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Ezekiel 1:11

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 1:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And their faces and their wings were separate above; two [wings] of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And their faces and their wings were separate above; two [wings] of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
Ezekiel 1:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings [thus]:
9their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
10As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle.
11And their faces and their wings were separate above; two [wings] of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
12And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went.
13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
← Ezekiel 1:10Ezekiel 1:12 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thus [were] their faces: and their wings [were] stretched upward, &c.] The former clause, “thus [were] their faces”, either belongs to (<260110>Ezekiel 1:10); and the meaning is, this, as now represented, was the likeness of their faces, and this the position of them: or it may be read in connection with the following clause, and be rendered, “and their faces and their wings were stretched upwards”; as they are in the Chaldee paraphrase, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions: “their faces were stretched upwards”, showing that the ministers of the Gospel look up to Christ for fresh supplies of gifts and grace, of light, knowledge, wisdom, and strength, to enable them to perform their…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 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.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thus ... - Rather, And their faces and their wings were separated above. All four formed a whole, yet the upper parts of each, the heads and the wings (though touching), rose distinct from one another. Two wings of each, as in the case of Isaiah’s Seraphim, were folded down over the body: and two were in their flight Ezekiel 1:9 “stretched upward” parted) so as to meet, each a wing of the neighboring living creature, just as the wings of the cherubim touched one another over the mercy-seat of the ark. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Divided - So each face appeared distinct above the shoulders, and there the wings divided from each other were united to the body of the living creature. Ezekiel 1:12”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:11-14 These fiery creatures had both wings and legs, enabling them to move like . . . lightning in any direction. No one could run away from such fearsome beasts. In the similar vision in ch 10, they are identified as cherubim, agents of divine judgment.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and their: Eze 10:16, Eze 10:19 stretched upward: or, divided above and two: Eze 1:23; Isa 6:2 Ezekiel 1:12”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification