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.

EZEKIEL 1:23KJV
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Ezekiel 1:23 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 1:23 mean?

Ezekiel 1:23 describes how the wings of the living creatures were arranged beneath the surface above them. Some wings reached toward one another, while others covered their bodies. The picture brings together their connected position and the covering of each creature.

Ezekiel is reporting what he sees in a vision. After describing the firmament above the creatures in verse 22, he looks beneath it at the position of their wings. The KJV’s “on this side” and “on that side” pictures wings covering the creatures from both sides.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 1:23

  • “firmament” — רָקִיעַ (raqiaʿ): This means an expanse or spread-out surface. In verse 22, Ezekiel compares its appearance to an awesome crystal, giving the reader a picture of what is above the wings.
  • “straight” — יָשָׁר (yashar): This carries the sense of straight or level. Here it describes the position of the wings as they reach toward one another.

Why Ezekiel 1:23 matters

  • The creatures’ wings have more than one position in the vision. The wings described as “straight” reach toward one another, while other wings cover their bodies.
  • The wing arrangement helps the reader picture the creatures acting together. Earlier, verse 11 describes their wings as joined to one another; verse 24 then describes the sound of their wings when they move.

Where else these words appear

“bodies” Hebrew H1472 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 47:18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:
  • 1 Samuel 31:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
  • Psalms 110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

“firmament” Hebrew H7549 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
  • Genesis 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
  • Ezekiel 1:22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.

“side” Hebrew H2007 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
  • Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
  • Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

“wings” Hebrew H3671 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
  • Job 37:3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
  • Ezekiel 1:6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.