Ezekiel 1:13

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Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches. The fire went up and down among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning went out of the fire.”

— WEB

“As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.”

— KJV

“As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.”

— ASV

Cross-references

Related verses via the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Psalms 104:4 "He makes his messengersor, angels winds; his servants flames of fire."
Revelation 4:5 "Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven…"
Ezekiel 1:7 "Their feet were straight feet. The sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass."
Genesis 15:17 "It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces."
Daniel 10:5-6 "I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, there was a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were adorned with pure gold of Uphaz."
Revelation 18:1 "After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory."
Matthew 28:3 "His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow."
Revelation 10:1 "I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet…"

Commentary

likeness . . . appearance--not tautology. "Likeness" expresses the general form; "appearance," the particular aspect. coals of fire--denoting the intensely pure and burning justice wherewith God punishes by His angels those who, like Israel, have hardened themselves against His long-suffering. So in Isa 6:2, Isa 6:6, instead of cherubim, the name "seraphim," the burning ones, is applied, indicating God's consuming righteousness; whence their cry to Him is, "Holy! holy! holy!" and the burning coal is applied to his lips, for the message through his mouth was to be one of judicial severance of the godly from the ungodly, to the ruin of the latter. lamps--torches. The fire emitted sparks and flashes of light, as torches do. went up and down--expressing the marvellous vigor of God's Spirit, in all His movements never resting, never wearied. fire . . . bright--indicating the glory of God. out of the fire . . . lightning--God's righteousness will at last cause the bolt of His wrath to fall on the guilty; as now, on Jerusalem.

— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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