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There are only two Old Testament scriptures that mention a strange heavenly vision of a "wheel within a wheel" observed by the prophet Ezekiel or better known as “Ezekiel’s wheel.”

Bible StudyWhat Is the Biblical Meaning of Ezekiel's Wheel within a Wheel?There are only two Old Testament scriptures that mention a strange heavenly vision of a "wheel within a wheel" observed by the prophet Ezekiel or better known as “Ezekiel’s wheel.”Heather RigglemanUpdated Dec 20, 2022 : Follow topic Follow this topic Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start following Log In Follow author Follow this author Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start following Log In Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start saving Log InThere are only two Old Testament scriptures that mention a strange heavenly vision of a "wheel within a wheel" observed by the prophet Ezekiel or better known as “Ezekiel’s wheel.” Ezekiel’s wheel is a rather strange phrase and conjures up images of horses and buggies and old men wearing overalls in communities far removed from today’s society. But Ezekiel wasn’t a strange old man hiding in the hills. He was a prophet living in Babylon,At the age of 25, his city was captured by the Babylonians, and he was exiled. He likely wrote about his visions between 593 and 565 B.C. during the captivity of the Jews, his people. Prior to being uprooted from his homeland, he was destined to become a priest at age 30. This means he likely came from the tribe of Levi, the tribe specifically set aside by God for the priesthood. These few and fascinating facts reveal God’s fingerprints all over Ezekiel’s life. God had a plan to use this displaced prophet, in spite of his circumstances. During the first five years of his captivity, Ezekiel encountered the depths of despair as he languished his previous life. But at the age of 30, he encountered Yahweh in a strange, mysterious, and glorious vision. It was in this vision where he learned his God wasn’t rooted in his homeland—that God is omnipresent. Ezekiel realizes God commands and controls everyone, everything, all people, and all nations.It was during this time when Ezekiel went from loathing his life to devoting himself to God after a life-changing encounter with God. Ezekiel became a passionate voice of his generation. He knew God’s Word spoke to their situation (of captivity, ruin, and exile) and he knew God’s Word would give them not only comfort and understanding but also victory if this stubborn and sinful generation turned back to God! The book of Ezekiel can be divided into three sections:Chapters 1-24: prophecies on the downfall of Jerusalem and JudahChapters 25-32: prophecies of God’s judgment on neighboring nationsChapter 33-48: the last call for repentance of Israel and prophecies about the restoration of IsraelHowever, we will be focusing solely on the Scripture found in chapter one about the “wheel within a wheel.” Now that we have given a little context and historical background to Ezekiel, let’s dive in! What Happens in Ezekiel's Wheel Vision?"Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels" Ezekiel 1:20-21.In this vision, Ezekiel gets an up-close view of God’s glory. But he falls like a dead man and a voice on the throne revives him. The spirit enters him, and he eats a book. Later, he is sent out to speak the words of Yahweh and act as a watchman over Israel. Before being commissioned to be a watchman, the Lord invites him to witness the interior of His throne room. This is where we get the phrase wheel within a wheel. What Do the Wheels Symbolize in the Vision?Ezekiel’s vision of four wheels was associated with four living creatures. He grappled with words to try and describe what he witnessed in human terms. These wheels are angelic beings, cherubim appointed as guardians of the holiness of God (Ezekiel 1:4; 10:5-20). He writes the creatures had wheels within wheels where their spirits resided, with "tall and awesome" rims full of eyes all around. Each creature had wings, the face of a human, the face of an ox, the face of an eagle, and the face of a lion.The Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. As a result, the creatures were able to move in any direction the wheels moved. Many scholars believe the mobility of the wheels is a symbolic representation of God’s omnipresence and omniscience.Why Do Cherubim Have Wheels?According to Bible Study Tools, the commentary by Matthew Henry’s Bible suggests the cherubim have wheels because they are symbolic of “God’s divine providence:”"Divine Providence, represented by the wheels, produces changes. Sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost, sometimes another; but the motion of the wheel on its own axletree is regular and steady. We need not despond in adversity; the wheels are...

Ezekiel's Wheel Meaning and Significance in the Bible - Wheel within a Wheel