Ezekiel 1:5-14

B. The Cherubim 1:5-14

TRANSLATION

(5) And from its midst the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they possessed the likeness of a man. (6) And each of them had four faces and four wings. (7) And their feet were straight feet, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot, and they glistened like the appearance of polished bronze. (8) Under their wings upon their four sides were hands of a man. Now as for the faces and wings of the four of them, (9) their wings were joined together, they did not turn when they moved, each went straight ahead. (10) And the likeness of their faces was as the face of a man, and the four of them had the face of a lion on the right, and a face of a bull on the left, and the four of them had the face of an eagle. (11) And their faces and their wings were separated above. Each had two which joined another, and two covering their bodies. (12) And each went straight ahead wherever the spirit was to go, they went; they did not turn as they went. (13) And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like coals of fire, like the appearance of torches. Fire[72] was going to and fro between the living creatures. The fire had a radiant splendor and from the fire lightning was going forth. (14) And the living creatures were running back and forth like lightning bolts.

[72] The Hebrew actually uses a feminine pronoun, but the reference is obviously to the fire.

COMMENTS

Ezekiel observed four living creatures emerging from the midst of the flashing cloud. These grotesque creatures supported the platform (Ezekiel 1:22 f.) on which stood the throne of Yahweh. The living creatures were basically human in appearance (Ezekiel 1:5). The Greek version uses the word zoon (animal, living creature), the same word employed of the four living creatures of Revelation 4:6.

According to the Hebrew text of Ezekiel 1:13, the likeness of the appearance of the living creatures was like coals of fire. Many scholars feel at this point the Septuagint (Greek) Old Testament preserves a more ancient reading: In the midst of the living creatures was something that looked like burning coals of fire. However, the Hebrew rendering of the verse should be retained. So understood, the verse adds to the general description of the living creatures. They glowed like coals of fire or torches.[73]

[73] The Hebrew word lappid is variously translated in English versions as lamp, lighting, firebrand, and torch. The word properly means, not the vessel which contains the light, but the light itself.

It is frequently asserted that these living creatures of Ezekiel are to be linked to the winged man-headed animals which stood guard over Mesopotamian temples. Ezekiel was living in a country on the walls of whose temples and palaces were strange mixed figures, human heads with the bodies of lions, and the feet of calves, and the like. These combinations were of course symbolical and this symbolism was no doubt familiar to Ezekiel. But the prophet is not constructing his cherubim in imitation of these figures. Rather the Spirit of God is revealing forms corresponding to the general rules of oriental symbolism.[74] This mode of representation was too common throughout the Near East to be ascribed to any one nation. The throne-chariot and guarding cherubim are but an extension of Temple symbolism the ark and its winged attendants in the Holy of Holies.

[74] Currey, BC, p. 19.

The cherubim are four in number. This number has special significance in Ezekiel and throughout the Bible. It suggests primarily the idea of completeness and totality. As a secondary import this number stands for the created world. Thus the Old Testament speaks of the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12), the four winds (Ezekiel 37:9) and so forth. Ezekiel's predilection for the number four can be seen in the four wings, four faces, four hands, four sides and four wheels of the inaugural vision. In chapter 8 he presents four scenes of false worship and in chapter 14 he refers to four plagues.

The inaugural vision is highly symbolic. Several of the symbols are easily identified because of more or less common usage through the ages. Gold, sapphire, and the polished bronze, are familiar images of majestic glory. The thunders, lightnings and the stormy cloud are symbols of awful power and of judgment. The clear brightness is symbolic of God's purity and truth, the rainbow of His mercy. As the fire, lightning and cloud are marks of inanimate creation, so the four living creatures symbolize animate creation. The wings represent the power by which all creation rises and falls at God's commands; the one spirit, the unity and harmony of all of His works; the wheels the universality of God. The number four is the symbol of the world with its four quarters; the veiled bodies, the inability of all creatures to stand in the presence of God.

That the living creatures had their groundwork in the Old Testament cherubim there can be no doubt. Little is known about the angelic order of cherubim although they are frequently mentioned in the Bible. The description of the cherubim in Revelation 4 differs from that found here. Later in Ezekiel 41 the cherubim are depicted as having only two faces instead of the four which are mentioned in the present passage. The cherubim of the Mosaic ark and the Solomonic Temple probably did not resemble those which are here in view. This would account for the circumstance that when Ezekiel first saw these creatures on the bank of the Chebar he did not recognize them as cherubim. This identification he was able to make in Ezekiel 10:20 when he saw the creatures in connection with the Temple.

The cherubim as they appear throughout the Bible are symbols not likenesses. This is why the appearance of these creatures differs from passage to passage. In place of the four-faced, four-sided figures seen by Ezekiel, John saw each living creature having only one face. But if these living creatures are symbols, of what are they symbolical? The oldest and probably the correct explanation is that the living creatures are symbolic representations of heavenly beings.[75] This is not to say that the living creatures represented any four particular angels; nor should anyone jump to the conclusion that they will meet creatures in heaven resembling those which Ezekiel here sees. These cherubim are symbols, not likenesses.

[75] The Jewish commentator Kimchi thought the four living creatures represented the four great empires symbolized by the various beasts of Daniel 7. Irenaeus saw in these creatures figures of the four Gospel evangelists. Grider (BBC, p. 538) thinks they represent the forces of Nebuchadnezzar.

What encouragement Ezekiel must have received as he reflected on this aspect of the grand vision. From the cherubim he learned many lessons and some profound theological truths. But the one lesson which probably most influenced Ezekiel in a very practical way was this If heavenly beings serve the King, how much more so should the sons of men!
The symbolic import of the living creatures is not difficult to ascertain. Their facial features (see following discussion) suggest that they have the specific function of representing the earthly creation before the Lord. Yahweh the God of creation and redemption holds sway over all the earth. It is most appropriate that the throne-chariot of the heavenly Sovereign should be borne by those who represent the whole earth over which the Lord holds sway.
The interpretation of the details of the throne-chariot description is notoriously difficult. The Jewish Rabbis declared that if anyone could master the secrets of the merkabah (chariot) he would know all the secrets of creation, The difficulties involved here are not in the English translation. The problem lies in (1) the poverty of human language when it comes to describing the celestial and supernatural; and (2) the lack of spiritual imagination on the part of the interpreters of this book. In any case, it is the message of the throne-chariot and not the mechanics of it which is important.

1. Their faces (Ezekiel 1:6; Ezekiel 1:10). Each of the living creatures had four faces (Ezekiel 1:6). Something of great importance is thus signified. Those creatures associated most intimately with God could see in all directions. The shape of the face differed on the four sides the face of a man in front, of a lion on the right side, of an ox on the left side, and of an eagle behind (Ezekiel 1:10)[76] These faces symbolized the highest forms of life which are found in the various realms of creation. Man is supreme over all the creatures of God, and so is mentioned first. Man faced forward. The lion is king of wild beasts, the ox of domesticated animals, and the eagle of the birds of the heavens.[77] Thus the living creatures were representative of all living beings. The Jewish Rabbis commented:

[76] According to Targum Jonathan, (here were four faces in each direction, so that each creature had sixteen faces.
[77] Representations of the lion, OX. and eagle were common in Babylonian art, and so would be particularly suggestive to the mind of the exiles there, Four-faced statuettes Of gods have also been found in Babylon.

Man is exalted among creatures; the eagle is exalted among the birds; the ox is exalted among domestic animals; the lion is exalted among wild beasts; and all of them have received dominion, and greatness has been given them yet they are stationed below the chariot of the Holy One.[78]

[78] Midrash Rabbah Shemoth, 23.

The four faces appear again in Revelation 4:7 which is based on this passage.[79] In later Christian tradition the faces were associated with the writers of the four Gospels: Matthew (man), Mark, (lion), Luke (ox), John (eagle).

[79] In Revelation each living creature had its own distinctive character. Here all four creatures had identical four-sided faces.

The living creatures formed a square. The human face of each creature faced outward. The effect would be that whichever way one looked at the four creatures, a different face was seen from each. All four faces were visible at the same time from any angle.[80]

[80] Taylor, TOTC, p. 55.

2. Their wings (Ezekiel 1:6; Ezekiel 1:9; Ezekiel 1:11). The creatures had four wings (Ezekiel 1:6)[81], [82] For the sake of modesty, two of these wings were used to cover the naked bodies of these creatures. The other two wings were in the act of flying. They were so stretched out that the tip of each touched the wing tip of a fellow living creature on the right and on the left (Ezekiel 1:9). Thus is symbolized their unity of purpose. When the throne-chariot came to a stop the second pair of wings was let down (cf. Ezekiel 1:24). Thus the four living creatures and their extended wings formed a kind of hollow square. But although the creatures appeared at times to be connected to one another at the wing tips, yet their faces and their wings were separated[83] above (Ezekiel 1:11), i.e., they rose distinct from one another.

[81] By way of contrast, the angelic seraphim of Isaiah 6 had six wings, two of which were used to cover the face, two to cover the feet (possibly a euphemism for pudenda), and two to hover in mid-air.

[82] Reliefs and statuettes of four-winged creatures have been found in Mesopotamia.
[83] The Hebrew root parad is rendered divided, separated, parted, dispersed, scattered, sundered in the KJV. The KJV rendering stretched in this verse seems in appropriate.

3. Their hands (Ezekiel 1:8). In addition to the four wings, each creature had hands (Ezekiel 1:8). Some doubt exists as to whether each creature had four hands or two hands. Probably the latter is correct. These hands will be put to good use a bit later (Ezekiel 10:7).

4. Their legs (Ezekiel 1:7). The feet of the creatures were straight. Probably in this verse the term feet is being used in the wider sense of legs. These legs are said to be straight, i.e., unjointed. Such at least is the old Jewish understanding of the word. The creatures then, did not bow, crouch or lie down. Throughout the vision they remained perfectly erect.

5. Their feet (Ezekiel 1:7). The feet of the creatures resembled the hoof of a calf. This probably means nothing more than that their feet were rounded.[84] this would enable creatures to move freely in every direction. The feet are said to glisten (notsetsim) like polished brass (Ezekiel 1:7).

[84] Groping for significance in the feet like a calf, Taylor (TOTC, p. 55) suggests that the calf symbolizes nimbleness.

6. The fires (Ezekiel 1:13). In the midst of the hollow square formed by the four cherubim Ezekiel observed a bright fire which seemed to move back and forth among the living creatures. Periodically lightning flashed forth from the interior of the chariot.[85] This fire no doubt symbolized judgment which at that moment of history was in the center of God's concern.[86]

[85] Ezekiel 1:13 is extremely difficult. The Greek version would make the whole verse a description of what was in the midst of the living creatures. According to the Hebrew text, followed here, the first part of the verse contains two similes descriptive of the cherubim. The latter part of the verse describes a flashing fire that was among or between the cherubim.

[86] Ellison (EMM, p. 24) thinks it is the spirit of God which is symbolized by the pulsating light coming from within the square formed by the cherubim

7. Their movements (Ezekiel 1:9; Ezekiel 1:12; Ezekiel 1:14). Since each creature had a face on four sides, they did not turn around when their course was altered. The face toward the intended course moved forward in that direction (Ezekiel 1:9). Wherever they went they always moved forward, since each creature had a face in the appropriate direction[87] (Ezekiel 1:9; Ezekiel 1:12). This detail may point to the resoluteness of purpose which these creatures manifested.

[87] A difficulty arises, however, in the fact that the fourfold face is not parallel in the rest of their bodies.

Apparently the living creatures were not capable of independent movement. The entire throne-chariot of which they were a part moved as a single unit, Under the impulse of the spirit (Ezekiel 1:12). Ezekiel 1:20 speaks of the spirit of the living creatures. Apparently God from His throne exercised an influence upon the spirits of the living creatures thus coordinating their movements. Initially the movements of the living creatures seemed to Ezekiel to be erratic. The creatures were seen running back and forth like lightning bolts (Ezekiel 1:14). The throne-chariot moved to and fro with the speed of lightning.