Ezekiel 1:23

Ezekiel 1:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
• New International Version (NIV)Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body.

Context of Ezekiel 1:23

21Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those came to a stop, these came to a stop; and whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. 22Now stretched over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, looking like the terrible and awesome shimmer of icy crystal. Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. Every living being had two wings which covered its body on one side and on the other side. 24As they moved, I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of great [rushing] waters, like the voice of the Almighty, the sound of tumult like the noise of an army camp. Whenever they came to a stop, they lowered their wings. 25And there was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stopped, they lowered their wings.

Ezekiel 1:23 word by word

וְתַ֙חַת֙ הָרָקִ֔יעַ כַּנְפֵיהֶ֣ם יְשָׁר֔וֹת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחוֹתָ֑הּ לְאִ֗ישׁ שְׁתַּ֤יִם מְכַסּוֹת֙ לָהֵ֔נָּה וּלְאִ֗ישׁ שְׁתַּ֤יִם מְכַסּוֹת֙ לָהֵ֔נָּה אֵ֖ת גְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And under the firmamentרָקִיעַrâqîya‛ · expanseH7549
• their wingsכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
• straightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
• the oneאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: anotherH802
• toward the otherאָחוֹת'âchôth · sisterH269
• every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• had twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• which coveredכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
• on this sideהֵנָּהhênnâh · they(fem.)H2007
• their bodiesגְּוִיָּהgevîyâh · bodyH1472

Cross-references for Ezekiel 1:23

• Ezekiel 1:12And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went.
• Ezekiel 1:11Such were their faces. Their wings were stretched out upward; two [wings] of each one were touching another [the wings of the beings on either side of it], and [the remaining] two [wings of each being] were covering their bodies.
• Job 4:18God puts no trust or confidence, even in His [heavenly] servants, And He charges His angels with error.
• Psalms 89:7A God greatly feared and reverently worshiped in the council of the holy [angelic] ones, And awesome above all those who are around Him?
• Luke 17:10So you too, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants [undeserving of praise or a reward, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have merely done what we ought to do.’ ”

Commentaries on Ezekiel 1:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Every one had two, which covered on this side - While they employed two of their wings to form a foundation for the firmament to rest on, two other wings were let down to cover the lower part of their bodies: but this they did only when they stood, Ezekiel 1:24.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Every one had two, which covered … - Or, each one had two wings covering his body on either side.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. 22-25The surface that looked like the sky, shining like crystal, separated God’s realm from the human realm. It marked the boundary between heaven (the place of God’s presence) and earth. The vision includes images of the sky, the cherubim (see study note on Ezekiel 1:11–14), and the rainbow (Ezekiel 1:28). These images remind us of the opening chapters of Genesis. They suggest that the story about to unfold concerns the destruction of what God had created…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. straight--erect [Fairbairn], expanded upright. two ... two ... covered ... bodies--not, as it might seem, contradicting Eze 1:11. The two wings expanded upwards, though chiefly used for flying, yet up to the summit of the figure where they were parted from each other, covered the upper part of the body, while the other two wings covered the lower parts.Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 1:23

• Angel (a Spirit)

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