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

21When the living things moved, the wheels also moved. When the living things stopped, the wheels stopped moving too. When the living things rose up from the ground, the wheels went up at their side. That happened because the spirit of the living things was in each wheel. 22I saw something over the heads of the living things. It looked like a high roof that shone brightly like ice. The living things all stood under the roof. Each of them stood with its wings held out towards the living things on each side of it. They covered their bodies with their other two wings. 24When they moved, I could hear the sound of their wings. They made a noise like lots of water that pours along a river. It was also like the voice of the Almighty God, or the noise of a great army. When the living things stopped moving, they put their wings down at their sides. 25While they stood with their wings down at their sides, I heard a voice. It came from above the roof over their heads.

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 1:12The living things each moved forward, in the direction that the spirit wanted them to go. They did not turn as they moved.
• Ezekiel 1:11Their 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.
• Job 4:18God knows that even his angels make mistakes. They may do foolish things.
• Psalms 89:7When the angels meet together in heaven, they respect you with fear. All who meet round your throne in heaven respect you, as you deserve.
• Luke 17:10It is the same with you. The Master tells you what you should do. So when you have done all of it, you should say, “We are not special servants. We have only done what we should 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