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.

Ezekiel 1:16 nkjv

The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

Ezekiel 1:16 niv

This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel.

Ezekiel 1:16 esv

As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.

Ezekiel 1:16 nlt

The wheels sparkled as if made of beryl. All four wheels looked alike and were made the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it.

Ezekiel 1 verses

Ezekiel 1 16 Meaning

Ezekiel 1:16 describes the striking appearance and sophisticated nature of the wheels that accompanied the living creatures in Ezekiel's inaugural vision. It emphasizes their luminous color, like beryl, suggesting divine purity and glory, and highlights their remarkable structural design where "a wheel in the middle of a wheel," signifying complex, precise, and multi-directional movement indicative of divine omnipresence and perfect order.

Ezekiel 1 16 Context

Ezekiel 1 describes the inaugural vision given to the prophet Ezekiel by the Chebar Canal in Babylon during the fifth year of exile (Ezek 1:1-3). This vision served as Ezekiel's prophetic call, occurring in a foreign land to reveal that God's presence and sovereignty were not confined to the temple in Jerusalem but extended even to the exiles. The entire chapter vividly details a multi-faceted manifestation of God's glory: a stormy wind, fire, a bright cloud, four living creatures, and alongside them, these remarkable wheels. Verse 16 specifically focuses on the physical attributes of these wheels, setting the stage for understanding their functionality and symbolic meaning in subsequent verses as components of a divine "chariot-throne," symbolizing God's omnipresent, dynamic, and sovereign rule over all creation, regardless of geographical location.

Ezekiel 1 16 Word analysis

• The appearance: Hebrew: mar'eh (מַרְאֶה). Signifies "sight," "vision," or "that which is seen." It highlights the visual nature of Ezekiel's experience, emphasizing that he is relaying a direct observation of God's glory. The vivid details suggest the reality and impact of this divine revelation.
• of the wheels: Hebrew: ha'ophannim (הָאוֹפַנִּים). Refers specifically to the "wheels" or "spheres" introduced in Ezekiel 1:15. These are not merely inanimate objects but dynamic, living entities within the vision, integral to the movement of the divine throne.
• and their workmanship: Hebrew: u'ma'aseh (וּמַעֲשֵׂה). Implies the "making," "construction," or "product of work." It emphasizes that these wheels are meticulously designed, not accidental. This highlights the intentionality and precision of divine creation and design within the heavenly realm.
• was like the color of beryl: Hebrew: k'ein tarshish (כְּעֵין תַּרְשִׁישׁ).
  • k'ein: "like the eye of" or "like the appearance of," denoting a likeness or resemblance.
  • tarshish (תַּרְשִׁישׁ): This is the Hebrew word for a precious stone, traditionally identified as beryl, chrysolite, or topaz, often characterized by a luminous, yellowish-green or bluish-green, translucent quality. The association with "Tarshish" (a distant, wealthy trading city) might also subtly imply its rarity and value. In biblical contexts, such stones are often linked with divine glory, purity, or high status, as seen in the High Priest's breastplate (Exod 28:20) or descriptions of celestial beings (Dan 10:6). Its shimmering, deep color contributes to the overall awe-inspiring, supernatural quality of the vision.
• and all four: Hebrew: u'l'arba'tan (וּלְאַרְבַּעְתָּן). Directly refers to the four distinct wheels previously mentioned.
• had the same likeness: Hebrew: y'chat m'sheyhema (יְחַד מַשְׂחֵהֵמָה). "One likeness" or "uniform in appearance." This signifies a perfect symmetry and uniformity among the complex components of the divine machinery. It suggests order, divine design, and synchronized operation, characteristic of God's perfect governance.
• Their appearance and their workmanship were as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel: Hebrew: ka'asher yihyeh galgal b'toch galgal (כַּאֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה גַּלְגַּל בְּתוֹךְ גַּלְגַּל).
  • galgal (גַּלְגַּל): The generic Hebrew term for a "wheel" or "rolling thing." The repetition, "wheel within a wheel," is the most perplexing and significant part of the description. It conveys an advanced, complex, and seemingly impossible mechanical design for human comprehension. This structure is often interpreted as allowing for instantaneous, multi-directional movement without the need for turning, enabling the wheels to move in any of the four directions (north, south, east, west) with ease and without reorientation. It suggests:
    • Omni-directional Movement: Symbolizing God's unhindered movement and omnipresence; He can act and be present anywhere simultaneously.
    • Divine Precision and Intricacy: The profound engineering implies ultimate divine wisdom and control.
    • Self-contained System: The interwoven nature indicates perfect synergy and self-sufficiency, embodying God's sovereignty.
    • Hidden Depths: Like a gyroscope, it suggests layers of divine purpose and action that are beyond human superficial understanding.

Ezekiel 1 16 Bonus section

• The concept of "a wheel in the middle of a wheel" has often been paralleled by scholars to the principles of a gyroscope, a device capable of independent rotation around multiple axes, allowing stability and orientation in three-dimensional space. While anachronistic to Ezekiel's time, this modern analogy helps visualize the advanced, stable, and multi-directional motion suggested by the biblical description, underscoring the divine intelligence behind its design.
• The meticulous and intricate description of God's chariot-throne in Ezekiel can be seen as a counter-polemic against Babylonian religious cosmology, which often depicted deities as tied to specific locations or limited powers. Ezekiel's vision emphasizes a God whose mobility is absolute and whose power is universally supreme, assuring the exiles that His divine presence transcended their earthly captivity and the limitations of pagan deities.
• The uniform "likeness" of all four wheels underscores the concept of divine order and unity even within great complexity. Every part of God's operations works in perfect harmony, reflecting His inherent wisdom and seamless administration of His kingdom.

Ezekiel 1 16 Commentary

Ezekiel 1:16 draws the prophet, and by extension the reader, deeper into the bewildering yet magnificent details of the divine vision. The description of the wheels is fundamental to understanding the mobile throne-chariot of God. The "color of beryl" imbues these wheels with a transcendent luminescence, speaking of their pure, heavenly origin and reflecting the dazzling glory of the Lord. The most arresting detail, "a wheel in the middle of a wheel," points to a functionality that defies earthly mechanics, hinting at a miraculous capacity for omni-directional, fluid movement. This structural marvel powerfully symbolizes God's ubiquitous presence and unrestricted sovereignty. No direction is beyond His reach; no situation can limit His movement or intervention. For the exiles by the Chebar Canal, this intricate vision conveyed a profound truth: their God was not confined to Jerusalem or its temple; He was free to move among them, even in their foreign land, sustaining His purpose and demonstrating His infinite power and wisdom through such an astounding, meticulously ordered, and perfectly synchronized cosmic vehicle.