Ezekiel 1:13

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

11Their wings waved up above them. Two wings of each living thing touched the wings of the living things on each side of them. Each living thing covered its body with its other two wings. 12The living things each moved forward, in the direction that the spirit wanted them to go. They did not turn as they moved. In the middle of the living things was a fire. It looked like coals that were burning, or like bright flames. The fire moved around among the living things. It shone brightly, with lightning coming out from it. 14The living things moved around very quickly, as fast as lightning. 15I continued to look at the four living things. Each of them had a wheel on the ground at its side.

Ezekiel 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. Their feet were like the feet of young cows. They shone like bright bronze.
• Genesis 15:17Then the sun went down and it became dark. Abram saw a pot that had coals in it. The coals were burning and making smoke. There was also a branch that burned with bright fire. These passed between the halves of the animals that Abram had cut in two pieces.
• Psalms 104:4You use the winds to carry your messages. Flames of fire are your servants.
• Daniel 10:5I looked up. I saw a man who was wearing good linen clothes. He also wore a belt made of pure gold.
• Matthew 28:3He shone brightly like lightning. His clothes were very white like snow.
• Revelation 4:5A storm with bright lightning came from the throne. There was the loud noise of thunder. In front of the throne there were seven lights of fire burning brightly. These lights are the seven spirits of God.
• Revelation 10:1Then I saw another powerful angel. He was coming down from heaven. He had a cloud all round him, like his clothes. There was a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun and his legs shone like fire.
• Revelation 18:1After these things happened, I saw another angel. He was coming down from heaven. He had great authority. He was beautiful and he shone brightly. He gave light to the whole world.

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

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Lightning
• Vision

In the dictionaries

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

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