Ezekiel 10:11
 Ezekiel 10:11 
New International Version (©2011)
As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The cherubim could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved. They went straight in the direction they faced, never turning aside.

English Standard Version (©2001)
When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without turning as they went.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
When they moved, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went; but they followed in the direction which they faced, without turning as they went.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved. But wherever the head faced, they would go in that direction, without pivoting as they went.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Whenever they moved, they proceeded without turning around as they moved, but they followed in the direction where their head was facing, without looking around as they moved.

NET Bible (©2006)
When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved; in the direction the head would turn they would follow without turning as they moved,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Whenever the angels moved, they moved in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. They always moved in the direction they faced without turning as they moved.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place where the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

American King James Version
When they went, they went on their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place where the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

American Standard Version
When they went, they went in their four directions: they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they went, they went by four ways: and they turned not when they went: but to the place whither they first turned, the rest also followed, and did not turn back.

Darby Bible Translation
When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it: they turned not as they went.

English Revised Version
When they went, they went upon their four sides: they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

Webster's Bible Translation
When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked, they followed it; they turned not as they went.

World English Bible
When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn't turn as they went, but to the place where the head looked they followed it; they didn't turn as they went.

Young's Literal Translation
In their going, on their four sides they go; they turn not round in their going, for to the place whither the head turneth, after it they go, they turn not round in their going.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:8-22 Ezekiel sees the working of Divine providence in the government of the lower world, and the affairs of it. When God is leaving a people in displeasure, angels above, and all events below, further his departure. The Spirit of life, the Spirit of God, directs all creatures, in heaven and on earth, so as to make them serve the Divine purpose. God removes by degrees from a provoking people; and, when ready to depart, would return to them, if they were a repenting, praying people. Let this warn sinners to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call on him while he is near, and cause us all to walk humbly and watchfully with our God.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - Whither the head, etc. The word has been taken, as in Job 29:25, for the "chief" or "principal" wheel, that which for the time determined the course of the others. With all the complex structure of the cherubic chariot, all was simple in its action. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels, and that gave unity (Ezekiel 1:20).


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

When they went, they went upon their four sides,.... Which four sides they had, by being made in the transverse way before mentioned; just as the New Jerusalem church state is said to be foursquare, Revelation 21:16; and this may denote the uniformity of Gospel churches in every state and condition, prosperous and adverse; and the constancy of their walk, conduct, and conversation:

they turned not as they went: neither to the right hand or the left, but went on in the path of faith and duty, keeping close to the word of God, and keeping up a conversation, discipline, and worship, according to it:

but to the place where the head looked they, followed it; meaning either the rulers, guides, and governors of churches, pastors and elders; whose faith and conversation are followed by the members: or rather Christ himself, the head of the church, who is to be followed whithersoever he goes or directs: unless by the head is meant the same as the spirit, Ezekiel 1:20; the Spirit of God, by whom the true members of Gospel churches are led, and after whom they walk. The Targum is,

"the place to which the first turned (or looked), after it they went;''

that is, the first of the wheels; and so may signify that the primitive churches are the pattern after which all the churches in after ages are to go;

they turned not as they went; this is repeated partly for the confirmation of it; and partly to excite attention to it, as being worthy of observation; See Gill on Ezekiel 1:17.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. (See on [1028]Eze 1:17).

turned not—without accomplishing their course (Isa 55:11) [Grotius]. Rather, "they moved straight on without turning" (so Eze 1:9). Having a face towards each of the four quarters, they needed not to turn around when changing their direction.

whither … head looked—that is, "whither the head" of the animal cherub-form, belonging to and directing each wheel, "looked," thither the wheel "followed." The wheels were not guided by some external adventitious impetus, but by some secret divine impulse of the cherubim themselves.


Ezekiel 10:11 Parallel Commentaries

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God's Glory Exits the Temple
10And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the middle of a wheel. 11When they went, they went on their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place where the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. 12And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. …

Ezekiel 1:8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings,
Ezekiel 1:17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.
Ezekiel 10:10 As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel.