It's easy to read this description as just a fiery spectacle, but notice how the fire isn't just on the living creatures; it's actively moving among them like torches, bright and flashing with lightning. This isn't just about God's power being terrifying; it emphasizes the dynamic, energetic, and irresistible nature of His presence and judgment.
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is in exile by the river Chebar, where he sees an astounding vision of God's glory. Before this verse, he's described the immense, four-faced living creatures and the wheel-within-a-wheel structures accompanying them. This verse then focuses on the fiery, dynamic energy and brilliant light, like burning coals and moving torches, that emanates from these divine beings, hinting at God's awesome power and imminent judgment.
Ezekiel sees something extraordinary, a dazzling, fiery appearance surrounding divine beings. What does this intense imagery tell us about God's presence with His people?
In Ezekiel 1:13, the living creatures are described with an appearance like 'burning coals of fire' and 'torches.' This isn't just a visual spectacle; it's a profound theological statement.
Divine Incandescence
Commentators note that this fiery aspect signifies God's intense, holy presence. Just as fire is powerful and transformative, so is God's presence. Think of the burning bush (Exodus 3:2) – God revealed Himself in fire, a sign of His holy, consuming nature, yet not destroying the bush. This imagery emphasizes that God is not distant or passive but actively and powerfully present.
Movement and Light
The description also highlights movement: 'it went up and down among the living creatures,' and 'out of the fire went forth lightning.' This speaks to the dynamic, energetic nature of God's presence and power. The 'lightning' further intensifies this, suggesting suddenness, brilliance, and even awe-inspiring terror associated with divine revelation.
The intense fire and lightning in Ezekiel's vision aren't just for show. They carry a weighty message about God's justice and power.
The fiery imagery in Ezekiel 1:13 serves as a powerful symbol of God's judgment. The 'burning coals' and 'lightning' emerging from the divine presence are not merely passive displays of light but active indicators of God's wrath against sin and impenitence.
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God's Vengeance Manifest
Commentaries suggest that this fiery appearance signals that God's patience has worn thin, and judgment is imminent. For Ezekiel's audience, who were facing exile due to their disobedience, this vision would have been a stark reminder that God’s justice would be executed.
Swift and Terrifying Power
The rapid movement ('went up and down') and the flashing 'lightning' from the fire represent the swiftness and irresistible force of God's judgment. This isn't a distant threat but a present, active power ready to act. The terror associated with lightning is a fitting symbol for the fearful consequences of opposing God's will.
Understand the original words
chayyah · Hebrew Noun
In this context, it refers to the celestial beings (cherubim) seen by Ezekiel, representing the creation as it relates to the presence and glory of God. Biblically, they are often associated with God’s throne and the execution of His divine will.
esh · Hebrew Noun
A common biblical motif for divine presence, judgment, and purity. Fire often characterizes God’s holiness and His consuming presence when He manifests Himself to humanity.
mar'eh · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe the visual manifestation of God’s glory or celestial beings. It denotes that which is perceived by the eye, often indicating a supernatural or heavenly reality.
baraq · Hebrew Noun
In biblical prophecy, lightning often symbolizes the speed, power, and terrifying brilliance of God’s judgments or His angelic messengers acting on His behalf.
Ezekiel's vision occurs during the Babylonian Exile, a period of profound crisis for the Judean people. The fiery, dynamic imagery of the living creatures and God's throne emphasizes that God's presence and power are not confined to the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem but extend even to the exiles in Babylon, bringing both judgment and a glimmer of hope.
c. 627 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Call to Prophecy
Ezekiel, a priest, receives his initial prophetic call and vision of God's glory by the Chebar River, marking the beginning of his ministry among the exiles in Babylon.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, deports a group of Judeans, including members of the royal family and educated youth like Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a final, massive deportation of Judeans to Babylon.
This passage describes God appearing to Moses in a burning bush that was aflame but not consumed, echoing Ezekiel's vision of brilliant, intense fire that doesn't destroy, highlighting God's powerful and divine presence.
Psalm 18:12David describes God's manifestation in fire, thick clouds, coals of fire, and flaming light, drawing a strong parallel to the fiery, lightning-filled imagery in Ezekiel's vision, indicating God's awesome power.
Daniel 10:6Daniel's vision of a majestic figure describes a body like beryl, a face like lightning, eyes like flaming torches, and arms and legs like the gleam of bronze, sharing the theme of radiant, powerful, and almost overwhelming divine appearance with Ezekiel's fiery creatures.
Revelation 4:5The throne in heaven is described as surrounded by seven lamps of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, connecting the imagery of intense, bright fire in Ezekiel's vision to the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 12:29This verse states that our God is a consuming fire, reinforcing the symbolic meaning of fire in Ezekiel's vision as representing God's holiness, power, and judgment against sin.
barnesEzekiel 1:13: "As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning."
Lamps - "like the appearance of" flames. Omit the "and" before "like." The "bright flames" resembled "coals of fire." It went up - i. e. "fire went up."
clarkeEzekiel 1:13: "As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning."
Like burning coals of fire - The whole substance appeared to be of flame; and among them frequent coruscations of fire, like vibrating lamps, often emitting lightning, or rather sparks of fire, as we have seen struck out of strongly ignited…
It's easy to read this description as just a fiery spectacle, but notice how the fire isn't just on the living creatures; it's actively moving among them like torches, bright and flashing with lightning. This isn't just about God's power being terrifying; it emphasizes the dynamic, energetic, and irresistible nature of His presence and judgment.
Ezekiel is in exile by the river Chebar, where he sees an astounding vision of God's glory. Before this verse, he's described the immense, four-faced living creatures and the wheel-within-a-wheel structures accompanying them. This verse then focuses on the fiery, dynamic energy and brilliant light, like burning coals and moving torches, that emanates from these divine beings, hinting at God's awesome power and imminent judgment.
Ezekiel is in exile by the river Chebar, where he sees an astounding vision of God's glory. Before this verse, he's described the immense, four-faced living creatures and the wheel-within-a-wheel structures accompanying them. This verse then focuses on the fiery, dynamic energy and brilliant light, like burning coals and moving torches, that emanates from these divine beings, hinting at God's awesome power and imminent judgment.
"As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning." — It's easy to read this description as just a fiery spectacle, but notice how the fire isn't just on the living creatures; it's actively moving among them like torches, bright and flashing with li…
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Last reviewed October 2026
