Christian Standard Bible
Ezekiel 1:13
13The likeness of the living creatures was like the appearance of blazing coals of fire or like torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it.
Ezekiel 1:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
- New International Version (NIV)The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
- New King James Version (NKJV)As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.
Context of Ezekiel 1:13
11That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching that of another and two wings covering its body. 12Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved. The likeness of the living creatures was like the appearance of blazing coals of fire or like torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it. 14The creatures were darting back and forth like flashes of lightning. 15When I looked at the living creatures, there was one wheel on the ground beside each of the four-faced creatures.
Read all of Ezekiel 1Ezekiel 1:13 word by word
וּדְמ֨וּת הַחַיּ֜וֹת מַרְאֵיהֶ֣ם כְּגַחֲלֵי־אֵ֗שׁ בֹּֽעֲרוֹת֙ כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַלַּפִּדִ֔ים הִ֕יא מִתְהַלֶּ֖כֶת בֵּ֣ין הַחַיּ֑וֹת וְנֹ֣גַהּ לָאֵ֔שׁ וּמִן־הָאֵ֖שׁ יוֹצֵ֥א בָרָֽק׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- As for the likenessדְּמוּתdemûth · likenessH1823
- of the living creaturesחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
- their appearanceמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
- like burningבָּעַרbâ‛ar · to burn: burnH1197
- coalsגַּחֶ֫לֶתgechel gacheleth · coalH1513
- of fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- of lampsלַפִּידlappîyd lappid · torchH3940
- it went up and downהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
- was brightנֹ֫גַהּnôgahh · brightnessH5051
- went forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- lightningבָּרָקbârâq · lightningH1300
Cross-references for Ezekiel 1:13
- Ezekiel 1:7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, sparkling like the gleam of polished bronze.
- Genesis 15:17When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals.
- Psalms 104:4and making the winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
- Daniel 10:5I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist.
- Matthew 28:3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
- Revelation 4:5Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
- Revelation 10:1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like pillars of fire,
- Revelation 18:1After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 1:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Like burning coals of fire - The whole substance appeared to be of flame; and among them frequent coruscations of fire, like vibrating lamps, often emitting lightning, or rather sparks of fire, as we have seen struck out of strongly ignited iron in a forge. The flames might be something like what is called warring wheels in pyrotechny. They seemed to conflict together.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Lamps - “like the appearance of” flames. Omit the “and” before “like.” The “bright flames” resembled “coals of fire.” It went up - i. e. “fire went up.”Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-14These fiery creatures had wings and legs. They could move very quickly in any direction, like lightning. No one could escape from such powerful beings. In a similar vision in Ezekiel 10, Ezekiel identifies them as cherubim. Cherubim are heavenly beings who carry out God’s judgment.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. likeness ... appearance--not tautology. "Likeness" expresses the general form; "appearance," the particular aspect. coals of fire--denoting the intensely pure and burning justice wherewith God punishes by His angels those who, like Israel, have hardened themselves against His long-suffering. So in Is 6:2, 6, instead of cherubim, the name "seraphim," the burning ones, is applied, indicating God's consuming righteousness; whence their cry to Him is…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 1:13
In the dictionaries
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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries