Introduction to Ezekiel 1:21
Ezekiel 1:21 describes the synchronized movement of the wheels in the prophet’s vision, explaining that they move and rise in unison with the living creatures. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the verb יִנָּשְׂאוּ (yinnāśəʾū), which is in the Nifal stem, a binyan that often expresses passive or reflexive action. This analysis will explore its morphological structure, syntactic role, and semantic implications within the context of Ezekiel’s vision.
בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם יֵלֵ֔כוּ וּבְעָמְדָ֖ם יַֽעֲמֹ֑דוּ וּֽבְהִנָּשְׂאָ֞ם מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֗רֶץ יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ הָאֹֽופַנִּים֙ לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ הַחַיָּ֖ה בָּאֹופַנִּֽים׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
The verb יִנָּשְׂאוּ (yinnāśəʾū) appears in the phrase:
יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ הָאֹֽופַנִּים֙ לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם
This phrase consists of:
- יִנָּשְׂאוּ (yinnāśəʾū) – “they will be lifted” (Nifal verb)
- הָאֹֽופַנִּים (haʾofanīm) – “the wheels” (subject)
- לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם (leʿummātām) – “in correspondence to them” (prepositional phrase)
The verb יִנָּשְׂאוּ is the focus of our grammatical analysis.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
Morphological Analysis of יִנָּשְׂאוּ
The verb יִנָּשְׂאוּ is derived from the root נָשָׂא (n-ś-ʾ), meaning “to lift, carry, or bear.” It appears in the Nifal stem, which is commonly used for passive or reflexive actions.
Parsing Details
- Root: נָשָׂא (n-ś-ʾ)
- Form: Nifal Imperfect 3rd Masculine Plural
- Translation: “They will be lifted” or “They will rise”
The Function of the Nifal Stem
The Nifal binyan typically conveys:
- Passive Voice: The action is performed on the subject (e.g., “They are lifted”).
- Reflexive Voice: The subject experiences the action itself (e.g., “They lift themselves”).
- Middle Voice: The subject is both acting and being acted upon.
In this verse, יִנָּשְׂאוּ is best understood as passive, meaning the wheels are lifted as a result of an external force (i.e., the spirit of the living creatures).
Lexical and Semantic Nuances
The root נָשָׂא (n-ś-ʾ) appears frequently in the Nifal to express the idea of being lifted:
- Isaiah 6:4 – וַיִּנָּעֲעוּ (vayinnāʿăʿū), “and they were shaken” (passive movement).
- Exodus 19:18 – וַיַּעַל עָשָׁן (vayyaʿal ʿashan), “and the smoke ascended” (similar concept of rising).
Here in Ezekiel 1:21, the lifting is not self-initiated but rather a result of the movement of the living creatures, indicating divine coordination.
Word Order and Syntax
The phrase יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ הָאֹֽופַנִּים֙ לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם follows a verb-subject-object structure, typical in Biblical Hebrew:
- יִנָּשְׂאוּ – “They will be lifted” (verb, passive voice).
- הָאֹֽופַנִּים – “The wheels” (subject, receiving the action).
- לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם – “In correspondence to them” (prepositional phrase, indicating alignment).
This structure emphasizes that the movement of the wheels is entirely dependent on the living creatures.
The Role of יִנָּשְׂאוּ in Ezekiel 1:21
The use of the Nifal verb יִנָּשְׂאוּ in Ezekiel 1:21 is critical for depicting the vision’s supernatural harmony. The passive construction highlights the wheels’ lack of independent motion, reinforcing that their movement is dictated by divine agency.
By using this verb, the passage conveys that the wheels do not move of their own volition but are lifted and guided by the spirit of the living creatures, demonstrating the perfect synchronization and divine order of Ezekiel’s vision.
