Ezekiel 1:25
in Ezekiel 1And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And there was a voice above the firmament that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.
KJV
And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
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This verse in Ezekiel 1
Commentary
7 notes on this verse"For when there was a voice above the firmament that was over their head, they stood and lowered their wings." We have judged that the upper firmament should be expounded under a twofold understanding. For, as has been said, by the name of firmament the celestial powers can be understood. And by the name of firmament the incarnate Only-begotten can be designated, through the fact that in him our nature has been made firm unto eternity. Let us therefore first speak of what we think concerning the angels, and afterwards concerning the Lord of angels.
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
a voice from above the expanse
A voice now comes from above the expanse over the heads of the creatures. They stand still with their wings lowered while it speaks. Albert Barnes compares Ezekiel 3:12 and hears clear words of God's glory amid the noise.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(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 Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
This witnessing of the uncreated Word transcends any judgment by a creature. Hence the living creatures lowered their wings when a voice came from above the firmament. How shall we hear the thunder if we hardly see the lightning of this speech?
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads,.... Which was the voice of Christ upon the throne, above the firmament, over the heads of the living creatures; which directed them when and where to go, and what to do, and when and where to stop: when they stood, and had let down their wings; either encouraging them to lift them up, and go on in their work, notwithstanding the sense they had of their own weakness and unworthiness; or, having done their work, calling them to himself in heaven.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
A voice from the firmament - Compare Eze 3:12; in the midst of the tumult, are heard articulate sounds declaring the glory of God.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִי־ | vayhi- | and it came | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| ק֕וֹל | kol | a sound | H6963 → | 506 times |
| מֵעַ֕ל | meal | <from> above | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| לָרָקִ֖יעַ | larakia' | <to> the expanse | H7549 → | 17 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | [was] above | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| רֹאשָׁ֑ם | rosham | head their | H7218 → | 599 times |
| בְּעָמְדָ֖ם | beamedam | when stood still they | H5975 → | 521 times |
| תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה | terapeinah | they let drop | H7503 → | 46 times |
| כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃ | khanfeihen | wings their | H3671 → | 109 times |
וַיְהִי־and it came
vayhi-H1961 →3559 times
ק֕וֹלa sound
kolH6963 →506 times
מֵעַ֕ל<from> above
mealH5921 →5755 times
לָרָקִ֖יעַ<to> the expanse
larakia'H7549 →17 times
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
עַל־[was] above
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
רֹאשָׁ֑םhead their
roshamH7218 →599 times
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
5 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
Ezekiel 1:22Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 10:1
And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire.
- Ezekiel 1:26
Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
- Revelation 4:6
And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.
- Exodus 24:10
and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
- Revelation 4:3
The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.
- Ezekiel 10:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
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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 9; 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.