Ezekiel 1:23

And under the expanse, their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two wings covering its body.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Ezekiel, in prophetic vision, describes the living creatures positioned beneath the crystal-like expanse. The scene occurs during his initial divine encounter by the Chebar canal.

The words — The Hebrew יְשָׁר֔וֹת (yesharot) indicates the wings were stretched straight or aligned directly. The phrase אֶל־אֲחוֹתָֽהּ (el-achoto) literally means "to its sister," denoting paired alignment between the creatures.

The thread — This wing alignment appears in Ezekiel 1:11, where each creature's wings touch those on either side. Ezekiel 1:24 later references the same creatures lowering their wings when they stand still.

Why it lands — The text states the wings were straight and covered each body, establishing a precise, orderly arrangement. It requires the reader to observe the structural discipline of the vision without projecting human sentiment onto the imagery.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְתַ֙חַת֙ve./Ta.chatand/ under הָרָקִ֔יעַha./ra.Ki.a'the/ expanse כַּנְפֵיהֶ֣םkan.fei./Hemwings/ their יְשָׁר֔וֹתye.sha.Rot[were] straight אִשָּׁ֖ה'i.Shaheach אֶל־'el-to אֲחוֹתָ֑הּ'a.cho.Ta/hsister/ its לְאִ֗ישׁle./'Ish[belonged] to/ each שְׁתַּ֤יִםshe.Ta.yimtwo [wings]מְכַסּוֹת֙me.kha.sOtcoveringלָהֵ֔נָּהla./He.nah<to>/ themוּלְאִ֗ישׁu./le./'Ish<and>/ [belonged] to/ each שְׁתַּ֤יִםshe.Ta.yimtwo [wings]מְכַסּוֹת֙me.kha.sOtcoveringלָהֵ֔נָּהla./He.nah<to>/ themאֵ֖ת'et<obj.>גְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶֽם׃ge.vi.yo.tei./Hembodies/ their

King James Version

And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.

Cross-references

Job 4:18 If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,
Psalms 89:7 In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.
Ezekiel 1:11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.
Ezekiel 1:24 When 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.
Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”