Ezekiel 1:15

¶ 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 {H7200} the living creatures {H2416}, behold one {H259} wheel {H212} upon the earth {H776} by {H681} the living creatures {H2416}, with his four {H702} faces {H6440}.

As I gazed at the living creatures, I saw wheels on the ground, one next to each of the four-faced living creatures.

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 beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces thereof.

Commentary

Ezekiel 1:15 introduces a new, fascinating element into the prophet Ezekiel's foundational vision of God's glory: the appearance of wheels alongside the mysterious living creatures. This verse marks a transition, beginning the description of the intricate mechanisms that facilitate the movement of the divine throne-chariot.

Context

This verse is part of Ezekiel's profound inaugural vision, which occurred while he was among the exiles by the river Chebar in Babylon (Ezekiel 1:1). Having just described the four living creatures, each with four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 1:6, 1:10), Ezekiel now shifts his focus to the wheels that are intimately connected to these beings. The vision is not merely a display of power, but a revelation of God's presence and sovereignty, even in the midst of Judah's exile and apparent abandonment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Movement and Omnipresence: The introduction of the wheels signifies God's ability to move and be present anywhere. These wheels, intricately linked to the living creatures, suggest a dynamic and purposeful movement of the divine presence, emphasizing God's active involvement in the world and His people's lives, even in foreign lands.
  • Intricate Design and Order: The vision is characterized by extreme detail and complexity. The wheels are not simple but part of a highly organized, awe-inspiring system, hinting at the profound wisdom and perfect order of God's plans and operations. This complexity foreshadows the later description of "a wheel within a wheel" in subsequent verses.
  • Unity of Divine Operation: The phrase "one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces" strongly implies a symbiotic relationship. The wheels are not independent but move in perfect coordination with the living creatures, suggesting the unified nature of God's attributes and actions. The "four faces" likely refers to the faces of the living creatures, underscoring this deep connection and mutual alignment.
  • God's Sovereignty: The entire vision, including the wheels, portrays God as being in absolute control, moving according to His own will, unaffected by earthly circumstances or human limitations. This divine chariot-throne imagery reinforces God's supreme authority over all creation.

Linguistic Insights

While this specific verse does not contain a unique Hebrew word that drastically alters its meaning, the description of "one wheel" (Hebrew: 'ophan) lays the groundwork for the more detailed and complex depiction of the wheels in the verses to follow. The term 'ophan simply means "wheel," but in this context, it takes on profound theological significance, representing mobility, power, and the mechanisms of divine action. The phrase "with his four faces" reinforces the inseparable connection between the wheels and the cherubim (as they are later identified in Ezekiel 10), indicating that the wheels move wherever the creatures move, directed by the Spirit of God.

Practical Application

Ezekiel's vision, including the appearance of the wheels, offers profound comfort and challenge. It reminds us that God is not static or confined; His presence is dynamic and capable of reaching into any circumstance, even exile or despair. Just as the wheels moved in perfect sync with the living creatures, God's plans are always coordinated and purposeful. For believers today, this vision encourages trust in God's omnipresence and His intricate, sovereign control over all things, even when our circumstances seem chaotic or disconnected. We can find peace in knowing that God is actively at work, moving according to His perfect will, and that His purposes will ultimately prevail.

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Cross-References

  • Daniel 7:9 (4 votes)

    ¶ I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire.

  • Ezekiel 10:9 (4 votes)

    And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels [was] as the colour of a beryl stone.

  • Ezekiel 1:6 (3 votes)

    And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

  • Revelation 4:7 (3 votes)

    And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.

  • Ezekiel 1:19 (3 votes)

    And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

  • Ezekiel 1:21 (3 votes)

    When those went, [these] went; and when those stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels.

  • Ezekiel 10:13 (2 votes)

    As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.