Ezekiel said he saw Him A wheel in the middle of a wheel John said he saw Him And the temple filled with smoke Daniel said he saw Him And he saw the Son of man come down But I don't have to see Him with my natural eyes To know He wears the crown
The opening line — — refers directly to Ezekiel 1 , one of the most stunning theophanies (visible manifestations of God) in Scripture.
| Lyric | Meaning & Significance | | :--- | :--- | | | A direct reference to the prophet Ezekiel's vision of a divine, moving throne-chariot, signifying God's omnipresence, power, and sovereignty over all the earth. | | "John talked about him / In the book of the 7 seals" | Refers to the Apostle John's vision in the Book of Revelation, where a scroll sealed with seven seals can only be opened by the Lamb of God (Jesus), who alone is worthy to enact God's final judgment and redemption. | | "Stand on the rock where Moses stood" | Recalls the story of Moses striking a rock in the desert to provide water for the Israelites, a powerful symbol of God as the source of life and salvation. | | "Some say the Rose of Sharon / Others say the Prince of Peace" | References titles for the Messiah found in the Old and New Testaments, affirming Jesus as the promised, all-sufficient Savior and the ultimate source of peace. | | "He put a telephone in my heart / And I can call God anytime" | A beautiful and personal metaphor for prayer, suggesting that a direct, two-way communication line with God is established through faith, allowing believers to reach out to Him at any moment. |
The song builds a courtroom of witnesses — prophets and apostles — who each glimpsed the glorified Christ in different ways. Then the singer makes it personal: But I call Jesus my Rock. ezekiel said he saw him -i call jesus my rock- lyrics
: Everyone encounters moments of instability where they desperately need a "rock" to hold onto.
Then, from the radio inside the house, the song swelled to its final crescendo, the singer’s voice powerful and triumphant:
He remembered the last time he saw his son, Thomas. Thomas had looked thin, ragged, but his eyes had been burning with a terrifying, brilliant clarity. He had gripped Elias’s shoulders and said, “The foundation is laid, Father. The Chief Cornerstone. I’m going to follow the river until I find the bank where the glory rests.” Ezekiel said he saw Him A wheel in
Here is a deep dive into the origin, meaning, and lyrical legacy of these powerful words. The Lyric Broken Down: Dual Biblical Foundations
: This refers to the prophet Ezekiel’s vision of God's glory, famously described as a "wheel in the middle of a wheel"
If you'd like to dive deeper into this song or gospel history, let me know if you want to explore by different artists, find chords/sheet music structures for a worship team, or look into other spirituals based on the Prophet Ezekiel . Share public link | | "Stand on the rock where Moses
Jackson’s version is a masterclass in gospel music's ability to convey both sorrow and triumphant joy. It transformed "Elijah Rock" from a traditional spiritual into a cornerstone of the gospel repertoire.
"Ezekiel Said He Saw Him (I Call Jesus My Rock)" is a cornerstone of traditional African American gospel and old-school country church music. Written by Chicago-born composer Virginia Davis Marshall and famously popularized by artists like Pastor H.E. Dixon and the Truth Tabernacle Choir, the song bridges prophetic biblical imagery with an intimate expression of faith. You can find the full lyrics at: Invubu wsimg.com (Lyrics PDF)
The specific phrasing became a standard in the 1970s and 1980s as part of the "praise and worship" evolution. It is frequently recorded by:
Songs like this were designed for call-and-response. A song leader could shout, "Ezekiel said he saw him!" and the congregation would roar back, "I call Jesus my rock!" This made the music highly participatory.
This line points directly to the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel, specifically the prophet’s bizarre and majestic vision in Ezekiel 1:15-21. Ezekiel describes seeing four living creatures accompanied by interlocking wheels floating in the air—often referred to in song as the "wheel in the middle of a wheel."