Ezekiel 1 · Verse 20

Ezekiel 1:20

Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Ezekiel 1:20, King James Version

Ezekiel 1:20 in other translations

BSBWherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
WEBWherever the spirit was to go, they went. The spirit was to go there. The wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
ASVWhithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
YLTWhither the spirit is to go, they go, thither the spirit is to go, and the wheels are lifted up over-against them, for a living spirit is in the wheels.
DARBYWhithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither would their spirit go; and the wheels were lifted up along with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
BBEWherever the spirit was to go they went; and the wheels were lifted up by their side: for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
WebsterWhithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

What does Ezekiel 1:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. the spirit was to go--that is, their will was for going whithersoever the Spirit was for going. over against them--rather, beside or in conjunction with them. spirit of the living creature--put collectively for "the living creatures"; the cherubim. Having first viewed them separately, he next views them in the aggregate as the composite living creature in which the Spirit resided. The life intended is that connected with God, holy, spiritual life, in the plenitude of its active power.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 The spirit of the living creature was in the wheels - That is, the wheels were instinct with a vital spirit; the wheels were alive, they also were animals, or endued with animal life, as the creatures were that stood upon them. Here then is the chariot of Jehovah. There are four wheels, on each of which one of the compound animals stands; the four compound animals form the body of the chariot, their wings spread horizontally above, forming the canopy or covering of this chariot; on the top of which, or upon the extended wings of the four living creatures, was the throne, on which was the appearance of a man, Eze 1:26.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15-25

Providence, represented by the wheels, produces changes. Sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost, sometimes another; but the motion of the wheel on its own axletree is regular and steady. We need not despond in adversity; the wheels are turning round and will raise us in due time, while those who presume in prosperity know not how soon they may be cast down. The wheel is near the living creatures; the angels…

Read the full comment on Ezekiel 1:15-25 →

Ezekiel 1:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עַ֣ל'altoH5921
אֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherwhereH834
יִֽהְיֶה\־yih.yeh-it wasH1961
שָּׁ֨םshamthereH8033
הָר֤וּחַha.Ru.achthe spiritH7307
לָלֶ֙כֶת֙la.Le.khet[about] to goH1980
יֵלֵ֔כוּye.Le.khuthey movedH1980
שָׁ֥מָּהSha.mahthere towardsH8033
הָר֖וּחַha.Ru.achthe spiritH7307
לָלֶ֑כֶתla.Le.khetto goH1980
וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֗יםve.ha.'o.fa.Nimand the wheelsH212
יִנָּשְׂאוּ֙yi.na.se.'Uthey were lifted upH5375
לְעֻמָּתָ֔םle.'u.ma.Tam<to> close by themH5980
כִּ֛יkiforH3588
ר֥וּחַRu.ach[the] spirit ofH7307
הַחַיָּ֖הha.chai.Yahthe living creatureH2416
בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים\׃ba.'o.fa.Nim[was] in the wheelsH212

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 1:20

  • Ezekiel 1:12

    And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.

  • Ezekiel 10:17

    When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:32

    And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

  • Zechariah 6:1-8

    And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the spirit.
12; 1Co 14:32
for the.
10:17; Zec 6:1-8
of the living creature. or, of life.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezekiel 1:19

    And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

  • Ezekiel 1:20

    Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

  • Ezekiel 1:21

    When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

Read all of Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel 1:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hacia donde el espíritu era que anduviesen, andaban; hacia donde era el espíritu que anduviesen, las ruedas también se levantaban tras ellos; porque el espíritu de los animales estaba en las ruedas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Là où l’Esprit devait aller, là ils allaient, là leur esprit tendait à aller; et les roues s’élevaient auprès d’eux, car l’esprit de l’animal était dans les roues.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wohin der Geist gehen wollte, gingen sie, dahin, wohin der Geist gehen wollte; und die Räder erhoben sich neben ihnen denn der Geist des lebendigen Wesens war in den Rädern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quocumque ibat spiritus, illuc, eunte spiritu, et rotæ pariter elevabantur sequentes eum: spiritus enim vitæ erat in rotis.