English Standard Version
Ezekiel 1:13
13As 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The living beings looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them.
Context of Ezekiel 1:13
11Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 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. 14And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. 15Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.
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 sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze.
- Genesis 15:17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
- Psalms 104:4he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
- Daniel 10:5I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
- Matthew 28:3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
- Revelation 4:5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, 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, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.
- Revelation 18:1After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries