Ezekiel 1:11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body.

◄ Ezekiel 1:11 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body.

English Standard Version
Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.

New American Standard Bible
Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies.

King James Bible
Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching that of another and two wings covering its body.

International Standard Version
That's what their faces were like. Their wings spread out above and around them, one pair overlapping another, with one pair covering themselves.

American Standard Version
And their faces and their wings were separate above; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies:

Darby Bible Translation
And their faces and their wings were parted above; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

Young's Literal Translation
And their faces and their wings are separate from above, to each are two joining together, and two are covering their bodies.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1:1-14 It is a mercy to have the word of God brought to us, and a duty to attend to it diligently, when we are in affliction. The voice of God came in the fulness of light and power, by the Holy Spirit. These visions seem to have been sent to possess the prophet's mind with great and high thoughts of God. To strike terror upon sinners. To speak comfort to those that feared God, and humbled themselves. In ver. 4-14, is the first part of the vision, which represents God as attended and served by a vast company of angels, who are all his messengers, his ministers, doing his commandments. This vision would impress the mind with solemn awe and fear of the Divine displeasure, yet raise expectations of blessings. The fire is surrounded with a glory. Though we cannot by searching find out God to perfection, yet we see the brightness round about it. The likeness of the living creatures came out of the midst of the fire; angels derive their being and power from God. They have the understanding of a man, and far more. A lion excels in strength and boldness. An ox excels in diligence and patience, and unwearied discharge of the work he has to do. An eagle excels in quickness and piercing sight, and in soaring high; and the angels, who excel man in all these respects, put on these appearances. The angels have wings; and whatever business God sends them upon, they lose no time. They stood straight, and firm, and steady. They had not only wings for motion, but hands for action. Many persons are quick, who are not active; they hurry about, but do nothing to purpose; they have wings, but no hands. But wherever the angels' wings carried them, they carried hands with them, to be doing what duty required. Whatever service they went about, they went every one straight forward. When we go straight, we go forward; when we serve God with one heart, we perform work. They turned not when they went. They made no mistakes; and their work needed not to be gone over again. They turned not from their business to trifle with any thing. They went whithersoever the Spirit of God would have them go. The prophet saw these living creatures by their own light, for their appearance was like burning coals of fire; they are seraphim, or burners; denoting the ardour of their love to God, and fervent zeal in his service. We may learn profitable lessons from subjects we cannot fully enter into or understand. But let us attend to the things which relate to our peace and duty, and leave secret things to the Lord, to whom alone they belong.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. The tips of the two outstretched wings reached to one another, while the other two, in token of humble awe, formed a veil for the lower parts of the body.

stretched upward—rather, "were parted from above" (compare Margin; see on [1016]Isa 6:2). The joining together of their wings above implies that, though the movements of Providence on earth may seem conflicting and confused, yet if one lift up his eyes to heaven, he will see that they admirably conspire towards the one end at last.