Ezekiel 1:11

Verse

Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.

American Standard Version (1901)

And their faces and their wings were separate above; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

Bible in Basic English

And their wings were separate at the top; two of the wings of every one were joined one to another, and two were covering their bodies.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies:

Free Bible Version

These were their faces. Their wings were spread out above them. They all had two wings that touched the wings of the one beside it, as well as two wings that covered its body.

King James (Authorized) Version

Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

Translation for Translators

Two of each creature’s wings were lifted up and touched the wings of the creatures that were on each side. The other two wings were folded against the creature’s body.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Their faces were like that, and their wings were spread out above, so that each creature had a pair of wings that touched another creature's wing, and also a pair of wings that covered their bodies.

Noah Webster Bible

Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

World English Bible

Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.

Young's Literal Translation

And their faces and their wings are separate from above, to each [are] two joining together, and two are covering their bodies.

Context

The Four Living Creatures

¹⁰The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle. ¹¹Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.¹²Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they moved.

Summary

In Ezekiel 1:11, the prophet describes the appearance of the four living creatures he sees in his vision. Each of these creatures had faces of a human, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. This imagery symbolizes different aspects of God's creation and His attributes. The human face represents intelligence and reason, the lion symbolizes strength and courage, the ox signifies service and sacrifice, and the eagle represents swiftness and divine perspective. Together, these living creatures reflect the multifaceted nature of God and His sovereignty over all creation.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

The tips of the two outstretched wings reached to one another, while the other two, in token of humble awe, formed a veil for the lower parts of the body. stretched upward--rather, "were parted from above" (compare Margin; see on Isa 6:2). The joining together of their wings above implies that, though the movements of Providence on earth may seem conflicting and confused, yet if one lift up his eyes to heaven, he will see that they admirably conspire towards the one end at last.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward,.... The former clause, "thus were their faces", either belongs to Eze 1:10; and the meaning is, this, as now represented, was the likeness of their faces, and this the position of them: or it may be read in connection with the following clause, and be rendered, "and their faces and their wings were stretched upwards"; as they are in the Chaldee paraphrase, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions: "their faces were stretched upwards", showing that the ministers of the Gospel look up to Christ for fresh supplies of gifts and grace, of light, knowledge, wisdom, and strength, to enable them to perform their work: "and their wings were stretched upwards", that is, two of them; not four, as the Arabic version has it; for two covered their bodies, as is after said. Those that were stretched upwards answer to the two with which Isaiah's seraphim flew; for these were, as in the original text, "parted upwards" (p); though they were joined together at the bottom of them, as in Eze 1:9; yet being spread in flying, they opened wider and wider, and were at a greater distance from each other in their extreme points. This may design the agility, swiftness, and readiness of ministers in the performance of their work; two wings of everyone were joined one to another: with which they, covered their heads and faces, as did Isaiah's seraphim, as conscious of their unworthiness and infirmities; looking upon themselves to be less than the least of all saints, unfit to be ministers of the Gospel; acknowledging they have nothing but what they have received and therefore would not glory as though they had not received, and as ashamed of their poor performances and ministrations; and two covered their bodies; their lower and secret parts called their feet in Isaiah; which however to others beautiful upon the mountains, running and bringing the good news of peace, righteousness, and salvation by Christ; yet sensible of their deficiencies, they cover them, and confess, when they have done all they can, they are but unprofitable servants; from hence it appears that these living creatures had six wings, as the seraphim in Isaiah, and the four beasts in John's vision. (p) "disjunctae", Montanus; "divisae", Calvin, Starckius. So Ben Melech.

Ezekiel 1:11

The Four Living Creatures

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.

American Standard Version (1901)

And their faces and their wings were separate above; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

Bible in Basic English

And their wings were separate at the top; two of the wings of every one were joined one to another, and two were covering their bodies.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies:

Free Bible Version

These were their faces. Their wings were spread out above them. They all had two wings that touched the wings of the one beside it, as well as two wings that covered its body.

King James (Authorized) Version

Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

Translation for Translators

Two of each creature’s wings were lifted up and touched the wings of the creatures that were on each side. The other two wings were folded against the creature’s body.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Their faces were like that, and their wings were spread out above, so that each creature had a pair of wings that touched another creature's wing, and also a pair of wings that covered their bodies.

Noah Webster Bible

Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

World English Bible

Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.

Young's Literal Translation

And their faces and their wings are separate from above, to each [are] two joining together, and two are covering their bodies.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Ezekiel 1:11

Verse

Context

The Four Living Creatures

Summary

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Ezekiel 1:11

The Four Living Creatures

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes