Introduction to Ezekiel 1:13
Ezekiel 1:13 presents a striking description of the living creatures in the prophet’s vision, depicting their likeness as burning coals of fire, moving like torches. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת (mithallekhet), which is in the Hitpael stem, a binyan that often expresses reflexive, iterative, or reciprocal action. This analysis will explore its morphology, syntactic function, and semantic implications within the context of Ezekiel’s vision.
וּדְמ֨וּת הַחַיֹּ֜ות מַרְאֵיהֶ֣ם כְּגַחֲלֵי־אֵ֗שׁ בֹּֽעֲרֹות֙ כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַלַּפִּדִ֔ים הִ֕יא מִתְהַלֶּכֶ֖ת בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות וְנֹ֣גַהּ לָאֵ֔שׁ וּמִן־הָאֵ֖שׁ יֹוצֵ֥א בָרָֽק׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
The verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת (mithallekhet) appears in the phrase:
הִ֕יא מִתְהַלֶּכֶת בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות
This phrase consists of:
- הִיא (hi) – “it” (feminine subject pronoun, referring to the fire)
- מִתְהַלֶּכֶת (mithallekhet) – “it moves about” (Hitpael verb)
- בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות (bein haḥayyot) – “among the living creatures” (prepositional phrase)
The verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת is the focus of our grammatical analysis.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
Morphological Analysis of מִתְהַלֶּכֶת
The verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת comes from the root הָלַךְ (h-l-k), meaning “to walk, go.” It appears in the Hitpael stem, which is characterized by reflexive, intensive, or iterative motion.
Parsing Details
- Root: הָלַךְ (h-l-k)
- Form: Hitpael Participle Feminine Singular
- Translation: “It is moving about” or “It continually moves”
The Function of the Hitpael Stem
The Hitpael binyan generally conveys one of the following meanings:
- Reflexive: The subject acts upon itself (e.g., “to clothe oneself”).
- Intensive or Iterative: The action occurs repeatedly or continuously.
- Reciprocal: The action is performed between multiple entities.
In this verse, מִתְהַלֶּכֶת suggests continuous, autonomous movement among the living creatures, aligning with the iterative sense of the Hitpael.
Lexical and Semantic Nuances
The root הָלַךְ (h-l-k) appears frequently in the Hitpael, often emphasizing movement in a back-and-forth or habitual manner:
- Genesis 3:8 – מִתְהַלֵּךְ (mithallekh), “walking about” (describing YHWH moving in the garden).
- Genesis 13:17 – הִתְהַלֵּךְ (hithallekh), “walk to and fro” (command given to Abraham).
Here in Ezekiel 1:13, the fire is not just stationary but actively moving back and forth between the living creatures, reinforcing the dynamic nature of the vision.
Word Order and Syntax
The phrase הִ֕יא מִתְהַלֶּכֶת בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות follows a subject-verb-object structure:
- הִיא – “It” (subject, referring to the fire).
- מִתְהַלֶּכֶת – “Moves about” (verb, continuous action).
- בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות – “Among the living creatures” (prepositional phrase).
This structure emphasizes the subject first (the fire), making it clear that the fire itself is engaging in this continuous movement.
The Role of מִתְהַלֶּכֶת in Ezekiel 1:13
The use of the Hitpael participle מִתְהַלֶּכֶת in Ezekiel 1:13 is significant for portraying the supernatural nature of the vision. The movement of fire among the creatures conveys a sense of constant activity, divine presence, and energy, reinforcing the mysterious and awe-inspiring imagery of the prophetic revelation.
This verb choice enhances the depiction of fire as something autonomous and animated, rather than passive or stationary. The iterative nature of the Hitpael further highlights the ceaseless motion within Ezekiel’s vision.
