Ezekiel 1:21
When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Original Language Analysis
בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם
H1980
בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
1 of 14
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
יֵלֵ֔כוּ
H1980
יֵלֵ֔כוּ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
2 of 14
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
יַֽעֲמֹ֑דוּ
and when those stood
H5975
יַֽעֲמֹ֑דוּ
and when those stood
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
3 of 14
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
יַֽעֲמֹ֑דוּ
and when those stood
H5975
יַֽעֲמֹ֑דוּ
and when those stood
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
4 of 14
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ
and when those were lifted up
H5375
יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ
and when those were lifted up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
5 of 14
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
מֵעַ֣ל
H5921
מֵעַ֣ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 14
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ
and when those were lifted up
H5375
יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ
and when those were lifted up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
8 of 14
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם
over against
H5980
לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם
over against
Strong's:
H5980
Word #:
10 of 14
conjunction, i.e., society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with
כִּ֛י
H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
11 of 14
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
ר֥וּחַ
them for the spirit
H7307
ר֥וּחַ
them for the spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
12 of 14
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
Historical Context
The Spirit's presence in both creatures and wheels demonstrates pneumatology (doctrine of the Holy Spirit)—God's Spirit animates all divine activity. This countered pagan dualism separating spiritual and material realms. Ezekiel's vision shows the Spirit pervading God's throne-chariot, emphasizing divine unity. The exiles needed assurance that the same Spirit dwelling in Solomon's temple now manifested in Babylon.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Spirit's presence in both creatures and wheels teach us about the Holy Spirit's role in all divine activity?
- What does the perfect coordination between standing and going teach us about discerning God's timing for action versus waiting?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The repetition of synchronized movement ('when those went, these went') emphasizes the absolute reliability of divine purpose and execution. The creatures and wheels standing together shows that divine action ceases only at God's command, never from external constraint. The phrase 'the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels' reveals that the same divine energy animating the cherubim drives the wheels—God's Spirit unifies all aspects of His sovereign work.