Ezekiel 1:18 kjv
As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
Ezekiel 1:18 nkjv
As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them.
Ezekiel 1:18 niv
Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
Ezekiel 1:18 esv
And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.
Ezekiel 1:18 nlt
The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around.
Ezekiel 1 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels/Structure | ||
| Eze 1:15-16 | Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel... each with its own. | Describes the wheels' presence and relation. |
| Eze 1:20-21 | Wherever the spirit would go, they went, and the wheels went alongside them... | Spirit directs the creatures and wheels. |
| Eze 10:9-13 | As I looked, there were four wheels beside the cherubim... named "The Whirlwind." | Further description of the wheels (Ophannim). |
| Eyes/Omniscience | ||
| Eze 10:12 | And their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings... full of eyes. | Cherubim themselves are full of eyes. |
| Zec 4:10 | These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the whole earth. | God's all-seeing omnipresence. |
| Rev 4:6 | In the midst of the throne, and around the throne, four living creatures... full of eyes in front and behind. | Living creatures full of eyes. |
| Rev 5:6 | seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. | Lamb has seven eyes symbolizing divine knowledge. |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. | God's omnipresent observation. |
| Jer 32:19 | great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of men. | God's awareness of human actions. |
| 2 Chr 16:9 | For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. | God actively surveys and helps. |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him... | God sees all things clearly. |
| Ps 33:18 | Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him... | God watches over His people. |
| Ps 139:1-4 | You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off... | God's exhaustive knowledge of individuals. |
| Dreadful/Awe-inspiring | ||
| Gen 28:17 | And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God..." | Jacob's fear upon encountering divine presence. |
| Ex 19:16-18 | there were thunderings and lightnings... and a very loud trumpet blast... | Sinai's terrifying display of God's presence. |
| Ps 47:2 | For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great King over all the earth. | God's fearful majesty. |
| Ps 76:12 | He cuts off the spirit of princes; He is to be feared by the kings of the earth. | God's formidable power over rulers. |
| Isa 6:1-5 | Above Him stood the seraphim... And the posts of the door were shaken... | Isaiah's awe and conviction of uncleanness. |
| Rev 1:17 | When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. | John's fearful response to resurrected Christ. |
| Deut 1:19 | Then we set out from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrifying wilderness. | Describes a fearsome journey/landscape often with divine implications. |
| High/Exalted | ||
| Ps 97:9 | For You, O Lord, are Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. | God's supreme elevation and sovereignty. |
| Isa 57:15 | For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy... | Emphasizes God's elevated status. |
Ezekiel 1 verses
Ezekiel 1 18 Meaning
Ezekiel 1:18 describes key characteristics of the wheels (often identified as Ophannim) that accompany the living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision of God's chariot-throne. It emphasizes their immense height, signifying divine transcendence and majesty, and their terrifying or awe-inspiring appearance, evoking a sense of reverential dread appropriate for divine encounters. Crucially, the verse highlights that these wheels were "full of eyes all around," a profound symbol of God’s omnipresence, omniscience, and ceaseless watchfulness, implying His absolute knowledge and control over all things, everywhere.
Ezekiel 1 18 Context
Ezekiel 1:18 is part of the prophet Ezekiel’s inaugural vision of God’s glory by the Kebar River in Babylonian exile (Eze 1:4-28). This groundbreaking vision serves to assure the exiled Israelites that God's presence and sovereign power are not confined to Jerusalem or the Temple but extend wherever His people are. The passage describes four living creatures (later identified as cherubim, Eze 10:15) and four interlocking wheels that move in concert with them. The wheels, known as Ophannim, are integral to the divine throne-chariot (Merkabah), symbolizing divine mobility, omniscience, and unceasing activity. Verse 18 specifically focuses on the wheels' physical appearance—their towering height and their surface being completely covered in eyes—underscoring the overwhelming and awe-inspiring nature of God's transcendent presence and His all-knowing perception. This vision directly contrasts the common ancient Near Eastern belief that deities were confined to their localized temples, emphasizing instead God's absolute freedom and universal oversight.
Ezekiel 1 18 Word analysis
- As for their rings / rims (וְגַבֵּיהֶן - ve-gabeihen): This Hebrew word gabbim (plural of gab) typically refers to backs, or here, "rims" or "felloes" of the wheels. It denotes the outermost part or circumference of the wheel. The significance lies in these being the visible surface of the moving mechanism, carrying the multitude of eyes.
- they were so high (וְגֹבַהּ לָהֶם - ve-govah lahem): Govah means height or loftiness. This describes the wheels as immensely tall, not merely standing, but towering. This attribute symbolizes the transcendent, exalted nature of God and His glory. It implies His unreachability and supreme authority above all creation, capable of surveying all from an incomprehensibly elevated position.
- that they were dreadful (וְיִרְאָה לָהֶם - ve-yirah lahem): Yirah denotes fear, awe, or dread. The term highlights the overwhelming, awe-inspiring, and formidable nature of encountering the divine. This is not necessarily a fearful dread of harm, but a reverential terror evoked by God's holiness, power, and glory, prompting profound humility and awareness of human frailty in His presence. It signifies the immense impact and uncontainable nature of God's manifested power.
- and they were full of eyes (וּמְלֵאֹת עֵינַיִם הֵנָּה - u-mele’ot einayim hennah): "Full of eyes" (עינים - einayim) is a potent visual metaphor. It powerfully communicates omniscience, all-pervasive awareness, and perfect vigilance. These eyes signify comprehensive knowledge of all events, past, present, and future, and every thought and intention. They symbolize divine wisdom, intelligence, and an unceasing, encompassing watchfulness that misses nothing.
- all around the four of them (saviv lahem le’arba’tan): "All around" (saviv) emphasizes the complete encirclement of the wheels by eyes, leaving no blind spot. This totality underscores God's perfect, universal knowledge. "The four of them" refers to the four specific wheels associated with the four living creatures. This reinforces the systematic and complete nature of God’s oversight, applying to every aspect of His moving glory-throne.
Ezekiel 1 18 Bonus section
The "eyes" on the wheels, beyond symbolizing omniscience, can also suggest an innate wisdom and adaptability. Just as biological eyes gather information for effective movement, these symbolic eyes might imply the wheels' (and thus God's) perfect understanding of the terrain, obstacles, and optimal paths, ensuring flawless execution of divine will. This links to the concept of the wheels moving "wherever the spirit went" (Eze 1:20), indicating intelligent, informed motion rather than mindless obedience. The terrifying nature is not merely a visceral fear but relates to the overwhelming, untamable power and perfect righteousness of God, before whom no secret can be hidden, and no sin unobserved. This divine "seeing" is not passive; it underlies God's active involvement, judgment, and providential care over all things.
Ezekiel 1 18 Commentary
Ezekiel 1:18 profoundly contributes to the imagery of divine majesty and omnipresence in Ezekiel's vision. The towering height of the wheels symbolizes God's transcendence—He is supremely exalted above all earthly limitations and affairs. Their "dreadful" appearance speaks to the appropriate response of reverential awe and humility when confronted with divine glory and power, reflecting the holiness and immensity of the Creator. Most striking is the description of the wheels "full of eyes." This rich symbolism conveys God's exhaustive omniscience; He is fully aware of every detail, action, and thought, at all times and in all places. It signifies not only His unblinking watchfulness over creation, particularly His exiled people, but also His wisdom and ability to perceive and act according to perfect knowledge. These eyes also represent divine intelligence, understanding, and foresight in the execution of His will. The four wheels, each completely covered in eyes, demonstrate the perfection and completeness of this divine attribute in God’s mobile and active presence.