Ezekiel calls what he saw “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD” at the climax of the vision Ezekiel 1:28. The vision includes a throne and a radiant figure above the living creatures Ezekiel 1:26–27. Ezekiel’s response is to fall on his face as he hears a voice speaking Ezekiel 1:28.
Ezekiel’s vision reaches its peak as he sees something like a throne above the platform over the living creatures, with a humanlike figure seated on it. The figure shines like glowing metal and fire, with radiant light surrounding him. The brightness resembles a rainbow in storm clouds. These verses conclude Ezekiel’s opening vision (1:1–28), where the prophet describes a stormy, overwhelming scene that moves from below to above: living creatures, wheels, a platform, and then what appears to be a throne.
These verses present the high point of Ezekiel’s opening vision. Ezekiel reports what he can say: above the platform over the living creatures is something “like” a throne, with a “humanlike” figure on it. The description is intentionally cautious, using repeated “appearance” and “likeness” language rather than claiming a direct, exhaustive view of God.
A common mistake is to turn the wording into a slogan. The better reading keeps the phrase tied to the passage, the speaker, and the problem the book is addressing.
Start with Ezekiel 1:28, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
28As 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 Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.