וַיְהִי בִּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה בּרְבִיעִי בַּחֲמִשָּׁה לַחֹדֶשׁ וַאֲנִי בְתוֹךְ־הַגּוֹלָה עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָר נִפְתְּחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וָאֶרְאֶה מַרְאוֹת אֱלֹהִים

It was in the thirtieth year, apparently from the discovery of a Torah scroll in the Temple by King Yoshiyahu, a significant event that generated changes in the position of the kings and the prophets, and raised public consciousness of the Torah and its obligations. It can be inferred from allusions in various verses that this was also the thirtieth year of the Jubilee cycle. It was in the fourth month, Tamuz, on the fifth of the month, and I was in the midst of the exile in Babylonia, where the inhabitants of Judah were exiled, by the Kevar River in southern Babylonia; the heavens opened, as it were, and I saw visions of God.

בַּחֲמִשָּׁה לַחֹדֶשׁ הִיא הַשָּׁנָה הַחֲמִישִׁית לְגָלוּת הַמֶּלֶךְ יוֹיָכִין

After introducing the prophecy in the first person, the verse shifts to a third-person account and provides additional context for the prophecy, providing a sort of external documentation of the event: On the fifth of the aforementioned month, in the aforementioned year, which was the fifth year of the exile of King Yehoyakhin. Much of Judah and its distinguished inhabitants were exiled along with Yehoyakhin; the prophet Ezekiel was apparently among them.

הָיֹה הָיָה דְבַר־ה' אֶל־יְחֶזְקֵאל בֶּן־בּוּזִי הַכֹּהֵן בְּאֶרֶץ כַּשְׂדִּים עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָר וַתְּהִי עָלָיו שָׁם יַד־ה'

The word of the Lord was with Ezekiel son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Kevar River, and the hand of the Lord, the spirit of prophecy, was upon him there.

וָאֵרֶא וְהִנֵּה רוּחַ סְעָרָה בָּאָה מִן־הַצָּפוֹן עָנָן גָּדוֹל וְאֵשׁ מִתְלַקַּחַת וְנֹגַהּ לוֹ סָבִיב וּמִתּוֹכָהּ כְּעֵין הַחַשְׁמַל מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ

The prophet resumes his description in the first person: I saw, and behold, a storm wind was coming from the north. The storm wind came from Babylonia, which, from the vantage point of the Land of Israel, was to the north. The storm wind brought with it a great cloud and a fire igniting around the cloud or within it, and an aura of light was surrounding it, the cloud; and from its, the fire’s, midst, there was a brightness, the resemblance of the ḥashmal, a mysterious entity unfamiliar to anyone who has not seen it, from the midst of the fire.

וּמִתּוֹכָהּ דְּמוּת אַרְבַּע חַיּוֹת וְזֶה מַרְאֵיהֶן דְּמוּת אָדָם לָהֵנָּה

As the wind drew nearer, the figures inside it became increasingly clear: And from its midst, the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the general likeness of a person

וְאַרְבָּעָה פָנִים לְאֶחָת וְאַרְבַּע כְּנָפַיִם לְאַחַת לָהֶם

and four faces for each one and four wings for each one of them.

וְרַגְלֵיהֶם רֶגֶל יְשָׁרָה וְכַף רַגְלֵיהֶם כְּכַף רֶגֶל עֵגֶל וְנֹצְצִים כְּעֵין נְחשֶׁת קָלָל

Their legs were a straight leg, without a knee joint, and their feet were like the foot of a calf, and they, their feet, sparkled, resembling polished bronze.

וִידֵי אָדָם מִתַּחַת כַּנְפֵיהֶם עַל אַרְבַּעַת רִבְעֵיהֶם וּפְנֵיהֶם וְכַנְפֵיהֶם לְאַרְבַּעְתָּם

There were the hands of a person under their wings on their four sides, and their faces and their wings were identical for the four of them, the four creatures.

חֹבְרֹת אִשָּׁה אֶל־אֲחוֹתָהּ כַּנְפֵיהֶם לֹא־יִסַּבּוּ בְלֶכְתָּן אִישׁ אֶל־עֵבֶר פָּנָיו יֵלֵכוּ

Their wings were adjacent, touching one to another; they would not turn as they moved. When they changed the direction of their movement, they would not turn their faces; rather, each would move in the direction of its face, as they had faces on all sides.

וּדְמוּת פְּנֵיהֶם פְּנֵי אָדָם וּפְנֵי אַרְיֵה אֶל־הַיָּמִין לְאַרְבַּעְתָּם וּפְנֵי־שׁוֹר מֵהַשְּׂמאוֹל לְאַרְבַּעְתָּן וּפְנֵי־נֶשֶׁר לְאַרְבַּעְתָּן

For each creature, this was the likeness of their faces: The face of a human and the face of a lion to the right for the four of them and the face of an ox from the left for the four of them and the face of an eagle for the four of them,

ופְנֵיהֶם וְכַנְפֵיהֶם פְּרֻדוֹת מִלְמָעְלָה לְאִישׁ שְׁתַּיִם חֹבְרוֹת אִישׁ וּשְׁתַּיִם מְכַסּוֹת אֵת גְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶנָה

and so were their faces. Their wings were separated from each other and spread from above; for each of the creatures, two separated wings were adjacent to each other, to the wings of another creature; alternatively, the edges of both wings emerged from one point on the body of each creature, and two additional wings covered their bodies.

וְאִישׁ אֶל־עֵבֶר פָּנָיו יֵלֵכוּ אֶל אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה־שָּׁמָּה הָרוּחַ לָלֶכֶת יֵלֵכוּ לֹא יִסַּבּוּ בְּלֶכְתָּן

As mentioned above, each would advance in the direction of its face. To where there was the will, or the storm wind, to go, they would go; they would not turn as they moved.

וּדְמוּת הַחַיּוֹת מַרְאֵיהֶם כְּגַחֲלֵי־אֵשׁ בֹּעֲרוֹת כְּמַרְאֵה הַלַּפִּדִים הִיא מִתְהַלֶּכֶת בֵּין הַחַיּוֹת וְנֹגַהּ לָאֵשׁ וּמִן־הָאֵשׁ יוֹצֵא בָרָק

The likeness of the creatures, their appearance was like fiery coals, burning like the appearance of torches; it, the fire, would go among the creatures, and there was an especially bright aura to the fire, brighter than a typical fire, and from the fire lightning would emerge.

וְהַחַיּוֹת רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב כְּמַרְאֵה הַבָּזָק

The creatures were constantly darting to and fro as if vibrating, like the appearance of a flash of fiery flames.

וָאֵרֶא הַחַיּוֹת וְהִנֵּה אוֹפַן אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ אֵצֶל הַחַיּוֹת לְאַרְבַּעַת פָּנָיו

I saw the creatures, I further discerned, and behold, there was one wheel on the ground beside the creatures for its four faces. Each creature had four faces and was accompanied by one wheel.

מַרְאֵה הָאוֹפַנִּים וּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם כְּעֵין תַּרְשִׁישׁ וּדְמוּת אֶחָד לְאַרְבַּעְתָּן וּמַרְאֵיהֶם וּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה הָאוֹפַן בְּתוֹךְ הָאוֹפָן

The appearance of the wheels and their crafting had the resemblance of beryl, a precious stone that comes in many colors. It is possible that the wheels were white or blue; it has also been suggested that they were the color of the sky. And there was one likeness to the four of them, and their appearance and their crafting was as would be a wheel within a wheel. The wheels could turn easily in any direction, unlike an ordinary wheel that goes only forward and backward; it was as though there was another wheel attached, which diverged at a different angle.

עַל־אַרְבַּעַת רִבְעֵיהֶן בְּלֶכְתָּם יֵלֵכוּ לֹא יִסַּבּוּ בְּלֶכְתָּן

As they moved, they would move to their four sides; they would not turn as they moved. Like the creatures, the wheels did not turn when they changed direction, as their structure allowed them to move in all directions.

וְגַבֵּיהֶן וְגֹבַהּ לָהֶם וְיִרְאָה לָהֶם וְגַבֹּתָם מְלֵאֹת עֵינַיִם סָבִיב לְאַרְבַּעְתָּן

The description of the wheels continues: As for their exteriors, they were tall and they were fearsome, and their exteriors were full of eyes all around for the four of them. The wheels were not merely implements for movement; rather, they were living beings with many eyes. Some explain that the phrase “full of eyes” means that the wheels were of many shades.

וּבְלֶכֶת הַחַיּוֹת יֵלְכוּ הָאוֹפַנִּים אֶצְלָם וּבְהִנָּשֵׂא הַחַיּוֹת מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ יִנָּשְׂאוּ הָאוֹפַנִּים

As the creatures moved, the wheels would move beside them, and as the creatures rose from upon the ground, the wheels would rise together with them.

עַל אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה־שָּׁם הָרוּחַ לָלֶכֶת יֵלֵכוּ שָׁמָּה הָרוּחַ לָלֶכֶת וְהָאוֹפַנִּים יִנָּשְׂאוּ לְעֻמָּתָם כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים

To where there was the divine will to go, they, the creatures, would go, as the will was to go there, and the wheels would rise parallel to them. Although the wheels were not attached to the creatures, they would move together with the creatures, as the will of the creature was active in the wheels.

בְּלֶכְתָּם יֵלֵכוּ וּבְעָמְדָם יַעֲמֹדוּ וּבְהִנָּשְׂאָם מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ יִנָּשְׂאוּ הָאוֹפַנִּים לְעֻמָּתָם כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים

Therefore, as they, the creatures, moved they, the wheels, would move, and as they stood they would stand, and as they rose from upon the ground the wheels would rise parallel to them, as the will of the creature was in the wheels. The wheels are considered part of the form of the creatures even though they are distinct entities. The creatures appear as the image of people with multiple faces, intelligent beings that gaze and cast fear, while the wheels are a type of angel whose form is unique, that of a large wheel free to move in any direction.

וּדְמוּת עַל־ רָאשֵׁי הַחַיָּה רָקִיעַ כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא נָטוּי עַל־רָאשֵׁיהֶם מִלְמָעְלָה

The prophet describes what he observed above the wheels and the creatures: Over the heads of the creature I saw that there was the likeness of a firmament, resembling the awesome ice, an enormous glacier that filled the entire space, and it extended over their heads from above.

וְתַחַת הָרָקִיעַ כַּנְפֵיהֶם יְשָׁרוֹת אִשָּׁה אֶל־אֲחוֹתָהּ לְאִישׁ שְׁתַּיִם מְכַסּוֹת לָהֵנָּה וּלְאִישׁ שְׁתַּיִם מְכַסּוֹת לָהֵנָּה אֵת גְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶם

Beneath the firmament their wings, the wings of the creatures that spread over their heads, were parallel one to the other; for each and every one of the creatures there were two wings covering their bodies, as stated in verse 11.

וָאֶשְׁמַע אֶת־קוֹל כַּנְפֵיהֶם כְּקוֹל מַיִם רַבִּים כְּקוֹל־שַׁדַּי בְּלֶכְתָּם קוֹל הֲמֻלָּה כְּקוֹל מַחֲנֶה בְעָמְדָם תְּרַפֶּינָה כַנְפֵיהֶן

I heard the clapping sound of their wings as they moved, like the sound of great waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a loud sound, a sound of commotion like the sound of a large camp of people. The creatures did not move as individual bodies but as a great multitude, like the massive buzz of a bustling, teeming city. And when they stood as an honor guard, their wings would slacken.

וַיְהִי־קוֹל מֵעַל לָרָקִיעַ אֲשֶׁר עַל־רֹאשָׁם בְּעָמְדָם תְּרַפֶּינָה כַנְפֵיהֶן

There was a voice heard from above the firmament that was over their heads; this occurred when they stood, and their wings would slacken.

וּמִמַּעַל לָרָקִיעַ אֲשֶׁר עַל־רֹאשָׁם כְּמַרְאֵה אֶבֶן־סַפִּיר דְּמוּת כִּסֵּא וְעַל דְּמוּת הַכִּסֵּא דְּמוּת כְּמַרְאֵה אָדָם עָלָיו מִלְמָעְלָה

Above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, like the appearance of a sapphire [sappir] stone; alternatively, the sappir was a reddish stone. And upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness, like the appearance of a person upon it, the throne, from above. The likeness was only similar to the appearance of a man; it was not the actual appearance of a man.

וָאֵרֶא כְּעֵין חַשְׁמַל כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵשׁ בֵּית־לָהּ סָבִיב מִמַּרְאֵה מָתְנָיו וּלְמָעְלָה וּמִמַּרְאֵה מָתְנָיו וּלְמַטָּה רָאִיתִי כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵשׁ וְנֹגַהּ לוֹ סָבִיב

I saw the resemblance of ḥashmal, which was like the appearance of fire inside it all around, or, alternatively, like the appearance of a fire surrounded by some enclosure, from the appearance of his waist upward. The figure on the throne was adorned with the appearance of ḥashmal, and from the appearance of his waist downward I saw like the appearance of fire and an aura surrounding him.

כְּמַרְאֵה הַקֶּשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בֶעָנָן בְּיוֹם הַגֶּשֶׁם כֵּן מַרְאֵה הַנֹּגַהּ סָבִיב הוּא מַרְאֵה דְּמוּת כְּבוֹד־ה' וָאֶרְאֶה וָאֶפֹּל עַל־פָּנַי וָאֶשְׁמַע קוֹל מְדַבֵּר

Like the appearance of the colorful rainbow that is in the cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the aura all around; it, that likeness on the throne, was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord, who revealed Himself to me. I saw it, and I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice speaking.