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

21So whenever the creatures moved, the wheels moved. Whenever the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still. And whenever the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22Something like a dome was spread over the heads of the living creatures. It looked like dazzling crystal. Under the dome, each creature had two wings that were stretched out straight, touching one another. Each creature had two wings that covered its body. 24When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings. The sound was like the noise of rushing water, like the thunder of the Almighty, like the commotion in an army camp. When the creatures stood still, they lowered their wings. 25A voice came from above the dome over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.

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 1:12Each of the creatures went straight ahead. They went wherever their spirit wanted to go, and they didn’t turn as they moved.
• Ezekiel 1:11That is what their faces looked like. Their wings were spread out, pointing upward. Each creature had two wings with which they touched each other. The other two wings covered their bodies.
• Job 4:18“You see, God doesn’t trust his own servants, and he accuses his angels of making mistakes.
• Psalms 89:7God is terrifying in the council of the holy ones. He is greater and more awe-inspiring than those who surround him.
• Luke 17:10That’s the way it is with you. When you’ve done everything you’re ordered to do, say, ‘We’re worthless servants. We’ve only done our duty.’ ”

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