And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body.
Parallel translations
- WEB Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.
- KJV 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.
- BSB And under the expanse, their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two wings covering its body.
- NASB Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other.
- NLT Beneath this surface the wings of each living being stretched out to touch the others’ wings, and each had two wings covering its body.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Beneath the expanse the creatures' wings stretch toward one another, with two covering their bodies. Reverence and readiness mark their posture beneath the throne.
Overview
Positioned under the glorious expanse, the creatures both extend and veil their wings. The covering wings again express humble reverence in God's presence, like the seraphim of Isaiah 6. Their orderly arrangement supports the platform of God's glory above. The scene magnifies the holiness surrounding the divine throne.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Ezek 1:24When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings.
- Luke 17:10Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”
- Job 4:18Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
- Ps 89:7a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?
- Ezek 1:11–12Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 1:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.