Ezekiel 3:13
It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What’s striking here is how the "touching" or even "kissing" of the wings isn't just about physical contact, but a beautiful picture of divine unity and agreement as these heavenly beings move. The combined sound of their unified wings and the whirring wheels isn't just noise; it's the sound of God's powerful, coordinated presence, a sound like earth-shaking thunder that points to His awesome majesty.
Ezekiel is overwhelmed by a profound vision of God's glory, which includes a description of divine beings and their intricate movements. This verse explains the deafening sound he heard, attributing it to the closely touching wings of these creatures and the whirring wheels moving in unison with them. The immense, earth-shaking noise signifies the powerful and majestic departure of this divine presence, leaving Ezekiel alone to deliver his challenging message.
Ezekiel hears an overwhelming sound – a symphony of motion and power. What does this sound reveal about God's presence?
The sounds Ezekiel hears aren't just noise; they are the auditory markers of God's tangible presence and immense power. The 'noise of the wings touching' suggests the active, coordinated movement of heavenly beings. The 'noise of the wheels' speaks to the intricate, purposeful mechanics of God's throne-chariot. Together, these sounds create a 'great rushing' – a powerful, almost overwhelming sensory experience that testifies to the dynamic, active nature of God, even when His presence is manifested in awe-inspiring, perhaps terrifying, ways.
What are these 'wheels' and why are they constantly moving alongside the 'living creatures'?
The 'wheels' are part of the incredible vision of God's throne-chariot seen in Ezekiel's first chapter. They are described as 'full of eyes,' signifying divine omniscience and their inseparable movement with the living creatures. They aren't mechanical devices in our sense, but represent the mobility and ever-watchful, ever-active nature of God's rule. Their sound, alongside the wings, emphasizes that God's presence is not static; it's a dynamic force that moves with purpose and direction.
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This overwhelming sound isn't just about God's presence; it signals something profound is about to happen. What is it?
The 'noise of a great rushing,' like an earthquake, is consistently associated in Scripture with significant divine actions, often involving judgment or immense change. For Ezekiel, hearing this sound right after the living creatures spoke God's glory indicates that a transition is occurring. It signifies the departure of this immediate, overwhelming divine vision and signals the impending message Ezekiel must deliver. This sound represents the awesome power God wields, a power that can shake the foundations and usher in His purposes, whether for judgment or for a new beginning.
Ezekiel's vivid description of the divine chariot and its terrifying sounds reflects the profound spiritual upheaval caused by the Babylonian exile, underscoring that even in defeat and displacement, God's presence and power remain absolute.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation of Jerusalem
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting its citizens, including members of the royal family and skilled individuals, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation of Jerusalem
Babylon captures Jerusalem again, deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, and installs Zedekiah as a puppet king. The prophet Ezekiel is among this group.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies return, utterly destroying Jerusalem and its sacred Temple. This is the final catastrophic blow to the southern kingdom of Judah, leading to a final, larger deportation.
c. 570 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of God's Glory
While in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel receives a powerful vision of God's throne-chariot (the merkavah), accompanied by divine beings and spectacular sounds. This vision occurs years into his exile, during which he prophesied to the exiled community.
This passage describes the wheels moving alongside the living creatures, directly mirroring the sounds Ezekiel hears in chapter 3, emphasizing their inseparable movement.
Ezekiel 1:24It speaks of the sound of the Almighty's voice accompanying the movement of the creatures and wheels, reinforcing the divine power and majesty associated with these sounds.
Isaiah 6:3The 'great rushing' and sounds echo the seraphim's cry of 'Holy, holy, holy,' suggesting that Ezekiel's vision is connected to heavenly worship and God's majestic presence.
1 Kings 19:11This verse describes God appearing not in the earthquake, wind, or fire, but in a 'still small voice,' providing a powerful contrast to the immense, overwhelming sound Ezekiel hears.
Revelation 4:8Similar to Ezekiel's vision, the four living creatures in Revelation are described as constantly praising God, showing a consistent theme of heavenly beings in awe of the divine.
barnesEzekiel 3:13: "I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing."
That touched - literally, touching. The living creatures in their flight raised their wings, so as to touch each other.
clarkeEzekiel 3:13: "I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing."
A great rushing - All the living creatures and the wheels being then in motion.
What’s striking here is how the "touching" or even "kissing" of the wings isn't just about physical contact, but a beautiful picture of divine unity and agreement as these heavenly beings move. The combined sound of their unified wings and the whirring wheels isn't just noise; it's the sound of God's powerful, coordinated presence, a sound like earth-shaking thunder that points to His awesome majesty.
Ezekiel is overwhelmed by a profound vision of God's glory, which includes a description of divine beings and their intricate movements. This verse explains the deafening sound he heard, attributing it to the closely touching wings of these creatures and the whirring wheels moving in unison with them. The immense, earth-shaking noise signifies the powerful and majestic departure of this divine presence, leaving Ezekiel alone to deliver his challenging message.
Ezekiel is overwhelmed by a profound vision of God's glory, which includes a description of divine beings and their intricate movements. This verse explains the deafening sound he heard, attributing it to the closely touching wings of these creatures and the whirring wheels moving in unison with them. The immense, earth-shaking noise signifies the powerful and majestic departure of this divine presence, leaving Ezekiel alone to deliver his challenging message.
"It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake." — What’s striking here is how the "touching" or even "kissing" of the wings isn't just about physical contact, but a beautiful picture of divine unity and agreement as these heavenly beings move. The c…
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