Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "wheel" appears in various contexts, symbolizing movement, divine presence, and the cyclical nature of life. The wheel is most prominently featured in the visions of the prophet Ezekiel, where it serves as a powerful symbol of God's omnipresence and sovereignty.
Ezekiel's Vision of the WheelsThe most significant mention of wheels in the Bible is found in the book of Ezekiel. In
Ezekiel 1:15-21, the prophet describes a vision of four living creatures, each accompanied by a wheel intersecting another wheel. These wheels are described as "a wheel within a wheel" (
Ezekiel 1:16), and they are covered with eyes all around. The wheels move in concert with the living creatures, signifying the omnipresence and omniscience of God. The eyes on the wheels suggest divine awareness and insight, indicating that nothing is hidden from God's sight.
The wheels' ability to move in any direction without turning (
Ezekiel 1:17) symbolizes the unrestricted and sovereign movement of God's Spirit. This vision underscores the theme of God's glory and His active presence in the world, as the Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels (
Ezekiel 1:20).
Symbolism and InterpretationThe wheel, as depicted in Ezekiel's vision, has been interpreted by theologians as a representation of the divine chariot, emphasizing God's majesty and authority. The imagery of the wheel within a wheel suggests complexity and the interworking of divine purposes that are beyond human comprehension. The wheels' movement in all directions without turning highlights the idea that God's plans are not confined by human limitations or understanding.
Other Biblical ReferencesWhile Ezekiel's vision is the most detailed account involving wheels, other biblical references to wheels are more literal and less symbolic. For instance, in the context of warfare, wheels are mentioned in relation to chariots. In
Exodus 14:25, during the Israelites' escape from Egypt, God causes the wheels of the Egyptian chariots to swerve, hindering their pursuit: "He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty" . This demonstrates God's intervention and control over the forces opposing His people.
In
Proverbs 20:26, the wheel is used metaphorically to describe the actions of a wise king: "A wise king winnows out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them" . Here, the wheel is associated with judgment and the separation of good from evil, reflecting the king's role in maintaining justice and order.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient Near East, wheels were primarily associated with transportation and agriculture. The invention of the wheel revolutionized these areas, facilitating the movement of goods and people and improving agricultural efficiency through devices like the threshing wheel. The biblical use of the wheel as a symbol draws on these practical associations, using them to convey deeper spiritual truths about God's nature and His interaction with the world.
ConclusionThe wheel in biblical texts serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing divine presence, judgment, and the unfolding of God's purposes. Through the vivid imagery in Ezekiel's vision and other scriptural references, the wheel conveys themes of movement, sovereignty, and the intricate workings of God's will in the world.
ATS Bible Dictionary
WheelPsalm 83:13, translated "rolling thing" inIsaiah 17:13. Mr. Thomson, for many years a missionary in Syria, thinks the wild artichoke may here be referred to. This plant sends out numerous stalks or branches of equal length in all directions, forming a globe a foot in diameter. These globes become rigid and light as a feather in autumn, and thousands of them fly rolling and bounding over the plains, the sport of every wind. This "rolling thing" furnishes the modern Arabs with a current proverb and a curse.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Hebrews galgal; rendered "wheel" in
Psalm 83:13, and "a rolling thing" in Isaiah 17:13; R.V. in both, "whirling dust"). This word has been supposed to mean the wild artichoke, which assumes the form of a globe, and in autumn breaks away from its roots, and is rolled about by the wind in some places in great numbers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A circular frame turning about an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid, or a frame composed of an outer rim, spokes or radii, and a central hub or nave, in which is inserted the axle, -- used for supporting and conveying vehicles, in machinery, and for various purposes; as, the wheel of a wagon, of a locomotive, of a mill, of a watch, etc.
2. (n.) Any instrument having the form of, or chiefly consisting of, a wheel.
3. (n.) A spinning wheel. See under Spinning.
4. (n.) An instrument of torture formerly used.
5. (n.) A circular frame having handles on the periphery, and an axle which is so connected with the tiller as to form a means of controlling the rudder for the purpose of steering.
6. (n.) A potter's wheel. See under Potter.
7. (n.) A firework which, while burning, is caused to revolve on an axis by the reaction of the escaping gases.
8. (n.) The burden or refrain of a song.
9. (n.) A bicycle or a tricycle; a velocipede.
10. (n.) A rolling or revolving body; anything of a circular form; a disk; an orb.
11. (n.) A turn revolution; rotation; compass.
12. (v. t.) To convey on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle; as, to wheel a load of hay or wood.
13. (v. t.) To put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or revolve; to cause to gyrate; to make or perform in a circle.
14. (v. i.) To turn on an axis, or as on an axis; to revolve; to more about; to rotate; to gyrate.
15. (v. i.) To change direction, as if revolving upon an axis or pivot; to turn; as, the troops wheeled to the right.
16. (v. i.) To go round in a circuit; to fetch a compass.
17. (v. i.) To roll forward.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WHEELhwel:
(1) 'ophan, is the usual word (Exodus 14:25, etc.). InProverbs 20:26Isaiah 28:27 the rollers of a threshing wagon are meant (see AGRICULTURE).
(2) galgal, "rolling thing," generally in the sense of "wheel" (Isaiah 5:28, etc.), but the Revised Version (British and American) inEzekiel 10:2, 6, 13 has "whirling wheels," an advantageous change. The "wheel.... broken at the cistern" inEcclesiastes 12:6 is the windlass for drawing the water, and by the figure the breakdown of the old man's breathing apparatus is probably meant. InPsalm 83:13, the King James Version has "wheel," but this translation (that of the Septuagint) is quite impossible; the Revised Version (British and American) "whirling dust" (sucked up by a miniature whirlwind) is perhaps right, but the translations proposed are end-less.
(3) gilgal,Isaiah 28:28, the roller of a threshing wagon.
(4) 'obhnayim,Jeremiah 18:3. SeePOTTER.
(5) pa`am,Judges 5:28, literally, "step" (so the Revised Version margin), and the sound of horses' hoofs is intended.
(6) trochos, Sirach 33:5;James 3:6 (the King James Version "course"). In the former passage, "The heart of a fool is as a cart-wheel," the changeableness of a light disposition is satirized. In James the figure is of a wheel in rotation, so that a flame starting at any point is quickly communicated to the whole. Just so an apparently insignificant sin of the tongue produces an incalculably destructive effect.
The phrase "wheel of nature" (trochos tes geneseos) is used here for "the world in progress." It is not a very natural figure and has given rise to much discussion. the King James Version accents trochos ("course") instead of trochos (" wheel"). but the language throughout is metaphorical and "course" is not a sufficiently metaphorical word. The translation "birth" for geneseos (so the Revised Version margin). i.e. "a wheel set in motion by birth." is out of the question. as the argument turns on results wider than any individual's existence. "Wheel of nature" is certainly right. But a comparison of life to a wheel in some sense or other (chiefly that of "Fortune's wheel") is common enough in Greek and Latin writers, and, indeed the exact combination trochos geneseos is found in at least one (Orphic) writer (full references in the commentaries of Mayor and W. Bauer). It would seem, then, that James had heard the phrase, and he used it as a striking figure, with entire indifference to any technical significance it might have. This supposition is preferable to that of an awkward translation from the Aramaic.
SeeCOURSE.
Burton Scott Easton
Greek
5163. trochia -- the track of awheel, hence a track, path... the track of a
wheel, hence a track, path. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: trochia Phonetic Spelling: (trokh-ee-ah') Short Definition: the
...5164. trochos -- awheel
... awheel. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: trochos Phonetic Spelling:
(trokh-os') Short Definition: awheel, course Definition: awheel, course....
5178. tumpanizo -- to beat a drum, to torture by beating
... by beating. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tumpanizo Phonetic Spelling:
(toom-pan-id'-zo) Short Definition: I torture, break on thewheel Definition: I...
Strong's Hebrew
212. ophan -- awheel... 211, 212. ophan. 213 . a
wheel. Transliteration: ophan Phonetic Spelling:
(o-fawn') Short Definition: wheels. Word Origin of uncertain
...1534. galgal -- awheel, whirl, whirlwind
... galgal. 1535 . awheel, whirl, whirlwind. Transliteration: galgal Phonetic Spelling:
(gal-gal') Short Definition: wheels.... heaven, rolling thing,wheel....
1536. gilgal -- awheel
... gilgal. 1537 . awheel. Transliteration: gilgal Phonetic Spelling: (ghil-gawl')
Short Definition:wheel.... of galgal Definition awheel NASB Word Usagewheel (1)...
70. oben -- awheel, disk
... 69, 70. oben. 71 . awheel, disk. Transliteration: oben Phonetic Spelling:
(o'ben) Short Definition: birthstool. Word... 1).wheel, stool....
1535. galgal -- awheel
... 1534, 1535. galgal. 1536 . awheel. Transliteration: galgal Phonetic Spelling:
(gal-gal') Short Definition: wheels. Word...wheel. (Aramaic...
2840. chishshur -- a nave, hub (of awheel)
... chishshur or chishshur. 2841 . a nave, hub (of awheel). Transliteration: chishshur
or chishshur Phonetic Spelling: (khish-shoor') Short Definition: hubs....
2839. chishshuq -- spoke (of awheel)
... chishshuq or chishshuq. 2840 . spoke (of awheel). Transliteration: chishshuq
or chishshuq Phonetic Spelling: (khish-shook') Short Definition: spokes....
6471. paam -- a beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
... anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-)fold, X now, (this) + once, order,
rank, step, + thrice, ((often-)), second, this, two) time(-s), twice,wheel....
Library
Concerning the Arguments which Nigidius the Mathematician Drew...
... Book V. Chapter 3."Concerning the Arguments Which Nigidius the Mathematician Drew
from the Potter'sWheel, in the Question About the Birth of Twins....
Isaiah was Sent by the Spirit, and Accordingly the Same Spirit was...
... But as the prophet saw awheel running within awheel [1441] (which certainly does
not refer to any appearance to the bodily sight, but to the grace of each...
The Faculty of Faith.
... The will is like awheel moving the arms of a windmill.... But in the sinner thiswheel
is partly moved from the shaft, so that it can turn only to the left....
How to Make Use of Christ, as Truth, for Comfort, when Truth is...
... 8. That hence it is clear and manifest, that hiswheel is in the midst of the wheels
of men, and that therefore he is ordering all their motions and reelings...
One Hank Over for the Candle.
... She was busy working at her spinning-wheel, and watching the candle, turning
now and again to trim it. All night long she sat at...
"Is the Spirit of the Lord Straitened?"
... I heard of a Christian man whose mill-wheel was noticed to be in motion
on a certain Sunday. The people going to worship greatly...
What are the Clouds?
... But, I daresay, if my head had been a little wiser, and I had been taught a little
more of mechanics, I might have understood what everywheel was doing...
The New Heart
... I will put my hand a second time to the work; once more shalt thou revolve upon
the potterywheel, and I will make thee a vessel of honor, fit for my gracious...
Epistle v. To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor.
... Hence, again, it is written, My God, make them like awheel (Psalm 82:14 [1304] ).
For awheel is lifted up in its hinder parts, and in its fore parts falls....
God's Providence
... "Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold onewheel upon the earth by
the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance...
Thesaurus
Wheel (20 Occurrences)... (Hebrews galgal; rendered "
wheel" in Psalm 83:13, and "a rolling thing" in Isaiah
17:13; RV in both, "whirling dust").
... 3. (n.) A spinning
wheel.
...Wheels (30 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:32 The four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axles of the wheels
were in the base: and the height of awheel was a cubit and half a cubit....
Pottery (11 Occurrences)
... The potter'swheel is mentioned by Jeremiah (18:3). See also 1 Chronicles 4:23;
Psalm 2:9; Isaiah 45:9; 64:8; Jeremiah 19:1; Lamentations 4:2; Zechariah 11:13...
Potter (14 Occurrences)
... The potter'swheel too was probably an invention of this date.... As in Egypt and Babylonia,
the first examples were hand-made without the aid of thewheel....
Intersecting (2 Occurrences)
... appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and they four had one
likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were awheel within a...
Turn (963 Occurrences)
... wholly, or repeatedly; to make to change position so as to present other sides in
given directions; to make to face otherwise; as, to turn awheel or a spindle...
Pallet (9 Occurrences)
... works. It is oval, round, and of other forms. 4. (n.) A potter'swheel. 5...
hack. 8. (n.) A click or pawl for driving a ratchetwheel. 9...
Beryl (12 Occurrences)
... appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and they four had one
likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were awheel within a...
Chrysolite (10 Occurrences)
... of the wheels and their work was as the look of a chrysolite; and they four had
one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were awheel in the...
Appearances (10 Occurrences)
... wheels and their works 'is' as the colour of beryl, and one likeness 'is' to them
four, and their appearances and their works 'are' as it were thewheel in the...
Resources
What are the ophanim? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Noble Eightfold Path? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the most common things people think are in the Bible that are not actually in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWheel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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