יחזקאל, פרק א׳, פסוק כ״ח

At the climax of the heavenly chariot vision, the overwhelming visual display reaches its peak and transitions into a profound auditory revelation. To describe the divine light surrounding the figure on the throne, the imagery of a multi-colored rainbow shining through a cloud on a rainy day is used [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This rainbow serves as a profound metaphor for how God interacts with the world. A fundamental question arises: how does God, who is entirely unified and simple, govern such a complex and diverse universe? The answer lies in the nature of light. Just as a single, uniform sunbeam strikes a cloud and refracts into a spectrum of colors depending on the cloud's thickness, God's unified divine influence divides and reveals itself in various forms according to the individual capacity of the creations receiving it [אברבנאל, מלבי״ם]. The four colors of this rainbow directly parallel the four core elements of the chariot vision: the fiery living creatures, the beryl-like wheels, the ice-like expanse, and the sapphire throne [אברבנאל].

Furthermore, the rainbow illustrates the very nature of prophecy. A rainbow is not a tangible object hidden inside a cloud, but merely an optical reflection. Similarly, the intellectual light of God possesses no physical shape or color. It is only when this pure light encounters the "cloud" of the prophet's human imagination that it reflects and translates into tangible shapes, colors, and visions [מלבי״ם]. Because these vivid hues are not the true reality of God but rather a visual adaptation meant to make the incomprehensible accessible to the human mind, gazing deeply into them is compared to staring at a physical rainbow, which the Sages warn can dim a person's eyesight [אברבנאל].

For this reason, it is clear that the prophet is not viewing God's actual essence. Instead, he sees only a reflection and likeness of the Divine glory as it departs from the Temple, resembling a king seated upon his royal chariot [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. The fire and its surrounding glow echo the revelation at Mount Sinai, where God's glory appeared as a consuming fire representing the camps of angels [אברבנאל]. Indeed, the Sages note that the Israelites at Sinai witnessed this exact chariot, and the four faces of the living creatures directly correspond to the four banners of the Israelite camps in the desert [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Overwhelmed by the entirety of the vision, the prophet falls face down to the ground [רש״י, רד״ק]. This physical collapse is driven by immense fear and astonishment [רד״ק], as well as an intense desire to bow before God [מצודת דוד]. It also serves as a way for the prophet to hide his face, protecting himself from gazing directly at the divine manifestation [אברבנאל]. Alternatively, falling to the ground symbolizes a complete shutdown of the prophet's physical senses, ensuring that only his intellect and imagination remain active to absorb the prophecy [מלבי״ם]. Some suggest that he had actually been lying in this prostrate position since the vision first began [אברבנאל].

Finally, from this state of total submission, the visual experience concludes, and the auditory revelation begins. A voice emerges from the brilliant glow—an angel transmitting the prophetic flow [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. This voice acts as the prelude to the direct speech of God that will immediately follow [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].