What are the ophanim?

Answer

Ophanim is the ancient Hebrew word for “wheels.” The singular form is ophan. Wheels are mentioned several times in the Old Testament, and ophanim can refer to regular wheels on a cart or chariot; however, the wheels on God’s throne described in Ezekiel’s vision are of particular interest.

Ophanim are referenced in Ezekiel 1:15–21: “As I observed the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground next to each creature with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They gleamed like topaz, and all four looked the same. Each seemed to be constructed like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved, they could go in any of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not swerve as the creatures moved. Their rims were tall and awe-inspiring, and all four rims were surrounded by eyes.”

Ophanim are also described similarly in Ezekiel 10:9–13: “Then I saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub. The wheels shone brightly like diamonds in the sunlight. All four wheels appeared identical, each like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved, they could travel in any of the four directions but in a perfectly straight line. Wherever the cherubim went, the wheels moved straight ahead. The cherubim had eyes on their backs, hands, and wings. The wheels also had eyes. I heard the wheels being referred to as ‘wheels within wheels.’

In the passages above, God’s throne is depicted as being set on wheels (ophanim) and then propelled by four angels. There are wheels within wheels at intersecting angles, allowing the throne to move in any direction without needing to turn. The angels powering the throne also have four faces, each facing a different direction, enabling them to travel in any direction without turning. These angels are known as cherubim.

This explanation appears to be clear enough—at least as clear as an apocalypse.

Tic passage full of symbolism can be. The throne is on wheels, it can move in any direction, and it is powered by cherubim. Of course, Ezekiel’s description should not be understood as a “literal” picture of God’s throne. God is spirit and therefore does not literally sit on a throne constructed of physical materials; likewise, He is omnipotent, so He does not need to be carried around on a throne from place to place. The point of the visions involving ophanim in Ezekiel is to show that God’s reign (throne) is all-encompassing, responding to any situation in any location with lightning speed. The visions are simply a picturesque way of saying that God is sovereign and omnipresent. The fact that the wheels and the angels are “full of eyes” emphasizes God’s omniscience.

The ophanim have been a point of fascination for many, and later Jewish apocalyptic writers gave them a life of their own. The wheels themselves came to be identified as a particular class of angel, the ophanim. Seraphim and cherubim are mentioned in Scripture as angels, and to this some have added the ophanim (also spelled ofanim). The pseudepigraphal Book of Enoch has helped further the idea that ophanim are angelic beings.

Colossians 1:16 speaks of “thrones” in a way that some interpret as a type of spiritual being: “For by [Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things were created through him and for him.” The “thrones” here have come to be associated by some with the ophanim, angels who help guard the throne of God.

There are several problems with this interpretation of Colossians 1:16. First, it is not clear at all that the verse is speaking of specific spiritual beings. It seems much more natural to interpret the passage as simply referring to various authorities (human or otherwise) that will one day be subjected to Christ. Second, although not specifically stated as such, the thrones in Colossians 1:16 seem to be

A metonymical representation of adversaries to Christ’s authority, while the ophanim, if they are angels, would serve as agents of His authority and already be in submission to Him.

This brings us back to the primary issue, which is categorizing the ophanim as a distinct class of angel. It is preferable to simply interpret the ophanim as nothing more than wheels on God’s throne, not physical wheels on a tangible throne, and not wheel-like creatures guarding the throne. The ophanim are merely the wheels that Ezekiel witnessed in a vision that underscores the all-encompassing sovereignty and power of God—He rules in every direction and in every place.