The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
Ezekiel 1
Chapter I · Vol. III, pp. 1311–1314
1 The time of Ezekiel's prophecy by the river Chebar. 4 His vision of four cherubims, 15 of the four wheels, 26 and of the glory of God.
1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth 1year,2 in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as aI was among the captives3 by the river of bChebar,4 that cthe heavens were opened, and dI saw visions of God.
A.M. cir. 3410. B.C. cir. 594.
1 From Josiah's covenanting, 2 Ki.22.8;23.3, with ch.4.6.
2 It is probable that the date is from the commencement of the reign of Nebopolassar, in B.C. 625, which was adopted as the Babylonian era. It was natural for the prophet, living in that country, to adopt its chronology.—P.
a Ec.9.1,2. Da.1.6. 1 Pe.5.9. ver.3; ch.3.15,23.
3 Heb. captivity.
b ch.3.15,23.
4 Now called Khabour, the only stream of importance that enters the Euphrates, which it does from Mesopotamia.—C.
2 In the fifth day of the month, which was thee fifth year5 of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
e ch.8.1; 20.1; 29.1,17; 31.1; 33.1; 40.1, with 2 Ki.24.12-15.
5 The 13th of Nebuchadnezzar; for Jehoiachin was captured in the 8th, 2 Ki.24.12.—C.
3 Theg word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel6 the priest, the son of Buzi, hin the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and thei hand of the LORD was there upon him.7
g He.5.4. Je.1.2,4. Ho.1.1. Joel 1.1. Jonah 1.1. Mi.1.1. ch.2.3.
6 Heb. Jehezkel.
A.M. cir. 3410. B.C. cir. 594.
i ch.8.1; 33.22; 37.1; 40.1; 3.8,14,22. 1 Ki.18.46. 2 Ki.3.15. Ac.11.21. Re.1.10. Ju.13.25.
7 The expression signifies not merely a gift of divine power, but a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit by which divine truth was communicated to the prophet's mind, and divine grace was conferred to enable him to record that truth with infallible accuracy. Ezekiel was inspired, in fact; i.e. he was employed as an agent of Jehovah, and as such could not err in the work assigned to him.—P.
4 And I looked, and behold, a jwhirlwind came out of the north, ka great cloud, and a fire infolding8 itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as lthe colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of nfour living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
7 Andq their feet were straight feet;9 and the sole of their feet was like rthe sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like the colour of sburnished brass.
8 And they had tthe hands of a man1 under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
1 Hands of a man. The hand is the chief servant of the intellect—the emblem of practised skill and power.—C.
t Ec.9.10. ch.10.8. Is.6.6. 1 Co.15.58. Ju.13.18. Ps.115.1.
9 Their wings were ujoined one to another; vthey turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
10 As for the likeness of their faces, they fourx had the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.2
A.M. cir. 3410. B.C. cir. 594.
x ver.15,19,20; ch.10.11. Re.4.7, with Lu.15.10. 2 Ki.19.35. Ps.103.20. Pr.14.4. 1 Pe.1.12. Ps.18.10, with Nu.2.3,10,18,25.
2 See note * below.
* The student of Assyrian antiquities cannot fail to observe in the cherubim here described by the prophet a general resemblance to those remarkable sculptures recently excavated from the mounds of Nineveh and Babylon. The details differ, but the general features are the same. We have on those sculptures four distinct faces as here:—the face of a man, of a lion, of a bull, and of an eagle. We have also the wings, and the 'straight feet,' like a calf's feet. All these were no doubt symbolical, but the symbolism was borrowed from that which was known to the Assyrians. God's universal sovereignty & omnipotent power were represented. The head of man symbolized intellect and rule over all rational beings; the lion, as king of wild beasts, symbolized God's rule over them; the ox over domestic animals; and the eagle over the fowls of heaven.—P.
11 Thus were their faces: and their wings werey stretched upward;3 two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two zcovered their bodies.
12 And athey went every one straight forward: bwhither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
a See ver.9,12,17. 2 Co.1.12. Lu.9.62. He.10.38,39.
b ver.20. Zec.4.6. Mat.4.1,11. He.1.14.
13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was clike burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: dit went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
15 Now, as I beheld the living creatures, behold, gone wheel4 uponh the earth by the living creatures, with his ifour faces.
g ver.16,19,20; ch.10.9.
4 One wheel, &c. That is, one wheel by each of the 'living creatures,' see ver.16.—C.
h With ver.20,21; ch.10.17.
i With ver.6,10. Re.4.7.
16 The appearance of the wheels5 and their work was like unto jthe colour of a beryl; and they four khad one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were la wheel in the middle of a wheel.
17 When they went, they went upon their four sides; and nthey turned not when they went.
n ver.9,12; ch.10.11. Is.55.11, with 2 Ki.19.33.
18 As for their rings, othey were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings6 were pfull of eyes round about them four.
19 Andq when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
20 Whithersoeverr the spirit was to go,7 they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for sthe spirit of the living creature8 was in the wheels.
21 Whent those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature9 was in the wheels.
22 Andu the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the vterrible crystal, stretched forth xover their heads above.
23 And under the firmament were ytheir wings straight, the one toward the other: zevery one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
24 And when they went, aI heard bthe noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the cvoice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an dhost: when they estood, they let down their wings.
25 And there was ga voice1 from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
g ver.28; ch.2.1-3.
1 The voice of the Son of God, saying, 'Well done, good and faithful servants.'—C.
26 And above the firmament that was hover their heads was the likeness of ia throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of ja man2 above upon it.
h Mat.28.18. Ep.1.21,22. Phi.2.9-11. 1 Pe.3.22. ch.10.1.
i Ps.45.6. Da.7.9. Is.6.1. ch.10.1. Mat.25.31. He.1.8; 8.1; 12.2. Re.4.2,3. Ex.24.10.
j Is.6.1. Re.1.13; 3.21; 4.2,3; 14.14. Da.10.5. ch.40.3. Ps.110.1. Is.9.6,7.
2 'God manifest in the flesh,' by whom and for whom all things were created and governed.—C.
27 And I saw kas the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
28 Asl the appearance of the bow3 that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the nlikeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I ofell upon my face, and pI heard a voice of one that spake.
A.M. cir. 3410. B.C. cir. 594.
l Re.4.3; 10.1, with Ge.9.13-16. Is.54.8-10.
3 The bow. The emblem of the covenant of grace as confirmed to Noah.—C.
n 1 Ki.8.10,11. Ex.16.7,10; 24.16,17; 33.20-23. Nu.12.8. ch.3.28. 1 Co.13.12.
o ch.11.2; 3.23. Da.8.17. Ac.9.4. Re.1.17,18. Job 42.5,6. Is.6.5. Mat.17.6. Le.9.24, with Ge.17.3. Nu.14.5.
Notes
Ver. 4-15. These living creatures may denote angels, as ministering in the dispensations of Providence, and ministers, as serving in the church. Their being living, denotes their own life and liveliness, and the quickening influence of their work: their being four, denotes their sufficiency for all the ends of the earth, and under all the empires of it; their four faces—viz. of a man, denotes their wisdom, prudence, and tender compassion;—of a lion, their courage, boldness, and might;—of an ox, their indefatigable labour and patience;—of an eagle, their clear and piercing knowledge, high contemplations, and holy affections. Their four wings, covering their bodies, stretched upwards, and joined to their fellows, denote their diligence, speedy success, consciousness of their own infirmities, and mutual harmony and love. Their straight feet, like those of a calf, and sparkling, denote their upright, steady, persevering, pure, and glorious ministrations and behaviour. Their many hands under their wings, denote their great but prudently directed and humble activity in their whole work. Their fiery appearance, denotes their ardent love and holy zeal. The Spirit moving among them, denotes the Holy Ghost as calling them and qualifying them for, and directing and actuating them in, their work; and all directed by the voice of the Almighty, who is enthroned in heaven. 15-25. The four wheels, with four faces each, and coloured like beryl, mysterious in their form, dreadfully high in their rings, full of eyes, and moved by the living creatures straight forward, may denote the manifold, precious, glorious, mysterious, dreadful. wise, and prudent providences of God, perseveringly, self-consistently, and righteously conducted by the ministration of angels in all parts of the world: or they may denote the churches of Christ, mysterious in their form, uniform in their appearances, perseveringly advancing to the everlasting state, precious and shining in their oracles, ordinances, and true members, fearing God, and dreadful to their enemies, intelligent, prudent, and watchful, and directed and actuated by the Spirit of God, through the instrumentality of ministers, according to the word of an enthroned Redeemer. 26-28. This man, amber-coloured, and fiery in appearance, enthroned in heaven over the wheels and animals, and encircled with a rainbow, represents Jesus Christ, in our nature, as terrible to his enemies, but full of love to and zeal for his people, exalted to his Father's right hand, to be the Head and Director of angels and ministers, and ever attending to and administering the covenant of grace to the world.
Ver. 4. A whirlwind is the emblem of speedy judgment and total ruin, Job 11. 9. The north, the seat of the invading nations. The cloud, the fire, and the brightness, are the same emblems of divine presence, energy, and judgment that appeared on Sinai; indicating that the same God was present to inflict deserved punishment upon the rebellious transgressors of his law and the idolatrous apostates from his worship. C.
Ver. 5. Four living creatures. As 'seven' is the emblem of perfection originating in time and work, so 'four' is the emblem of perfection originating in place and form. See Ge. 2. 10; Ex. 27. 1; De. 22. 12; 1 Ki. 6. 33; Eze. 37. 9; Da. 7. 2; Mat. 24. 31; Re. 7. 1; 21. 16. The other applications of the term seem all derivable from this original.—Living creatures, to distinguish them from agents of judgment by natural laws—as famine, pestilence, drought, &c.—Likeness of a man. Beings intelligent, but passionate. C.
Ver. 6. Four faces. The principal organs of sense being situated in the face, and these being the chief servants of the intellect, 'four faces' indicate perfection of the senses and understanding.—Wings, emblems of celerity in fulfilling the divine will. C.
Ver. 7. Straight feet—indicating straightness in the way of obedience. See Jos. 6. 5; 1 Sa. 6. 12; Is. 40. 3; Je. 31. 9.—A calf's foot—indicative of youth, of ceremonial cleanness, of suitableness for sacrifice, Le. 9. 2, and promise of growth, Mal. 4. 2.—Burnished brass—indicative of strength and splendour. C.
Ver. 9. Wings joined. Perfect consent of spirit, and unity of effort.—They needed not to 'turn;' having every one four faces, they lost no time in preparing for action; no enemy could come behind them. God's providential purposes cannot be eluded. C.
Ver. 10. A man—intellect with passion.—A lion—strength and readiness to assail, 2 Sa. 1. 23; Ps. 7. 2.—An ox—labour, productiveness, De. 25. 4; Pr. 14. 4.—An eagle—soaring aloft, yet finding the prey, Is. 4. 31; Mat. 24. 28. C.
Ver. 17. Went upon their four sides. All moving together, by one consent and energy.—Turned not—to mark that God is never turned back from his purposes of grace or judgment. C.
Ver. 18. Their rings were so high. The designs of Providence are vast; reaching not merely from earth, but from hell to heaven, from everlasting to everlasting.—Full of eyes. No events dependent upon blind chance; all guided by certain foreknowledge and unerring design. C.
Ver. 20. The living God guides the spirit of the obedient, and controls and restrains the spirit of the refractory and rebellious, and so directs every movement of providence, according to the counsel of his sovereign and gracious will. C.
Ver. 22. To denote the inferiority of all agents to God, the firmament is 'upon their heads.' Terrible crystal—dazzling the eyes with its lustre, and so 'terrible' to the weakness of the organ. In this sense the sun is 'terrible.' But nothing is so terrible as to gaze upon the wheel of Providence reaching from the lowest hell to the highest heaven, and the firmament of his power over the heads of all his creatures, and the wonders of his omnipresence whereby, while here on earth, he is yet exalted 'far above the heavens.' C.
Ver. 23. Covered their bodies. When the purpose of Providence is most rapidly in progress, from the eyes of worldly men the agent is totally hid: and when they search for the origin of their disasters, even the true second causes they seldom discover; and the great cause of all—God judging them for their sins—the blindness of their eyes, and the hardness of their hearts, will not permit them to see. C.
Ver. 24. When a providential work is accomplished his servants have rest: Stephen 'fell asleep' in Jesus: when Paul had 'finished his course' he saw the crown waiting for him in the hand of his Lord. C.
Ver. 27. The appearance of fire. The manifested baptism of the Holy Ghost with fire, Mat. 4. 11; which baptism is seen perfect in Christ, from whom it is dispensed in measure to his disciples, Jn. 3. 34; 1 Co. 12. 11. C.
Reflections.—Wherever God has a people he will find ministers for them. And there is great need that these should have a clear and distinct call from him to their work, considering the important dangers attending, and the awful issues and accounts thereof. All discoveries of God ought to fill our minds with deep awe and reverence of him. May I then, like these living creatures, be endowed with the Holy Ghost, filled with spiritual knowledge and prudence, and be uniformly active and upright in the Lord's way; always under his direction and influence, and making my light so to shine before men as that they may see my good works, and glorify my Father which is in heaven. However strange and intricate the form of ordinances, churches, and providences be, let me revere them, as framed and managed by God for his own glory; and always look, above all, to his infinitely glorious self, particularly as manifested in my nature, and the Lamb as it had been slain in the midst of the throne.