New English Translation
Ezekiel 1:13
13In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire.
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 were spread out above them; each had two wings touching the wings of one of the other beings on either side and two wings covering their bodies. 12Each moved straight ahead – wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire. 14The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning. 15Then I looked, and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four beings.
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, but the soles of their feet were like calves’ feet. They gleamed like polished bronze.
- Genesis 15:17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts.
- Psalms 104:4He makes the winds his messengers, and the flaming fire his attendant.
- Daniel 10:5I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Upaz.
- Matthew 28:3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
- Revelation 4:5From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne
- Revelation 10:1Then I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire.
- Revelation 18:1After these things I saw another angel, who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance.
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
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