Ezekiel 1:24
And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The overwhelming sound of the creatures' wings is compared to thunder and a vast, even chaotic, army, highlighting the immense power and awe-inspiring presence of God's movement. Yet, when they stopped, they simply folded their wings, revealing a profound, active stillness that signals readiness and obedience to God's will.
Ezekiel is witnessing a powerful, divine vision of God's throne-chariot, described as living creatures and wheels moving with an overwhelming, thunderous sound. This sound, compared to vast waters, the Almighty, and a mighty army, signifies the immense power and divine authority behind their movement. When these celestial beings stop, their wings droop, indicating a readiness to receive commands or a reverence before the divine presence.
Ezekiel describes an incredible sound as the creatures move – 'like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army.' What does this overwhelming noise tell us about God's presence and power?
The sounds described in Ezekiel's vision are not just random noise; they are powerful metaphors for the immense force and majesty of God.
Mighty Waters
The comparison to 'many waters' or 'great waters' evokes images of rushing rivers, powerful waterfalls, or the crashing of waves against the shore. This signifies immense, uncontrollable force and unstoppable movement. It's the sound of nature at its most powerful, a reminder that God's power dwarfs anything we can comprehend.
The Almighty's Voice
Calling it the 'voice of the Almighty' connects this sound directly to God Himself. In Scripture, God's voice is often associated with thunder – a sound that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. It speaks of divine authority and power that demands attention.
Tumult of an Army
The 'sound of tumult like the sound of an army' suggests a massive, organized, yet potentially chaotic force. It implies immense activity, widespread impact, and a readiness for action. This could represent the vastness of God's created order, the spiritual forces at His command, or the intensity of His judgments.
Together, these comparisons paint a picture of God's presence as overwhelmingly powerful, majestic, and active, far beyond human understanding.
The passage notes not only the sound when the creatures went but also what happened when they stood still. This contrast reveals something crucial about the nature of God's action in the world.
The vision highlights a dynamic interplay between movement and stillness in the divine realm. This isn't a static God, but one whose presence and actions are characterized by both immense activity and deliberate pauses.
The Sound of Going
Understand the original words
Shaddai · Hebrew Noun
The singular, personal, and supreme God of Israel, often used to emphasize His omnipotence, sovereignty, and covenant-keeping nature.
Ezekiel receives this vision of God's majestic, mobile throne while in exile in Babylon, a time when Jerusalem and the Temple lay in ruins. The overwhelming sounds of the divine chariot emphasize God's sovereignty and unstoppable purpose, even amidst profound national disaster and apparent absence.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
The first major deportation of Judeans to Babylon occurs. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of immense crisis for the Jewish people.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the center of Jewish worship and national identity. This is a catastrophic blow to the people's hope and faith.
c. 580s-570s BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Ezekiel, a priest, is among those exiled to Babylon. He begins his prophetic ministry to the exiles, offering messages of judgment and eventual restoration.
c. 571 BC
Ezekiel's Vision of the New Temple
Ezekiel receives a detailed vision of a new Temple and city, offering a future hope of restoration and God’s continued presence among His people.
This passage also describes Jesus' voice as sounding like the roar of rushing water, echoing Ezekiel's powerful imagery of divine presence and power.
Psalm 29:3The 'voice of the Lord' is compared to thunder and great waters, linking the awe-inspiring sound of the cherubim's wings to the majestic, powerful voice of God in creation and judgment.
Ezekiel 10:5This later vision in Ezekiel directly links the sound of the cherubim's wings to the voice of God Almighty, reinforcing the idea that this sound represents divine power and authority.
Isaiah 17:12The 'noise of many waters' and 'roar of the Almighty' are used here to describe the overwhelming and terrifying force of nations attacking, providing a human parallel to the immense power represented by the cherubim's sound.
John 5:17Jesus' statement that 'My Father is working until now, and I am working' offers a theological parallel to the continuous, purposeful movement and activity of the cherubim, suggesting an unending divine work.
clarkeEzekiel 1:24: "And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings."
The noise of their wings - When the whirlwind drove the wheels, the wind rustling among the wings was like the noise of many waters; like a waterfall, or waters dashing continually against the rocks, or rushing down precipices. As the voice of the Almighty - Like distant thund…
calvinEzekiel 1:24: "And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings."
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
Et audivi vocem alarum ipsorum sicuti vocem aquarum magnarum v…
The overwhelming sound of the creatures' wings is compared to thunder and a vast, even chaotic, army, highlighting the immense power and awe-inspiring presence of God's movement. Yet, when they stopped, they simply folded their wings, revealing a profound, active stillness that signals readiness and obedience to God's will.
Ezekiel is witnessing a powerful, divine vision of God's throne-chariot, described as living creatures and wheels moving with an overwhelming, thunderous sound. This sound, compared to vast waters, the Almighty, and a mighty army, signifies the immense power and divine authority behind their movement. When these celestial beings stop, their wings droop, indicating a readiness to receive commands or a reverence before the divine presence.
Ezekiel is witnessing a powerful, divine vision of God's throne-chariot, described as living creatures and wheels moving with an overwhelming, thunderous sound. This sound, compared to vast waters, the Almighty, and a mighty army, signifies the immense power and divine authority behind their movement. When these celestial beings stop, their wings droop, indicating a readiness to receive commands or a reverence before the divine presence.
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When the living creatures 'went,' their wings made a tremendous sound. This represents God's active work in the world – His judgments, His blessings, His ongoing creation and providence. It's a reminder that God is constantly at work, His presence often accompanied by powerful signs and sounds that declare His might.
The Silence of Standing
However, the vision also describes a moment of stillness: 'When they stood still, they let down their wings.' This pause signifies a deliberate cessation of movement, a moment of rest or waiting. It suggests that God's activity is not always frantic or continuous in a way we can perceive. There are times when His work appears to pause, or when His presence is felt in quiet anticipation.
Purposeful Rest
This stillness isn't idleness. It's a purposeful pause, perhaps indicating completion of a task, waiting for further instruction, or a moment of divine deliberation. It reminds us that God's timing is perfect and that His 'rest' is not a lack of power, but a strategic part of His unfolding plan.
"And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings." — The overwhelming sound of the creatures' wings is compared to thunder and a vast, even chaotic, army, highlighting the immense power and awe-inspiring presence of God's movement. Yet, when they stopp…
