Ezekiel 3 23

Ezekiel 3:23 kjv

Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.

Ezekiel 3:23 nkjv

So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face.

Ezekiel 3:23 niv

So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.

Ezekiel 3:23 esv

So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face.

Ezekiel 3:23 nlt

So I got up and went, and there I saw the glory of the LORD, just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River. And I fell face down on the ground.

Ezekiel 3 verses

Ezekiel 3 23 Meaning

Ezekiel 3:23 describes the prophet Ezekiel's profound encounter with the presence of the Lord in the plain, immediately after being given the commission as a watchman for the house of Israel. Following a divine instruction, Ezekiel went to the designated plain, where the tangible manifestation of God's majesty and radiant presence, often referred to as "the glory of the Lord," appeared before him. This vision was powerfully reminiscent of the initial, overwhelming revelation he received by the river Chebar (Ezekiel 1). Overwhelmed by the awesome and holy presence of God, Ezekiel's automatic response was to fall prostrate on his face, a universal posture of humility, reverence, fear, and submission before divine power. This re-affirmation served to reinforce his call and impress upon him the gravity of his prophetic task.

Ezekiel 3 23 Context

Ezekiel 3:23 follows directly from the Lord's instruction to Ezekiel in verse 22 to go out to the plain where He would speak with him. This encounter takes place after Ezekiel has been formally commissioned as a watchman over the house of Israel, a solemn and weighty task that includes warning both the righteous and the wicked (Ezekiel 3:17-21). Prior to this point, Ezekiel had eaten the scroll of lamentations, mourning, and woe (Ezekiel 2:9-3:3), indicating that his message would be one of severe judgment. He had also been struck silent by the Lord (Ezekiel 3:26), though he would be given permission to speak again at specific times. Therefore, the vision in verse 23 serves as a renewed and intensified manifestation of God's presence, validating his call, preparing him for his ministry in a state of semi-isolation, and impressing upon him the supreme authority and holiness of the one who commissioned him. The "plain" (bik'ah) stands in contrast to the river Chebar where Ezekiel first encountered God (Ez 1:1,3), symbolizing God's ability to manifest anywhere, not just at specific or predictable locations of previous encounters, and perhaps suggesting a specific new designated place for revelation within the land of exile.

Ezekiel 3 23 Word analysis

• Then I arose (וָאָקוּם - wa'aqūm): From the root "qum" (קוּם), meaning to stand up, arise, or establish. Here, it signifies immediate and obedient action on Ezekiel's part. It suggests a readiness and compliance to the divine command, indicative of his commitment to his prophetic role. It's not a casual standing but a purposeful response to God's summons.
• and went out (וָאֵלֵךְ - wa'elekh): From the root "halakh" (הָלַךְ), meaning to walk or go. This further emphasizes his direct movement and obedience in following the divine instruction to go to the plain.
• into the plain (אֶל־הַבִּקְעָה - 'el-habbik'ah): The word "bik'ah" (בִּקְעָה) refers to a broad, flat valley or plain, often associated with a fertile and expansive area, though sometimes isolated. In Ezekiel's prophecy, "bik'ah" also appears in Ezekiel 37 as the valley of dry bones. Its significance here is that God chose a specific, appointed place for this powerful re-encounter, distinct from the river Chebar where the first major vision occurred. This choice underscores God's sovereignty over location.
• and behold (וְהִנֵּה - wəhinnēh): An interjection (hineh) used to draw immediate attention, signifying something surprising, significant, or divinely revealed. It highlights the sudden and awe-inspiring manifestation of God's presence. It functions almost as an exclamation mark, demanding the reader's attention to what follows.
• the glory of the Lord (כְּבוֹד יְהוָה - kəḇōd Yahweh):
  • Glory (כָּבוֹד - kāḇôḏ): Refers to the visible, weighty manifestation of God's presence, majesty, honor, and renown. It encapsulates the full spectrum of God's radiant attributes that are perceivable. It signifies His divine power, holiness, and infinite worth. In Ezekiel, "kavod" is a central theme, illustrating God's presence even among exiles and its departure from and return to Jerusalem. It denotes the tangible manifestation of God's being.
  • Lord (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, unchanging, and self-existent nature. Its presence indicates that it is the one true God of Israel who is manifesting His presence, affirming the authenticity of Ezekiel's experience and the source of his prophetic message.
• was standing there ('ōmēd shām): From the root "'amad" (עָמַד), meaning to stand, take one's stand, or endure. This suggests a fixed, stable, and commanding presence of God's glory. It wasn't a fleeting appearance but an abiding, powerful manifestation that stood before Ezekiel, underscoring its reality and significance. "Shām" (there) pinpoints the specific location in the plain.
• like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar (כַּמַּרְאֶה אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי אֶל־נְהַר־כְּבָר - kammar'eh 'ăšer ra'îtî 'el-nəhar-kəḇār): This phrase explicitly connects this vision to Ezekiel's initial and overwhelming call vision (Ezekiel 1:4-28). It emphasizes continuity, consistency, and the reinforcing nature of God's revelation. It confirms that the same God is appearing to him, thereby validating his previous experience and authenticating his continued prophetic ministry. The river Chebar was a place of exile, where God first met Ezekiel, indicating that God's glory is not confined to Jerusalem but extends to those in captivity.
• and I fell on my face (וָאֶפֹּל עַל־פָּנַי - wa'ēpōl 'al-pānay): From the root "naphal" (נָפַל), meaning to fall. This action signifies profound reverence, humility, terror, submission, and unworthiness in the face of overwhelming divine majesty. It is a common posture of worship or fear throughout the Bible when humans encounter God or His powerful messengers. It is a physical manifestation of awe and utter dependence, a primal response to holiness.

Ezekiel 3 23 Bonus section

The plain (bik'ah) in Ezekiel's context here is a deliberate setting chosen by God, indicating that divine revelation is not confined to the river Chebar, a place linked with the initial, sudden onset of his prophetic experience while among the exiles. Instead, God specifies a new location for an intentional, subsequent encounter. This highlights God's sovereignty over place and time, and His active engagement with His prophet regardless of the surrounding circumstances of exile. The silence imposed on Ezekiel (3:26), immediately after this glorious re-commissioning, adds a layer of paradox: profound divine presence met with outward silence. This may emphasize that the authenticity of Ezekiel's future message comes from this deep, internal wellspring of divine encounter rather than a constant, public discourse. The glory of the Lord reappearing as a "standing" presence underscores its enduring, solid reality, reinforcing Ezekiel's perception of God's faithfulness and unwavering commitment to His people, even in judgment.

Ezekiel 3 23 Commentary

Ezekiel 3:23 marks a crucial moment for the prophet, a powerful re-affirmation of his divine calling through a renewed manifestation of God's glory. Obedient to God's command, Ezekiel goes to the plain, indicating his immediate compliance and willingness to engage with the divine. The reappearance of the "glory of the Lord," identical to the one he first witnessed by the Chebar River, serves to authenticate his ongoing prophetic commission. This experience is not merely a repetition but an intensification, grounding Ezekiel's identity and future ministry in the unassailable reality of God's manifest presence. His falling prostrate is the universal human response to encountering the infinite holiness and power of God, acknowledging utter dependence and reverence. It reinforces that despite the burdensome message and his restricted freedom, Ezekiel serves the most majestic and authoritative being. This profound encounter ensures that the prophet's words are not his own, but flow from an undeniable, personal revelation of the Lord's majesty.