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

11Each had two pairs of outstretched wings—one pair stretched out to touch the wings of the living beings on either side of it, and the other pair covered its body. 12They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around. The living beings looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them. 14And the living beings darted to and fro like flashes of lightning. 15As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each.

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

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 their feet had hooves like those of a calf and shone like burnished bronze.
• Genesis 15:17After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses.
• Psalms 104:4The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.
• Daniel 10:5I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist.
• Matthew 28:3His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
• Revelation 4:5From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.
• Revelation 10:1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire.
• Revelation 18:1After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor.

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