# 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/translate/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/translate/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](../01/03.md)). Alternate translation: "something that looked similar to what appeared to be a man" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])