5 Also out of the midst H8432 thereof came the likeness H1823 of four H702 living creatures. H2416 And this was their appearance; H4758 they H2007 had the likeness H1823 of a man. H120
6 And every one H259 had four H702 faces, H6440 and every one H259 had four H702 wings. H3671
7 And their feet H7272 were straight H3477 feet; H7272 and the sole H3709 of their feet H7272 was like the sole H3709 of a calf's H5695 foot: H7272 and they sparkled H5340 like the colour H5869 of burnished H7044 brass. H5178
8 And they had the hands H3027 of a man H120 under their wings H3671 on their four H702 sides; H7253 and they four H702 had their faces H6440 and their wings. H3671
9 Their wings H3671 were joined H2266 one H802 to another; H269 they turned H5437 not when they went; H3212 they went H3212 every one H376 straight H5676 forward. H6440
10 As for the likeness H1823 of their faces, H6440 they four H702 had the face H6440 of a man, H120 and the face H6440 of a lion, H738 on the right side: H3225 and they four H702 had the face H6440 of an ox H7794 on the left side; H8040 they four H702 also had the face H6440 of an eagle. H5404
11 Thus were their faces: H6440 and their wings H3671 were stretched H6504 upward; H4605 two H8147 wings of every one H376 were joined H2266 one H376 to another, H376 and two H8147 covered H3680 their bodies. H1472
12 And they went H3212 every one H376 straight H5676 forward: H6440 whither the spirit H7307 was to go, H3212 they went; H3212 and they turned H5437 not when they went. H3212
13 As for the likeness H1823 of the living creatures, H2416 their appearance H4758 was like burning H1197 coals H1513 of fire, H784 and like the appearance H4758 of lamps: H3940 it went up and down H1980 among the living creatures; H2416 and the fire H784 was bright, H5051 and out of the fire H784 went forth H3318 lightning. H1300
14 And the living creatures H2416 ran H7519 and returned H7725 as the appearance H4758 of a flash of lightning. H965
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezekiel 1
Commentary on Ezekiel 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of
The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
Chapter 1
In this chapter we have,
And the more we are acquainted, and the more intimately we converse, with the glory of God in these three branches of it, the more commanding influence will divine revelation have upon us and the more ready shall we be to submit to it, which is the thing aimed at in prefacing the prophecies of this book with these visions. When such a God of glory speaks, it concerns us to hear with attention and reverence; it is at our peril if we do not.
Eze 1:1-3
The circumstances of the vision which Ezekiel saw, and in which he received his commission and instructions, are here very particularly set down, that the narrative may appear to be authentic and not romantic. It may be of use to keep an account when and where God has been pleased to manifest himself to our souls in a peculiar manner, that the return of the day, and our return to the place of the altar (Gen. 13:4), may revive the pleasing grateful remembrance of God's favour to us. "Remember, O my soul! and never forget what communications of divine love thou didst receive at such a time, at such a place; tell others what God did for thee.'
Eze 1:4-14
The visions of God which Ezekiel here saw were very glorious, and had more particulars than those which other prophets saw. It is the scope and intention of these vision,
Now, to answer these ends, we have in these verses the first part of the vision, which represents God as attended and served by an innumerable company of angels, who are all his messengers, his ministers, doing his commandments and hearkening to the voice of his word. This denotes his grandeur, as it magnifies an earthly prince to have a splendid retinue and numerous armies at his command, which engages his allies to trust him and his enemies to fear him.
Eze 1:15-25
The prophet is very exact in making and recording his observations concerning this vision. And here we have,
Eze 1:26-28
All the other parts of this vision were but a preface and introduction to this. God in them had made himself known as Lord of angels and supreme director of all the affairs of this lower world, whence it is easy to infer that whatever God by his prophets either promises or threatens to do he is able to effect it. Angels are his servants; men are his tools. But now that a divine revelation is to be given to a prophet, and by him to the church, we must look higher than the living creatures or the wheels, and must expect that from the eternal Word, of whom we have an account in these verses. Ezekiel, hearing a voice from the firmament, looked up, as John did, to see the voice that spoke with him, and he saw one like unto the Son of man, Rev. 1:12, 13. The second person sometimes tried the fashion of a man occasionally before he clothed himself with it for good and all; and the Spirit of prophecy is called the Spirit of Christ (1 Pt. 1:11) and the testimony of Jesus, Rev. 19:10.
Lastly, We have the conclusion of this vision. Observe,