Ezekiel 1:17

Ezekiel 1:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
• New International Version (NIV)As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went.

Context of Ezekiel 1:17

15Now as I looked at the living beings, I saw one wheel on the ground beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. 16Regarding the appearance of the wheels and their construction: they gleamed like chrysolite (beryl, olivine); and the four were made alike. Their appearance and construction were a wheel [set at a right angle] within a wheel. Whenever they moved, they went in any [one] of their four directions without turning as they moved. 18Regarding their rims: they were so high that they were awesome and dreadful, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes all around. 19Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them; and when the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also.

Ezekiel 1:17 word by word

עַל־אַרְבַּ֥עַת רִבְעֵיהֶ֖ן בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם יֵלֵ֑כוּ לֹ֥א יִסַּ֖בּוּ בְּלֶכְתָּֽן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When they wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• upon their fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
• sidesרֶ֫בַעreba‛ · fourthH7253
• they turnedסָבַבsâbab · to turn: turnH5437

Cross-references for Ezekiel 1:17

• Ezekiel 1:9their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward.
• Ezekiel 10:1Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse (firmament) that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared something [glorious and brilliant] above them looking like a [huge] sapphire stone, formed to resemble a throne.
• Isaiah 55:11So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 1:17

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Upon their four sides - i. e. straight in the direction toward which their faces looked. Since the four quarters express all directions, the construction of the living creatures was such that they could move in each direction alike.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-25Verses 15-25 Providence, represented by the wheels, produces changes. Sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost, sometimes another; but the motion of the wheel on its own axletree is regular and steady. We need not despond in adversity; the wheels are turning round and will raise us in due time, while those who presume in prosperity know not how soon they may be cast down. The wheel is near the living creatures; the angels are employed as ministers of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17Building a real chariot with each wheel having another wheel turning sideways inside it is impossible. This image shows a chariot that can move easily in any direction, symbolizing God's freedom to act in judgment.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. went upon their four sides--Those faces or sides of the four wheels moved which answered to the direction in which the cherubim desired to move; while the transverse circles in each of the four composite wheels remained suspended from the ground, so as not to impede the movements of the others.Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 1:17

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Wheel

In the dictionaries

• Living creatures
• Assyria
• Cherubim (1)
• Creature
• Living Creature
• Luke, the Evangelist
• Prophecy; Prophets

Commentaries on Ezekiel 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings