1000 B
over their heads
"over the heads of the living creatures"
was the likeness of a throne
Here the abstract noun "likeness" means that what Ezekiel saw looked like a throne. The word can be translated with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: "was something that looked like a throne" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
sapphire
a very valuable stone that is clear blue and very shiny
on the likeness of the throne was
The abstract noun "likeness" can be translated with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: "on what looked like a throne there was" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
a likeness like the appearance of a man
The abstract nouns "likeness" and "appearance" can be translated with verbal phrases. If you need to tell who this is, you should probably identify him as Yahweh (Ezekiel 1:3). Alternate translation: "something that looked similar to what appeared to be a man" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)