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

11Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies. 12And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. 14And the living beings ran back and forth like bolts of lightning. 15Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the ground beside the living beings, for each of the four of them.

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

• there was something that lookedמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• like burningבָּעַרbâ‛ar · to burn: burnH1197
• coalsגַּחֶ֫לֶתgechel gacheleth · coalH1513
• fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• torchesלַפִּידlappîyd lappid · torchH3940
• movingהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• amongבַּ֫יִןbêyn · between: amongH996
• was brightנֹ֫גַהּnôgahh · brightnessH5051
• and lightningבָּרָקbârâq · lightningH1300
• flashingיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318

Cross-references for Ezekiel 1:13

• Ezekiel 1:7Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they sparkled like polished bronze.
• Genesis 15:17Now it came about, when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, a smoking oven and a flaming torch appeared which passed between these pieces.
• Psalms 104:4He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.
• Daniel 10:5I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man dressed in linen, whose waist had a belt of pure gold of Uphaz.
• Matthew 28:3And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
• Revelation 4:5Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God;
• Revelation 10:1I saw another strong angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was on his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;
• Revelation 18:1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated from 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

• 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