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

21Whenever the creatures went, the wheels went. When the creatures stood still, these wheels stood still. When the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22Now over the heads of the living creatures there was something like an expanse, shining like the color of ice, stretched forth over their heads. Under the expanse, their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other. Each had another pair covering its body. 24When they moved, I could hear the sound of their wings like the sound of rushing waters, like the voice of Shaddai, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army. Whenever they stood still, they let down their wings. 25There came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. Whenever they stood still, they let down their wings.

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 1:12Now each being could move in the direction of any of its faces; wherever the Ruach would go, they went, without turning as they went.
• Ezekiel 1:11Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings touching the wing of another, while another two were covering their bodies.
• Job 4:18If He puts no trust in His servants and accuses His angels of error,
• Psalms 89:7For who in the skies can compare to Adonai? Who is like Adonai among the sons of gods?
• Luke 17:10So you too, when you’ve done everything you are commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves. We have done only what we were supposed to do.’”

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