The Meaning of Ezekiel 1:16 Explained

Ezekiel 1:16

KJV: 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.

YLT: The appearance of the wheels and their works is as the colour of beryl, and one likeness is to them four, and their appearances and their works are as it were the wheel in the midst of the wheel.

Darby: The appearance of the wheels and their work was as the look of a chrysolite; and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

ASV: The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto a beryl: and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.

Discover Ezekiel 1:16

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Ezekiel 1:16?

MEANING: What does Ezekiel 1:16 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Ezekiel 1:16 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Ezekiel 1:16?

What is the context of Ezekiel 1:16?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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.

What does Ezekiel 1:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

These wheels appeared to have been skillfully made of some valuable material, the exact identity of which is unknown today. They all looked alike, and each wheel appeared to have another wheel, which seems to have been the same size, within it (attached to it). Another interpretation is that the wheels" rims were concentric, a smaller one within a larger one. Evidently the axis of these wheels was the same and was vertical, forming a somewhat globe-like structure. ^[1] Chariot wheels seem to be what Ezekiel saw with other equally large chariot wheels intersecting the main wheels. These second wheels would have enabled the previously mentioned wheels to rotate left and right as well as forward and backward, as modern spherical casters do.

Context Summary

Ezekiel 1:1-21 - A Vision Of God's Majesty

A dark storm-cloud approaches the prophet, from which an incessant blaze of lightning scintillated. As it drew near, the forms of four living creatures became visible, combining, under various figures, intelligence, strength, patience, and soaring aspiration. The wheels were evidently symbolical of the cycles of divine providence, which cooperate with the ministers of the divine will. The slab of blue expanse supported a human semblance, suggestive of that great after-event-God manifest in the flesh. The whole conception impresses us with the reality, order, majesty, and humanness, of the Eternal God. Those holy beings surely represent the intelligent company of innumerable angels and servants, while the wheels represent the material creation. All these are sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation. Angels and nature minister to us, if we are in union with God. All things serve the servants of the Most High. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 1

¹ The time of Ezekiel's prophecy at Chebar
⁴ His vision of four cherubim;
¹⁵ of the four wheels;
²⁶ and of the glory of God

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 1:16 mean?

The appearance of the wheels and their workings [was] like the color of beryl and likeness one had {all] four and the appearance [was] and of their workings as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel

מַרְאֵ֨ה הָאוֹפַנִּ֤ים וּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ כְּעֵ֣ין תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ וּדְמ֥וּת אֶחָ֖ד לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ן וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙ וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יִהְיֶ֥ה הָאוֹפַ֖ן בְּת֥וֹךְ הָאוֹפָֽן

מַרְאֵ֨ה	The appearance
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: מַרְאֶה Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
הָאוֹפַנִּ֤ים	of the wheels
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural Root: אֹופַן Sense: wheel.
וּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙	and their workings [was]
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural Root: מַעֲשֶׂה Sense: deed, work.
כְּעֵ֣ין	like the color
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, common singular construct Root: עֹונָה Sense: eye.
תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ	of beryl
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: תַּרְשִׁישׁ Sense: a precious stone or semi-precious gem.
וּדְמ֥וּת	and likeness
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular Root: דְּמוּת Sense: likeness, similitude adv.
אֶחָ֖ד	one
Parse: Number, masculine singular Root: אֶחָד Sense: one (number).
לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ן	had {all] four
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, masculine singular construct, third person feminine plural Root: אַרְבַּע Sense: four.
וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙	and the appearance [was]
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural Root: מַרְאֶה Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם	and of their workings
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural Root: מַעֲשֶׂה Sense: deed, work.
יִהְיֶ֥ה	it were
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אֶהְיֶה Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הָאוֹפַ֖ן	a wheel
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: אֹופַן Sense: wheel.
בְּת֥וֹךְ	in the middle
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: תָּוֶךְ Sense: midst, middle.
הָאוֹפָֽן	of a wheel
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: אֹופַן Sense: wheel.

What are the major concepts related to Ezekiel 1:16?

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Similar Scriptures for Ezekiel 1:16

		Daniel 10:6 [5]
		Ezekiel 10:9-11 [3]
		Job 9:10 [2]
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		Exodus 39:13 [2]
		Ephesians 3:10 [2]
		Romans 11:33 [2]