Original Word: רָצָא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ratsa'
Pronunciation: rah-tsah
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-tsaw')
KJV: accept, run
NASB: ran
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to run
2. also to delight in

accept, run

A primitive root; to run; also to delight in -- accept, run.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to run
NASB Translation
ran (1).

[רָצָא] verb si vera lectio, "" form of רוּץ run, Infinitive absolute רָצוֺא Ezekiel 1:14, but read יֵָֽצְאוּ) יָצוֺא Hi-Sm Co Toy, compare Krae Berthol and others; ᵐ5 omit verse and most modern think interpolation — See also רצה.

Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 7519 רָצָא appears once in Scripture, Ezekiel 1:14, describing the rapid movement of the living creatures in the prophet’s inaugural vision. While the term itself is rare, the scene it inhabits is theologically rich, shedding light on angelic ministry, divine sovereignty, and the character of prophetic revelation.

Canonical Occurrence

Ezekiel 1:14

“The creatures moved back and forth, appearing like flashes of lightning.”

Here רָצָא conveys a rapid, almost instantaneous motion—“moving back and forth,” or “darting”—underscoring the immediacy with which God’s heavenly servants carry out His will.

Context within Ezekiel’s Vision

1. Setting: Ezekiel’s first chapter unfolds by the Kebar River during the Babylonian exile. The exiles felt abandoned, yet heaven opens to reveal God’s mobile throne.
2. The Living Creatures: Later identified as cherubim (Ezekiel 10:20), they support the throne-chariot. Their swift action (רָצָא) affirms that divine governance is neither static nor slow, even in exile.
3. Lightning Imagery: The comparison to lightning heightens the impression of awe-inspiring power and purity (cf. Exodus 19:16; Revelation 4:5).

Symbolic Significance

• Swift Obedience: The creatures exemplify immediate responsiveness to God. Just as they “ran and returned,” faithful service tolerates no delay.
• Omnipresent Sovereignty: Their motion in every direction without turning (Ezekiel 1:12) and their lightning-like speed portray a God who rules all realms simultaneously.
• Revelatory Clarity: Lightning briefly but vividly illuminates darkness; so the creatures’ movement signals that prophetic insight pierces exile’s gloom.

Theological Themes

1. Angelic Ministry: Like the angels of Psalm 103:20—“mighty in strength, who perform His word”—the living creatures display unhesitating zeal. Hebrews 1:14 describes angels as “ministering spirits sent out to serve,” echoing the same pattern of rapid commission and execution.
2. Divine Transcendence and Immanence: The merciful presence of God meets exile’s despair, yet He remains exalted, borne aloft by beings whose speed surpasses human ability.
3. Prophetic Assurance: The exiles’ circumstances seemed stagnant; the vision corrects that perception by presenting heavenly activity that is anything but sluggish.

Historical and Literary Insights

• Exilic Context: Judah’s political power was broken, but Ezekiel’s vision introduces a counter-narrative of unstoppable divine action.
• Near Eastern Motifs: Ancient throne scenes often included winged guardians; Scripture appropriates and elevates the imagery, rooting it in monotheistic worship rather than myth.
• Literary Technique: The Hebrew pairing “ran and returned” intensifies the sense of continual motion—an inclusio that frames the creatures’ obedience as perpetual.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Urgency in Mission: The church, entrusted with the gospel, should mirror the creatures’ immediacy (Mark 1:18).
2. Worship Renewal: Contemplating Ezekiel 1 stirs reverence; worship services may incorporate readings or artistic depictions that remind believers of God’s majestic throne.
3. Perseverance in Hardship: Like the exiles, modern believers facing displacement or cultural marginalization can be encouraged that the Lord’s purposes advance swiftly behind the scenes.

Connections with New Testament Imagery

• Acts 2:2–3 records a rushing wind and tongues of fire at Pentecost, resonating with Ezekiel’s storm and lightning—both mark decisive divine intervention.
• Revelation 4–5 echoes the throne-chariot motif, with living creatures continually praising God, linking Ezekiel’s vision to the consummation of redemptive history.

Application for Contemporary Believers

Meditating on רָצָא in Ezekiel 1:14 reminds Christians that God’s governance is dynamic. Though His timetable transcends human schedules, when He moves, He does so with lightning speed and perfect precision. Believers are therefore encouraged to wait expectantly yet act promptly, confident that the same God who commanded cherubim to dart “back and forth” still directs His servants today.

רָצ֣וֹא רצוא rā·ṣō·w rāṣōw raTzoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts