Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. New Living Translation The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went. English Standard Version Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Berean Standard Bible 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. King James Bible Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. New King James Version Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. New American Standard Bible Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose just as they did; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. NASB 1995 Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. NASB 1977 Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. Legacy Standard Bible Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction, where the spirit was about to go. And the wheels rose alongside of them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Amplified Bible Wherever the spirit went, the beings went in that direction. And the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit or life of the living beings was in the wheels. Christian Standard Bible Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Holman Christian Standard Bible Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. American Standard Version Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. English Revised Version Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. GOD'S WORD® Translation Wherever their spirit wanted to go, the creatures went. The wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Good News Translation The creatures went wherever they wished, and the wheels did exactly what the creatures did, because the creatures controlled them. International Standard Version Whatever direction these spirits went, the wheels would be lifted up along with them, because the wheels were alive. NET Bible Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. New Heart English Bible They went in whichever direction the spirit would go, and the wheels rose alongside them because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Webster's Bible Translation Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWherever 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. World English Bible Wherever the spirit was to go, they went. The spirit was to go there. The wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTo where the Spirit is to go, they go, there the Spirit [is] to go, and the wheels are lifted up alongside them, for a living spirit [is] in the wheels. Young's Literal Translation Whither the spirit is to go, they go, thither the spirit is to go, and the wheels are lifted up over-against them, for a living spirit is in the wheels. Smith's Literal Translation To where the spirit will be there to go they will go, there the spirit to go; and the wheels will be lifted up with them: for the spirit of life in the wheels. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhithersoever the spirit went, thither as the spirit went the wheels also were lifted up withal, and followed it: for the spirit of life was in the wheels. Catholic Public Domain Version Wherever the spirit went, as the spirit was going forth to that place, the wheels, too, were lifted up together, so as to follow them. For the spirit of life was in the wheels. New American Bible Wherever the spirit would go, they went. And they were raised up together with the living creatures, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. New Revised Standard Version Wherever the spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWheresoever the spirit was to go, they went, and the wheels were lifted up with them; for there was a living spirit in the wheels. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And to the place that The Spirit was going, they were going on, and the wheels were going up with them, because the living Spirit was in the wheels OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Whithersoever the spirit was to go, as the spirit was to go thither, so they went; and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. Brenton Septuagint Translation Wherever the cloud happened to be, there was the spirit ready to go: the wheels went and were lifted up with them; because the spirit of life was in the wheels. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Four Wheels…19So as the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20Wherever 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. 21When 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.… Cross References Revelation 4:6-8 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. / 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. / And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 1:12-16 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, / and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. / The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. ... Daniel 7:9-10 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. / A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. Revelation 19:11-14 Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / 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. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ... Isaiah 6:1-4 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. / Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. / And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” ... Revelation 5:6-8 Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. / And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne. / When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire. Revelation 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. Revelation 21:10-11 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, / shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal. Revelation 22:1-2 Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb / down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 1 Kings 22:19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. Zechariah 6:1-8 And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. / The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, / the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong. ... 2 Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. Psalm 104:3-4 laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind. / He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants. Isaiah 66:15 For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. Treasury of Scripture Wherever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. the spirit 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. 1 Corinthians 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. for the Ezekiel 10:17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them. Zechariah 6:1-8 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass… of the living creature. Jump to Previous Beings Close Creature Creatures Direction Lifted Over-Against Rise Rose Side Spirit Thither Wheels Wherever Whither WhithersoeverJump to Next Beings Close Creature Creatures Direction Lifted Over-Against Rise Rose Side Spirit Thither Wheels Wherever Whither WhithersoeverEzekiel 1 1. The time of Ezekiel's prophecy at Chebar.4. His vision of four cherubim; 15. of the four wheels; 26. and of the glory of God. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go This phrase highlights the divine guidance and sovereignty of God over the cherubim and the wheels. The "spirit" here is understood as the Spirit of God, indicating that the movements of the creatures and the wheels are directed by God's will. This reflects the biblical theme of God's omnipresence and omnipotence, as seen in Psalm 139:7-10, where the psalmist acknowledges that God's Spirit is everywhere. The obedience of the creatures to the Spirit's direction serves as a model for believers to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives, as emphasized in Romans 8:14. and the wheels would rise alongside them because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the author of the book and the recipient of the visions described. 2. Living Creatures These are angelic beings, often identified as cherubim, that accompany the glory of God in Ezekiel's vision. 3. Wheels Part of the vision, these wheels are associated with the living creatures and symbolize the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. 4. Spirit Refers to the divine presence or life force that directs the movement of the living creatures and the wheels. 5. Babylon The place of exile for the Israelites, where Ezekiel received his visions. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and OmnipresenceThe vision of the wheels and living creatures illustrates God's ability to be present and active everywhere. We can trust in His sovereign control over all creation. The Role of the Spirit Just as the spirit directed the living creatures, the Holy Spirit guides and empowers believers today. We should seek to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading in our lives. Divine Order and Purpose The coordinated movement of the creatures and wheels reflects God's orderly nature and purposeful design. We are called to align our lives with His divine order and purpose. Vision and Revelation Ezekiel's vision reminds us that God reveals Himself in diverse ways. We should be open to receiving and understanding God's revelations through Scripture and prayer. Holiness and Worship The awe-inspiring nature of the vision calls us to a deeper reverence and worship of God. Our response to His majesty should be one of humility and adoration. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 1:20?2. How does Ezekiel 1:20 illustrate God's sovereignty over creation and His creatures? 3. What does "the spirit of the living creatures" reveal about divine guidance? 4. How can we discern God's direction in our lives, as in Ezekiel 1:20? 5. Compare Ezekiel 1:20 with Romans 8:14 on being led by the Spirit. 6. How can we align our actions with God's will, as seen in Ezekiel 1:20? 7. What does Ezekiel 1:20 reveal about the nature of divine guidance and free will? 8. How do the wheels in Ezekiel 1:20 symbolize God's omnipresence and omniscience? 9. What is the significance of the spirit directing the wheels in Ezekiel 1:20? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 1? 11. What are the ophanim in the Bible? 12. What are Ezekiel's Wheels in biblical context? 13. What are the ophanim in the Bible? 14. Ezekiel 2:1-2: How can a literal 'Spirit' physically enter Ezekiel, and is there any natural or historical explanation for such an event? What Does Ezekiel 1:20 Mean Wherever the spirit would goEzekiel tells us, “Wherever the spirit would go.” The “spirit” here is the divine Spirit who leads the entire vision. Notice: • This Spirit initiates movement, not the creatures themselves, illustrating God’s sovereign direction (see Romans 8:14; John 3:8). • No destination is random; every move is purposeful, echoing Psalm 139:7–10 where the psalmist declares there is nowhere the Spirit is absent. • In Ezekiel 10:1–2 the same Spirit later fills the temple, underscoring continuity in God’s guidance. The lesson is clear: heavenly beings—and by extension God’s people—respond to the Spirit’s promptings without hesitation. they would go The text continues, “they would go,” referring to the four living creatures. Their obedience is immediate: • They neither delay nor debate; they simply follow (compare Revelation 4:8 where similar heavenly beings serve nonstop). • Their unified movement models harmony in service—an encouraging picture for believers called to “walk in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). • Ezekiel 10:16 later confirms that these same creatures never veer off course. Obedience is not optional in the heavenly realm; it is the natural response to God’s leading. and the wheels would rise alongside them Next Ezekiel says, “and the wheels would rise alongside them.” These wheels, dazzling and full of eyes (Ezekiel 1:18), symbolize God’s omniscient activity: • When the creatures ascend, the wheels ascend—there is perfect synchronization (see 2 Kings 2:11, where a fiery chariot carries Elijah upward). • Their rising suggests unhindered mobility; nothing on earth restrains God’s throne-chariot (Psalm 97:2–5). • The upward motion hints at heaven’s authority breaking into the earthly realm, foreshadowing Acts 1:9 where Christ is taken up before the disciples’ eyes. The picture reassures us that God’s purposes move flawlessly in every dimension. because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels Finally, Ezekiel explains why this unity exists: “because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.” • One Spirit permeates both beings and mechanisms; what appears separate is actually one coordinated entity (1 Corinthians 12:4–6 shows a similar diversity-in-unity principle among spiritual gifts). • This indwelling Spirit guarantees harmony; there is no conflict of will (Philippians 2:13 reminds us it is God who works in us to will and to act). • The shared Spirit means the throne-chariot is alive, not mechanical—a living expression of God’s presence (compare Revelation 11:19 where the ark in heaven signals living covenant relationship). The linkage between creatures and wheels underscores that all true service and movement in God’s kingdom springs from His indwelling power, not human initiative. summary Ezekiel 1:20 paints a vivid portrait of God’s throne on the move: wherever God’s Spirit directs, the living creatures go, the wheels rise, and every component acts in seamless unity because the same Spirit energizes them all. The verse reminds us that divine guidance is absolute, obedience is immediate, and God’s purposes advance unhindered—truths that invite us to yield to the Spirit with the same unquestioning readiness we witness in Ezekiel’s vision. (20, 21) The spirit of the living creature--Not, as in the margin, "the spirit of life." The object of Ezekiel 1:19-21 is by every repetition and variety of expression to represent "the living creatures" and "the wheels" as one, animated by one spirit, and moved by one impulse. The word is the same throughout, and there was no "spirit of life" in the wheels independent of that of the living creatures. All formed together one strange, symbolic whole.The mention in Ezekiel 1:19-21 of the wheels being "lifted up from the earth" simultaneously with the living creatures is not in opposition to the symbolism already explained, of the wheels resting upon the earth. That was to show that God's purposes are carried out as He wills in this world. This brings out, in addition, the perfect harmony of these purposes, whether relating to earth or to heaven. Verse 20. - Whithersoever the spirit was to go, etc. The secret of the coincidence of the movements of the "living creatures" and of the "wheels" was found in the fact, which the prophet's intuition grasped, that the phenomena of life and law had one and the same originating source. For "the spirit of the living creature" (singular, because the four are regarded as one complex whole), the LXX., Vulgate, and Revised Version margin, give "the spirit of life," a rendering tenable in itself, but the contextual meaning of the word is in favour of the Authorized Version and the Revised Version text.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whereverעַ֣ל (‘al) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the spirit הָר֤וּחַ (hā·rū·aḥ) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit would go, לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ (lā·le·ḵeṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk they would go, יֵלֵ֔כוּ (yê·lê·ḵū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk and the wheels וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֗ים (wə·hā·’ō·w·p̄an·nîm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 212: A wheel would rise יִנָּשְׂאוּ֙ (yin·nā·śə·’ū) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take alongside them, לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם (lə·‘um·mā·ṯām) Preposition-l | third person masculine plural Strong's 5980: Society, near, beside, along with because כִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction the spirit ר֥וּחַ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit of the living creatures הַחַיָּ֖ה (ha·ḥay·yāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life was in the wheels. בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ (bā·’ō·w·p̄an·nîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 212: A wheel Links Ezekiel 1:20 NIVEzekiel 1:20 NLT Ezekiel 1:20 ESV Ezekiel 1:20 NASB Ezekiel 1:20 KJV Ezekiel 1:20 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 1:20 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 1:20 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 1:20 French Bible Ezekiel 1:20 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 1:20 Wherever the spirit was to go they (Ezek. Eze Ezk) |
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