Ezekiel 1:13

13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.

Ezekiel 1:13 in Other Translations

13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

13 The living beings looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them.

13 The four creatures looked like a blazing fire, or like fiery torches. Tongues of fire shot back and forth between the creatures, and out of the fire, bolts of lightning.

13 The form of the living creatures was like the appearance of burning coals of fire and torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it.

Ezekiel 1:13 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 1:13

As for the likeness of the living creatures
That is, of their bodies; for their faces, feet, hands, and wings are described before: their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire:
because of their ministerial gifts; the gifts of the Spirit are compared to fire, and like coals of fire are to be stirred up, and not covered or quenched; ( Acts 2:3 ) ( 2 Timothy 1:6 ) ( 1 Thessalonians 5:19 ) ; and because of their clear shining light in the truths of the Gospel; and because of their ardent love to Christ, and the souls of men; the coals whereof give a most vehement flame, which all the waters of reproach and persecution cannot quench, ( Song of Solomon 8:6 Song of Solomon 8:7 ) ; and because of their burning zeal for the glory of God, and the interest of the Redeemer; hence they are called "seraphim", fiery or burning ( Isaiah 6:2 ) ; [and] like the appearance of lamps:
so the ministers of the Gospel are compared to lamps, which hold forth the light of the Gospel to the sons of men; they are the lights or lamps of the world, and some of them are bright burning and shining ones, as John was, ( Matthew 5:14 ) ( John 5:35 ) ; it went up and down among the living creatures;
that is, fire went up and down among them; so the Targum,

``and fire inflamed was among the creatures;''

by which may be meant the word of God, comparable to fire, ( Jeremiah 20:9 ) ( 23:29 ) ; common to all the ministers of the Gospel, by which their minds are enlightened, and their hearts are warmed and filled with zeal, and by which they are the means of enlightening and warming others: and the fire was bright;
and clear, as the word of God is: and out of the fire went forth lightning;
by means of the ministry of the word, the kingdom and interest of Christ spread like lightning in the world, from east to west; so the coming of the son of man in his kingdom and power is compared to lightning, ( Matthew 24:27 ) ; it denotes the quick, penetrating, and enlightening power and efficacy of the word.

Ezekiel 1:13 In-Context

11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body.

12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.

13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.

14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.

Cross References

• 1. S 2 Samuel 22:9
• 2. Revelation 4:5