Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 1:24

"And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of a host: when they stood, they let down their wings." — Ezekiel 1:24 (ASV)

The noise of their wings. — The same word translated “noise” three times in this verse is also translated “voice” twice here, and once in the next verse. It is better to keep voice throughout. I heard the voice of their wings, like the voice of many waters. The same comparison is used to describe the voice of God in Ezekiel 43:2; Revelation 1:15.

Further attempts to convey an impression of the effect are: — As the voice of the Almighty, by which thunder is often described in Scripture (Job 37:4–5; Psalms 29:3–4); the voice of speech, by which is not to be understood articulate language. The word occurs elsewhere only in Jeremiah 11:16, and is there translated a tumult. The idea conveyed by the word is probably that of the confused sound from a great multitude, and, finally, as the voice of a host. All these comparisons concur in representing a vast and terrible sound, but inarticulate.