).

וְכַנְפֵיהֶ֥ם (And their wings) פְּרֻד֖וֹת (were spread out) מִלְמָ֑עְלָה (above each one); לְאִ֗ישׁ (unto each one) שְׁ֚תַּיִם (were two) חֹבְר֣וֹת (touching) אִ֔ישׁ (one), וּשְׁתַּ֣יִם (and two) מְכַסּ֔וֹת (were covering) אֵ֖ת (-) גְּוִיֹתֵיהֶֽנָה׃ (their bodies). 12  וְאִ֛ישׁ (And each one) אֶל־ (toward) עֵ֥בֶר (straight ahead) פָּנָ֖יו (of its face); יֵלֵ֑כוּ (went) אֶ֣ל (to the direction) אֲשֶׁר֩ (which) יִֽהְיֶה־ (came to be) שָׁ֨מָּה (there) הָר֤וּחַ (the spirit) לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ (to go), יֵלֵ֔כוּ (they would go); לֹ֥א (and not) יִסַּ֖בּוּ (they did turn) בְּלֶכְתָּֽן׃ (in their going).

13  וּדְמ֨וּת (And the likeness) הַחַיּ֜וֹת (of the living creatures), מַרְאֵיהֶ֣ם (their appearance was) כְּגַחֲלֵי־ (like coals) אֵ֗שׁ (of fire), בֹּֽעֲרוֹת֙ (burning) כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה (like the appearance) הַלַּפִּדִ֔ים (of torches); הִ֕יא (it) מִתְהַלֶּ֖כֶת (was going about) בֵּ֣ין (among) הַחַיּ֑וֹת (the living creatures); וְנֹ֣גַהּ (and brightness), לָאֵ֔שׁ (was unto the fire) וּמִן־ (and from) הָאֵ֖שׁ (the fire) יוֹצֵ֥א (was going forth) בָרָֽק׃ (lightning). 14  וְהַחַיּ֖וֹת (And the living creatures) רָצ֣וֹא (were running) וָשׁ֑וֹב (and returning) כְּמַרְאֵ֖ה (like the appearance) הַבָּזָֽק׃ (of the lightning).

The Four Wheels

15  וָאֵ֖רֶא (And I looked at) הַחַיּ֑וֹת (the living creatures), וְהִנֵּה֩ (and behold) אוֹפַ֨ן (a wheel) אֶחָ֥ד (one) בָּאָ֛רֶץ (on the earth) אֵ֥צֶל (beside) הַחַיּ֖וֹת (the living creatures), לְאַרְבַּ֥עַת (with his four) פָּנָֽיו׃ (faces). 16  מַרְאֵ֨ה (The appearance) הָאוֹפַנִּ֤ים (of the wheels) וּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ (and their workings was) כְּעֵ֣ין (like an eye) תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ (of beryl), וּדְמ֥וּת (and a likeness), אֶחָ֖ד (single) לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ן (unto four of them) וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙ (and their appearance) וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם (and of their workings) כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (was as) יִהְיֶ֥ה (it were) הָאוֹפַ֖ן (a wheel) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the middle) הָאוֹפָֽן׃ (of a wheel). 17  עַל־ (Upon) אַרְבַּ֥עַת (their four) רִבְעֵיהֶ֖ן (sides), בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם (in their going) יֵלֵ֑כוּ (they did go); לֹ֥א (and not) יִסַּ֖בּוּ (they did turn aside) בְּלֶכְתָּֽן׃ (in their going). 18  וְגַ֨בֵּיהֶ֔ן (And unto their rims), וְגֹ֥בַהּ (was height) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) וְיִרְאָ֣ה (and fearsomeness); לָהֶ֑ם (to them) וְגַבֹּתָ֗ם (and their rims were) מְלֵאֹ֥ת (full) עֵינַ֛יִם (of eyes) סָבִ֖יב (all around) לְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽן׃ (for the four of them). 19  וּבְלֶ֙כֶת֙ (And in the going of), הַֽחַיּ֔וֹת (the living creatures) יֵלְכ֥וּ (went) הָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים (the wheels) אֶצְלָ֑ם (beside them) וּבְהִנָּשֵׂ֤א (and in the lifting up of) הַֽחַיּוֹת֙ (the living creatures) מֵעַ֣ל (from) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the earth), יִנָּשְׂא֖וּ (were lifted up) הָאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ (the wheels).

20  עַ֣ל (Upon) אֲשֶׁר֩ (which) יִֽהְיֶה־ (was) שָּׁ֨ם (there) הָר֤וּחַ (the spirit) לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ (to go), יֵלֵ֔כוּ (they would go), שָׁ֥מָּה (there) הָר֖וּחַ (the spirit) לָלֶ֑כֶת (was to go); וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֗ים (and the wheels) יִנָּשְׂאוּ֙ (would rise) לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם (alongside them) כִּ֛י (for) ר֥וּחַ (the spirit) הַחַיָּ֖ה (of the living creatures) בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ (was in the wheels). 21  בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם (In their going) יֵלֵ֔כוּ (they go), וּבְעָמְדָ֖ם (and in their standing) יַֽעֲמֹ֑דוּ (they stand); וּֽבְהִנָּשְׂאָ֞ם (and in their being lifted up) מֵעַ֣ל (from) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the earth), יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ (were lifted up) הָאֽוֹפַנִּים֙ (the wheels) לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם (together with them) כִּ֛י (for) ר֥וּחַ (the spirit) הַחַיָּ֖ה (of the living creatures) בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ (was in the wheels).

The Divine Glory

22  וּדְמ֞וּת (And the likeness) עַל־ (over) רָאשֵׁ֤י (the heads) הַחַיָּה֙ (of the living creatures) רָקִ֔יעַ (was the firmament) כְּעֵ֖ין (like an eye) הַקֶּ֣רַח (of crystal), הַנּוֹרָ֑א (awe-inspiring) נָט֥וּי (stretched out) עַל־ (over) רָאשֵׁיהֶ֖ם (their heads) מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ (above). 23  וְתַ֙חַת֙ (And under) הָרָקִ֔יעַ (the firmament) כַּנְפֵיהֶ֣ם (their wings) יְשָׁר֔וֹת (were straight), אִשָּׁ֖ה (each one) אֶל־ (toward) אֲחוֹתָ֑הּ (its sister); לְאִ֗ישׁ (and for each one) שְׁתַּ֤יִם (were two), מְכַסּוֹת֙ (as a covering) לָהֵ֔נָּה (for them), וּלְאִ֗ישׁ (and for each one) שְׁתַּ֤יִם (were two), מְכַסּוֹת֙ (covering) לָהֵ֔נָּה (for them), אֵ֖ת (-) גְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶֽם׃ (their body).

24  וָאֶשְׁמַ֣ע (And I heard) אֶת־ (-) ק֣וֹל (the voice) כַּנְפֵיהֶ֡ם (of their wings), כְּקוֹל֩ (like the voice) מַ֨יִם (of waters), רַבִּ֤ים (many) כְּקוֹל־ (like the voice) שַׁדַּי֙ (of Shaddai), בְּלֶכְתָּ֔ם (in their going), ק֥וֹל (the voice) הֲמֻלָּ֖ה (of a tumult), כְּק֣וֹל (like the voice) מַחֲנֶ֑ה (of an army);

בְּעָמְדָ֖ם (and in their standing), תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה (they would slacken) כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃ (their wings). 25  וַיְהִי־ (And there was) ק֕וֹל (a voice) מֵעַ֕ל (from over) לָרָקִ֖יעַ (the firmament) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) עַל־ (over) רֹאשָׁ֑ם (their heads), בְּעָמְדָ֖ם (in their standing), תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה (they would slacken) כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃ (their wings).

26  וּמִמַּ֗עַל (And from above) לָרָקִ֙יעַ֙ (the firmament) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עַל־ (was over) רֹאשָׁ֔ם (their heads) כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה (in appearance like) אֶֽבֶן־ (a stone); סַפִּ֖יר (of sapphire) דְּמ֣וּת (was the likeness) כִּסֵּ֑א (of a throne), וְעַל֙ (and on) דְּמ֣וּת (the likeness) הַכִּסֵּ֔א (of the throne) דְּמ֞וּת (was a likeness) כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה (like the appearance) אָדָ֛ם (of a man) עָלָ֖יו (over it) מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ (from above). 27  וָאֵ֣רֶא׀ (And I saw) כְּעֵ֣ין (as an eye) חַשְׁמַ֗ל (of amber), כְּמַרְאֵה־ (like the appearance) אֵ֤שׁ (of fire) בֵּֽית־ (a house) לָהּ֙ (for it) סָבִ֔יב (all around) מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה (from the appearance) מָתְנָ֖יו (of His loins) וּלְמָ֑עְלָה (and above), וּמִמַּרְאֵ֤ה (and from the appearance) מָתְנָיו֙ (of His loins) וּלְמַ֔טָּה (and downward), רָאִ֙יתִי֙ (I saw) כְּמַרְאֵה־ (as the appearance) אֵ֔שׁ (of fire), וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ (and brightness) ל֖וֹ (to it) סָבִֽיב׃ (all around).

28  כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה (As the appearance) הַקֶּ֡שֶׁת (of a rainbow) אֲשֶׁר֩ (that) יִֽהְיֶ֨ה (comes to be) בֶעָנָ֜ן (in the cloud) בְּי֣וֹם (on a day) הַגֶּ֗שֶׁם (of rain), כֵּ֣ן (so) מַרְאֵ֤ה (was the appearance) הַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ (of the brightness) סָבִ֔יב (surrounding). ה֕וּא (It was) מַרְאֵ֖ה (the appearance) דְּמ֣וּת (of the likeness) כְּבוֹד־ (of the glory) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וָֽאֶרְאֶה֙ (And I saw it) וָאֶפֹּ֣ל (and I fell) עַל־ (upon) פָּנַ֔י (my face), וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע (and I heard) ק֥וֹל (a voice) מְדַבֵּֽר׃ס (speaking).