Ezekiel 8:2 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

A likeness as the appearance of fire. — This is not, as often supposed, a reappearance of the vision of Ezekiel 1. That vision bursts again on the prophet after he has been carried in the spirit to the Temple at Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8:4). This is not expressly described as a human form, but from the mention of the loins, and of “the form of an hand,” in Ezekiel 8:3 it is implied that it was so. No further description is given, except that it was something bright and glorious like fire; and by the repetition of the words “likeness,” “appearance,” and “form of an hand,” the prophet here, as in Ezekiel 1, takes pains to show that it was only a vision, not an outward reality. It is also to be remembered that this and the subsequent vision occurred while the elders were sitting before the prophet. They saw nothing themselves, but must have witnessed his ecstasy, and thus have been prepared for his telling them at its close (Ezekiel 11:25) “all the things that the Lord had showed” him. “The colour of amber” is the same as in Ezekiel 1:4, where see Note.