Ezekiel 1:15
Ezekiel 1:15 in Multiple Translations
When I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
¶ Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold, one wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces thereof.
Now while I was looking at the four living beings, I saw one wheel on the earth, by the side of the living beings, for the four of them.
As I was watching these beings, I noticed a wheel on the ground next to each of the beings with their four faces.
Nowe as I behelde the beastes, beholde, a wheele appeared vpon the earth by the beastes, hauing foure faces.
And I see the living creatures, and lo, one wheel [is] in the earth, near the living creatures, at its four faces.
Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.
Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
Now as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared upon the earth by the living creatures one wheel with four faces.
While I looked at the four living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each of them.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 1:15
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 1:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וָ/אֵ֖רֶא
הַ/חַיּ֑וֹת
וְ/הִנֵּה֩
אוֹפַ֨ן
אֶחָ֥ד
בָּ/אָ֛רֶץ
אֵ֥צֶל
הַ/חַיּ֖וֹת
לְ/אַרְבַּ֥עַת
פָּנָֽי/ו
וָ/אֵ֖רֶא
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs
הַ/חַיּ֑וֹת
chay
H2416
alive
Art | N-fp
וְ/הִנֵּה֩
hinnêh
H2009
behold
Conj | Part
אוֹפַ֨ן
ʼôwphân
H212
wheel
N-ms
אֶחָ֥ד
ʼechâd
H259
one
Adj
בָּ/אָ֛רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
אֵ֥צֶל
ʼêtsel
H681
beside
Prep
הַ/חַיּ֖וֹת
chay
H2416
alive
Art | N-fp
לְ/אַרְבַּ֥עַת
ʼarbaʻ
H702
four
Prep | Adj
פָּנָֽי/ו
pânîym
H6440
face
N-cp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 1:15
וָ/אֵ֖רֶא
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.
הַ/חַיּ֑וֹת
chay
H2416
"alive"
Art | N-fp
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
וְ/הִנֵּה֩
hinnêh
H2009
"behold"
Conj | Part
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Definition: behold, lo, see, if
Usage: Occurs in 799 OT verses. KJV: behold, lo, see. See also: Genesis 1:29; Genesis 42:35; Deuteronomy 19:18.
אוֹפַ֨ן
ʼôwphân
H212
"wheel"
N-ms
Refers to a wheel, like a chariot wheel or the wheels in Ezekiel's vision. It is also used to describe the wheels on the bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple, as mentioned in the Bible.
Definition: 1) wheel 1a) chariot wheel 1b) wheel in Ezekiel's vision 1c) wheels of the ten bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: wheel. See also: Exodus 14:25; Ezekiel 1:21; Proverbs 20:26.
אֶחָ֥ד
ʼechâd
H259
"one"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.
בָּ/אָ֛רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
אֵ֥צֶל
ʼêtsel
H681
"beside"
Prep
Beside or near, this preposition indicates proximity or closeness to something or someone. It is often translated as at, by, or near in the King James Version, and is used to describe physical or spatial relationships in the Bible.
Definition: 1) beside, by, near, nearness, joining, proximity subst 2) (BDB) 2a) conjunction, proximity 2b) beside, in proximity, contiguous to, from beside
Usage: Occurs in 57 OT verses. KJV: at, (hard) by, (from) (beside), near (unto), toward, with. See also H1018 (בֵּית הָאֵצֶל). See also: Genesis 39:10; 2 Chronicles 9:18; Proverbs 7:8.
הַ/חַיּ֖וֹת
chay
H2416
"alive"
Art | N-fp
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
לְ/אַרְבַּ֥עַת
ʼarbaʻ
H702
"four"
Prep | Adj
The number four is a simple counting number in Hebrew, used to describe quantities of things, such as people, objects, or groups.
Definition: four
Usage: Occurs in 277 OT verses. KJV: four. See also: Genesis 2:10; Judges 20:47; Esther 9:21.
פָּנָֽי/ו
pânîym
H6440
"face"
N-cp | Suff
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 1:15
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 1:15 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 1:15
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 1:15
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 1:15
- Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 1:15
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
- Sermons on Ezekiel 1:15
Context — The Four Wheels
13In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
14The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning.
15When I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
16The workmanship of the wheels looked like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their workmanship looked like a wheel within a wheel. 17As they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 7:9 | As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 10:9 | Then I looked and saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. And the wheels gleamed like a beryl stone. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 1:19–21 | So as the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. |
| 4 | Revelation 4:7 | The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 1:6 | but each had four faces and four wings. |
| 6 | Ezekiel 10:13–17 | I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” Each of the cherubim had four faces: the first face was that of a cherub, the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle. Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the River Kebar. When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them, and even when they spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not veer away from their side. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels also stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. |
Ezekiel 1:15 Summary
[Ezekiel 1:15 describes a vision of wheels beside living creatures, which represents God's power and ability to move and work in any direction. This vision reminds us of God's sovereignty, as seen in Psalm 103:19, and His all-encompassing presence. The wheels and living creatures together symbolize God's diverse and omnipresent nature, and we can apply this concept to our lives by trusting in His power and guidance. As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves how we can surrender to God's sovereignty and trust in His presence in our lives.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the wheels mentioned in Ezekiel 1:15?
The wheels are a part of the vision given to Ezekiel, and they represent God's ability to move and work in any direction, as seen in Ezekiel 1:16-17, where it says the wheels could move in any of the four directions without pivoting.
How do the wheels relate to the living creatures?
Each living creature had a wheel beside it, as stated in Ezekiel 1:15, indicating a connection between the creatures and the wheels, possibly symbolizing God's power and movement in relation to His living creations, similar to how God moves through His people in Exodus 25:22.
What is the significance of the four faces of the wheel?
The four faces of the wheel, as mentioned in Ezekiel 1:15, may represent God's all-encompassing presence and ability to see and work in all directions, much like the four living creatures with different faces in Ezekiel 1:10, which symbolize God's diverse and omnipresent nature.
How does this vision relate to God's sovereignty?
The vision of the wheels and living creatures in Ezekiel 1:15 and surrounding verses demonstrates God's sovereignty and power, as seen in Psalm 103:19, where it says God's sovereignty is over all, and His dominion is in all the heavens.
Reflection Questions
- What does the image of the wheel beside each living creature reveal to me about God's power and presence in my life?
- How can I apply the concept of God's all-encompassing presence, represented by the four faces of the wheel, to my daily life and decisions?
- In what ways can I surrender to God's sovereignty, as demonstrated in the vision of Ezekiel 1:15, and trust in His power and guidance?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to acknowledge and submit to God's omnipresent and all-powerful nature, as symbolized by the wheels and living creatures?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 1:15
Now as I beheld the living creatures,.... While he had the vision of them, and when he was considering their form and likeness, and what should be the meaning of them: behold, one wheel upon the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 1:15
Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. Behold one wheel.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
Now; or, and; it is a transition from the former to the latter part of the vision. I beheld; considered and observed. Behold; it calls for our attention. One wheel; or a certain wheel of spherical form, as some; of a circular form, as the wheels of chariots, say others. It is one wheel, intimating that all the different causes and motions, how many soever in themselves, yet work the same work, and are governed as easily in their various motions, as one single wheel might be, and that God doth so govern them. Upon the earth; not that we tread on, but that which in this vision was represented to the prophet; for it was here as it is in landscapes or pictures drawn, there is that which represents the earth, on which trees, men, or chariots seem to be upon. By the living creatures; by each of these living creatures stood one wheel, so that they were four in number, according to the number of the living creatures. With his four faces: by this it appears each wheel had its four faces, of which more in the 17th verse, where what is here called faces is there called sides.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
Ezekiel 1:15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.Ver. 15. Behold one wheel upon the earth.] Things here below are exceedingly mutable, and therefore compared to wheels, because they may seem to run on wheels, and to have no certain course, but to be turned upside down eftsoons; such is the various, promiscuous administration of them, to many men’ s thinking. To set us right herein, here we have the vision of the four wheels; for each of the four living wights had a wheel by him, to show that God governeth all the four quarters of the world by the ministry of his angels. This the poets hammered at, but hit not on, in their foolish fable of Fortune’ s wheel. St James speaketh of the wheel (τροχος) of nature; and, indeed, this world is of a wheeling nature, movable and mutable. But God, who moves this wheel, who ruleth the world, is unchangeable and eternal, and his providence and the ministry of his angels sets all the wheels in the world in motion.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
(15) Behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures.—The prophet sees this while still looking intently upon the cherubim—“ as I beheld the living creatures “—showing that it was still a part of one and the same vision. The wheel was one in the same sense in which the living creatures were one, yet actually four, as appears from the following verse and the whole subsequent description. In the corresponding vision (Ezekiel 10:9), they are at once described as four. The cherubim had been seen in the cloud (Ezekiel 1:4-5); now they need to be connected below with the earth, and presently (Ezekiel 1:26) above, with the throne of God. Therefore the wheel is “upon the earth,” but of a great height (Ezekiel 1:18). There was a wheel in front of each of the cherubim, again forming a square, yet so that, as already said, they might in a sense be all considered as one wheel. Reference has been made for the origin of this imagery to the wheels under the ten bases of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 7:32-33); but there seems to be nothing either in size or form to correspond, and, so far as we know, the imagery here is purely original.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
Verse 15. One wheel upon the earth] It seems at first view there were four wheels, one for each of the living creatures; that is, the creatures were compound, so were the wheels, for there was "a wheel in the middle of a wheel." And it is generally supposed that these wheels cut each other at right angles up and down: and this is the manner in which they are generally represented; but most probably the wheel within means merely the nave in which the spokes are inserted, in reference to the ring, rim, or periphery, where these spokes terminate from the centre or nave. I do think this is what is meant by the wheel within a wheel; and I am the more inclined to this opinion, by some fine Chinese drawings now before me, where their deities are represented as walking upon wheels, the wheels themselves encompassed with fire. The wheel is simply by itself having a projecting axis; so of these it is said, "their appearance and their work was, as it were, a wheel within a wheel." There were either two peripheries or rims with their spokes, or the nave answered for the wheel within. I have examined models of what are called Ezekiel's wheels, which are designed to move equally in all directions: but I plainly saw that this was impossible; nor can any kind of complex wheel move in this way.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 1:15
4–28. The theophany, or, vision of God This is described first generally, as a whirlwind and great cloud coming from the North, with a luminous splendour around it, due to a fire sending out continuous flashes within it (Ezekiel 1:4). Secondly, more particularly that is described which appeared within the storm-cloud (Ezekiel 1:5-28). This was the chariot of God, in which he rode, descending to the earth and moving from one place to another (cf. ch. 10). This chariot is represented as foursided. On each of the four sides was a living creature of human shape, with outstretched wings. Also on each of the four sides, beside each of the living creatures there was a wheel. The living creatures are not represented as having any platform or basement under them on which they stand; the wheels are usually said to be “beside” them, in ch. Ezekiel 10:2 “under” them. The wheels are to be conceived as at right angles to each of the four sides of the chariot, presenting their rims to the four points of the compass.
Above the heads of the four living creatures, or over their wings when horizontally expanded, was a firmament of crystal. Above the firmament was the appearance of a throne. And upon the throne the appearance of one like fire, encircled with a glory which was like the rainbow in the day of rain.
Barnes' Notes on Ezekiel 1:15
Translate it: “one wheel upon the earth by” each of “the liviing creatures” on his four sides (i. e. on the four sides of each of the living creatures). There was a wheel to “each” of the living creatures: it was set “by,” i. e.
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15
15. Wheel — A new part of the picture is here introduced. In connection with each living creature is a wheel. The carefulness with which these are described proves their symbolic importance.
Sermons on Ezekiel 1:15
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Providence of God-02 by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the wonders of God's providence. He emphasizes the desire to bring honor and glory to the Lord. The preacher shares a story about four Christ |
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The Authority Is Invested in the Man on the Throne by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the authority of the Man on the Throne, illustrating how God's movement is symbolized by the wheels in Ezekiel's vision. He explains that these wheels r |
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To See the Living God by David Cooper | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the description of four living creatures in the book of Ezekiel. These creatures have wings joined together and always move straight forward |
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God on the Throne: A Picture of Holiness by James MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the mystery and awe-inspiring nature of God. He references a vision from the book of Daniel, where thrones were placed and the ancient of days |
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(Daniel) a Survey of Five World Empires by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the interpretation of Daniel's vision in chapter 7 of the Bible. The vision describes four beasts that arise from the sea, each representing |
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Becoming More Saint and Less Sinner by Keith Hartsell | In this sermon, the speaker describes a hypothetical scenario of a multicultural crowd coming together to celebrate the name of Jesus. The speaker emphasizes the importance of prai |
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Rev. 20:6. the First Resurrection by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar emphasizes the hope of resurrection as central to the Christian faith, contrasting it with the finality of death. He explains that the first resurrection, as describ |