Ezekiel's Call and Commission: The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel, a priest, received a divine call and commission to prophesy to the house of Israel, a people scattered and spiritually dead. His task was to declare God's message of hope and restoration.
Ezekiel's Call and Commission: The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel
1:1-26
1. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
2. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
3. The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.
4. And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
5. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
6. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
7. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
8. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
9. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
10. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
11. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
12. And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
13. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
15. Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
16. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
17. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
18. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
19. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
20. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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NOTE: The images reflect the following descriptions related to the theme : Ezekiel's Call and Commission: The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones
- Macro closeup of a single, bleached human skull lying amongst dry, cracked earth; harsh sunlight revealing intricate details of bone structure, suggesting death and decay, yet hinting at the potential for resurrection.
- Macro closeup of Ezekiel's hand, weathered and calloused, gently touching a dry bone; a faint, ethereal light illuminating the bone, subtly representing the divine breath of life. Details of skin texture and fingernails are crucial.
- Bright morning sunlight illuminates a valley filled with dry, bleached bones; a vibrant orange/yellow glow paints the landscape, emphasizing the desolation yet foreshadowing new life. Show distant rolling hills and a clear sky.
- A field of wildflowers bursting with vibrant colours in bright morning light, subtly contrasting with scattered, bleached bones representing death and the potential for life in a desolate valley; the overall feel should be hopeful.
- Evening scene in a dry valley, the setting sun casting long shadows on bleached bones; a melancholic, yet hopeful, atmosphere permeates, using oranges, purples, and deep reds in the sky.
- An ancient, gnarled tree silhouetted against an evening sky, overlooking a valley of dry bones, the branches reaching out like skeletal arms in a desolate landscape, but showing signs of new growth., using dusk colors.
- A group of Israelites, weary and disheartened, sitting amongst the dry bones in the morning; their expressions reflect despair, but a subtle ray of hope shines on them.
- A group of weary Israelites at dawn looking towards Ezekiel, who stands with his arms outstretched, showing signs of divine empowerment as a ray of light shines upon him.
- Ezekiel, illuminated by moonlight, stands amidst the valley of dry bones, his figure appearing almost ethereal, silhouetted against the night sky; focusing on his determined, yet solemn expression.
- A night scene of a group of Israelites, some praying, some weeping, amidst the dry bones under a starlit sky, highlighting the contrasting emotions of despair and hope.
- A vast expanse of parched earth, cracked and barren, littered with countless dry bones; the focus should be on the sheer scale of desolation and the implied potential for restoration, representing Ezekiel's vision.
- A lone figure (Ezekiel) standing in a desolate valley, his back to the viewer, looking out across a vast field of dry bones, symbolically conveying his profound responsibility and the immense task before him.
General themes for this chapter of the Bible: Vision of God's Glory; The Four Living Creatures; The Chariot Throne
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Other Galleries for this theme / Bible book
Ezekiel's Call and Commission: The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel's Vision of God's Glory
God's Glory Departs: Ezekiel's Vision
Ezekiel's Vision: Rebellion and Impending Judgment
Ezekiel's Judgment: Israel's Idolatry
Judgment on Sinful Jerusalem: Ezekiel's Prophecy
Judgment on Unfaithfulness: Ezekiel's Prophecy
Parables of Unfaithful Jerusalem: Ezekiel's Vision
Ezekiel and the Responsibility for Sin
Prophecies Against False Prophets: Ezekiel's Warning
Ezekiel's Symbolic Judgments: Visions of God's Wrath
Visions of Jerusalem's Corruption: Ezekiel's Prophecy
Related Pages: thematic Bible Images (French Version)