Ezekiel 1:16
The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
Original Language Analysis
וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙
The appearance
H4758
וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙
The appearance
Strong's:
H4758
Word #:
1 of 15
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם
and their work
H4639
וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם
and their work
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
3 of 15
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
כְּעֵ֣ין
was like unto the colour
H5869
כְּעֵ֣ין
was like unto the colour
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
4 of 15
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
וּדְמ֥וּת
likeness
H1823
וּדְמ֥וּת
likeness
Strong's:
H1823
Word #:
6 of 15
resemblance; concretely, model, shape; adverbially, like
וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙
The appearance
H4758
וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙
The appearance
Strong's:
H4758
Word #:
9 of 15
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם
and their work
H4639
וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם
and their work
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
10 of 15
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִהְיֶ֥ה
H1961
יִהְיֶ֥ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
12 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Historical Context
Ancient wheeled vehicles required turning to change direction, unlike these wheels which could move omnidirectionally. This defied mechanical understanding, emphasizing the supernatural nature of God's throne. Beryl (tarshish stone) was a precious gem known for its luminous quality, suggesting the glory and value of God's sovereign mobility. The wheel-within-wheel has sparked millennia of interpretive discussion.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the supernatural wheel design teach us about God's providence working through means that transcend natural explanation?
- How should the precious stone appearance of God's mobile throne affect our valuing of His sovereign presence?
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Analysis & Commentary
The wheels' appearance 'like unto the colour of a beryl' (likely chrysolite, a yellow-green precious stone) suggests value and beauty. Their being 'as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel' describes intersecting wheels enabling movement in any direction without turning. This mechanical impossibility emphasizes supernatural design—God's purposes advance through means transcending natural law. The complex wheel structure pictures the intricate sovereignty of divine providence.