Ezekiel 1:20

20 Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither would [their] spirit go; and the wheels were lifted up along with ^[a] them: for the spirit of the living creature ^[b] was in the wheels.

Ezekiel 1:20 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 1:20

Whithersoever the spirit was to go they went
That is, the Spirit of God; wherever that leads and directs, whether in the paths of faith or duty, they follow; they walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; he guides their feet in the way of peace, and into all truth; and leads them in a right way to the land of uprightness: thither [was their] spirit to go;
their spirits or souls being regenerated by the spirit of God, are moved and actuated by him, and readily go where that directs: and the wheels were lifted up over against them;
that is, over against the living creatures; being by their sides going where they go, and being lifted up when they are: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels;
the same Spirit of God, which is a spirit of life, a quickening spirit, and a free spirit; which gives motion and liberty in religious exercises; that which is in the ministers of the Gospel is in the churches of God; there is but one Spirit, and ministers and members are actuated and influenced by it; see ( Ephesians 4:4 Ephesians 4:5 ) .

Ezekiel 1:20 In-Context

18 As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and they four had their rims full of eyes round about.

19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

20 Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither would [their] spirit go; and the wheels were lifted up along with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

21 When those went, they went; and when those stood, they stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up along with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

22 And there was the likeness of an expanse over the heads of the living creature, as the look of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'over against,' or 'beside,' as ch. 3.13, &c.
• [b]. Some read 'spirit of life:' so in ver. 21 and ch. 10.17.