Ezekiel 1:24
in Ezekiel 1When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of a host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
KJV
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
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This verse in Ezekiel 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"And I heard the sound of their wings, as the sound of many waters." In sacred speech, peoples are customarily designated by waters. Hence it is said through John: "The waters are peoples." Peoples are designated by waters for this reason: because in life they have sound from the tumult of the flesh, and daily they flow away through the course of mortality. As we have now often said, the wings of the living creatures are the virtues of the saints.
This site's exposition
an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal
on Ezekiel 1:22-25
Over the creatures’ heads was “the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.” When they moved, their wings sounded “like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty.” When they stood still they lowered their wings, and “there came a voice from above the expanse.”
This site's exposition
like the roar of many waters
When the creatures moved, their wings sounded like the roar of many waters. Adam Clarke hears the voice of the Almighty as thunder, which Psalm 18:13 calls the voice of God. When they stood still, the wings came down.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
But while the animals were standing, their wings were lowered. For they could not bear the resonating voice of Almighty God in the heavens, but they stood and marveled; and with their silence, they demonstrated the power of God, who sat upon the firmament.
(Verse 22 onwards) And the likeness above the heads of the living creatures was like the appearance of a crystal dreadful ice; extended above their heads was what appeared to be a firmament. Under the firmament their wings were straight, one toward another. Each of them had two wings that covered their bodies, and each one had two wings that covered one side. And I heard the sound of the wings, like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty God.
The Medieval Church3 voices
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistHomilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 8 · Written before 604.
proposed
"When they walked, there was a sound like that of a multitude, like the noise of an army camp." If by the sound of the heights the praise of our creator God is designated in the heavenly homeland, it is not surprising that the prophetic discourse returns again to the works of the saints still living in this life, because the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the prophets does not simultaneously cast forth through the tongue outwardly what He simultaneously shows inwardly. For the water of knowledge with which the soul of the one prophesying is filled overflows vehemently in contemplation. But because every mouth of man is narrow for the Spirit, that is, the opening of the flesh is insufficient for expressing that immensity which is beheld, the tongue varies in its utterance. Therefore, after he beheld the sound of the wings to be as the sound of the most high God in the heavens, he returns again to earth and speaks of what the winged creatures do here, so that they may merit those highest things there, saying: "When they walked, there was as it were the sound of a multitude, like the noise of an army." When the holy preachers go about the world preaching and drawing people, the living creatures walk. And because those whom they gather, as soon as they have believed, rise up in praise of our creator, a sound is made like the sound of a multitude. And because in that preaching they take up war against the powers of the air, it is rightly added: "Like the noise of an army." For when faithful peoples are joined to the holy preachers, multitudes of armies are formed in the battle array of faith against the malignant spirits. […]
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistHomilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 8 · Written before 604.
proposed
"And when they stood, their wings were let down." The holy living creatures stand when they consider the things of God with intent contemplation. But their wings are lowered, because while they behold the lofty judgments of God, their own virtues become worthless to them.
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 13 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Then the Prophet says that he "heard the sound of their wings, like the roaring of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty." The "sound of their wings" is "heard" when the minds are prompted; and "the voice of the Almighty" rings out because …
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistHomilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 8 · Written before 604.
proposed
"As the sound of the most high God." What is it that the sound of wings in the holy living creatures is called as the sound of the Most High God, except that Almighty God both fills the minds of the saints with heavenly desire, and himself hears them when filled? For he himself creates love in the hearts of the saints, and he himself receives prayer from loving hearts. Peter wept bitterly over his denial, but yet there it is first stated that Jesus looked upon Peter. Mary Magdalene came after many stains of guilt, to the feet of our Redeemer with tears; but who poured this into her within, except he who kindly received her outwardly? Who was urging her to tears through the spirit of compunction, except he who outwardly was receiving her unto pardon before those reclining together at table? Therefore our Redeemer was drawing forth the mind of the sinful woman when he pierced her with compunction over her guilt, and was receiving her so that he might free her from guilt. Well therefore is this sound of wings called as the sound of the Most High God, because whatever is done in the virtues of the saints belongs to the grace of him who bestows merits. He is rightly called the Most High God through the prophet. For in Sacred Scripture, God is sometimes spoken of nominally, and sometimes essentially. He is spoken of nominally, as it is written: "Behold, I have made you a god to Pharaoh." And as Moses says: "If anyone does this or that, bring him to the gods," that is, to the priests. Who again says: "You shall not revile the gods," that is, the priests. […]
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And when they went,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The noise of their wings - When the whirlwind drove the wheels, the wind rustling among the wings was like the noise of many waters; like a waterfall, or waters dashing continually against the rocks, or rushing down precipices. As the voice of the Almighty - Like distant thunder; for this is termed the voice of God Psa 18:13; Exo 9:23, Exo 9:28, Exo 9:29; Exo 20:18.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The voice of the Almighty - Thunder. The voice of speech - Rendered in Jer 11:16 “a great tumult.” Some take it to describe the rushing of a storm.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וָאֶשְׁמַ֣ע | vaeshma' | and I heard | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| ק֣וֹל | kol | [the] sound of | H6963 → | 506 times |
| כַּנְפֵיהֶ֡ם | kanfeihem | wings their | H3671 → | 109 times |
| כְּקוֹל֩ | kekol | like [the] sound of | H6963 → | 506 times |
| מַ֨יִם | mayim | waters | H4325 → | 581 times |
| רַבִּ֤ים | rabim | many | H7227 → | 454 times |
| כְּקוֹל־ | kekol- | like [the] sound of | H6963 → | 506 times |
| שַׁדַּי֙ | shadai | [the] Almighty | H7706 → | |
| בְּלֶכְתָּ֔ם | belekhtam | when moved they | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| ק֥וֹל | kol | [the] sound of | H6963 → | 506 times |
| הֲמֻלָּ֖ה | hamulah | a rainstorm | H1999 → | |
| כְּק֣וֹל | kekol | like [the] sound of | H6963 → | 506 times |
| מַחֲנֶ֑ה | machaneh | an army | H4264 → | |
| בְּעָמְדָ֖ם | beamedam | when stood still they | H5975 → | 521 times |
| תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה | terapeinah | they let drop | H7503 → | 46 times |
| כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃ | khanfeihen | wings their | H3671 → | 109 times |
וָאֶשְׁמַ֣עand I heard
vaeshma'H8085 →1159 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
ק֣וֹל[the] sound of
kolH6963 →506 times
כַּנְפֵיהֶ֡םwings their
kanfeihemH3671 →109 times
כְּקוֹל֩like [the] sound of
kekolH6963 →506 times
מַ֨יִםwaters
mayimH4325 →581 times
רַבִּ֤יםmany
rabimH7227 →454 times
כְּקוֹל־like [the] sound of
kekol-H6963 →506 times
שַׁדַּי֙[the] Almighty
shadaiH7706 →
בְּלֶכְתָּ֔םwhen moved they
belekhtamH1980 →1546 times
ק֥וֹל[the] sound of
kolH6963 →506 times
הֲמֻלָּ֖הa rainstorm
hamulahH1999 →
כְּק֣וֹלlike [the] sound of
kekolH6963 →506 times
מַחֲנֶ֑הan army
machanehH4264 →
בְּעָמְדָ֖םwhen stood still they
beamedamH5975 →521 times
תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָהthey let drop
terapeinahH7503 →46 times
כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃wings their
khanfeihenH3671 →109 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 1:15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.
it leads to
- Revelation 14:2
And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters and the loud rumbling of thunder. And the sound I heard was like harpists strumming their harps.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 43:2
and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.
- Daniel 10:6
His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of…
- Revelation 19:6
And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the…
- Revelation 2:18
To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.
- Revelation 14:2
Through
Ezekiel 43:2and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.
it leads to
- Revelation 18:1
After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.
- Revelation 18:1
Through
Daniel 10:6His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of…
it leads to
- Revelation 19:12
He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows.
- Revelation 19:12
Through
Revelation 19:6And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the…
it leads to
- Psalms 97:1
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.
- Psalms 97:1
Where this verse is studied
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About Ezekiel
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 13; Gregory the Dialogist, Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 8; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.