Their wings [were] joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
Their wings {H3671} were joined {H2266} one {H802} to another {H269}; they turned {H5437} not when they went {H3212}; they went {H3212} every one {H376} straight {H5676} forward {H6440}.
they touched one another with their wings; they did not turn when they moved, but each one moved straight forward;
and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.
their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
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Ezekiel 10:22
And the likeness of their faces [was] the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward. -
Luke 9:51
¶ And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, -
Ezekiel 1:11
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. -
Ezekiel 1:12
And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; [and] they turned not when they went. -
Ezekiel 10:11
When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. -
1 Corinthians 1:10
¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. -
Luke 9:62
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Ezekiel 1:9 is a descriptive verse from the prophet Ezekiel's astonishing inaugural vision of God's glory and the divine chariot-throne. It details the precise, unified movement of the four living creatures (later identified as cherubim) that support the throne.
Context
This verse is part of a grand, complex vision described in Ezekiel chapter 1, which occurred while Ezekiel was among the Jewish exiles by the river Chebar in Babylon. The vision served to demonstrate God's omnipresence and sovereignty, even in exile, and to commission Ezekiel as a prophet. The living creatures are central to this heavenly machinery, symbolizing aspects of divine power and presence. Their specific manner of movement underscores the order and purposefulness of God's actions, and they are later identified as cherubim in Ezekiel 10:15.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase translated "straight forward" is neged (נֶגֶד), which literally means "in front of" or "opposite." In this context, it powerfully conveys the idea of moving directly ahead, without turning or veering. It underscores the creatures' unwavering gaze and singular focus on their divine commission, moving precisely as directed by the Spirit within the wheels, as mentioned in Ezekiel 1:12.
Practical Application
For believers today, Ezekiel 1:9 offers several profound insights: