New International Version
Ezekiel 1:23
23Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Beneath this surface the wings of each living being stretched out to touch the others’ wings, and each had two wings covering its body.
Context of Ezekiel 1:23
21When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. 24When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. 25Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings.
Read all of Ezekiel 1Ezekiel 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 one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.
- Ezekiel 1:11Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body.
- Job 4:18If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error,
- Psalms 89:7In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.
- Luke 17:10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have 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
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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