The first three chapters of Ezekiel contain the account of Ezekiel’s call. A mighty whirlwind issues from the north, and a dark cloud appears in that quarter of the heavens. In the midst of the cloud is an area of dazzling brightness surrounded by encircling flames. Therein are seen four beings of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIRTIETH YEAR - being closely connected with as I, is rather in favor of considering this a personal date. It is not improbable that Ezekiel was called to his office at the age prescribed in the Law for Levites Numbers 4:23, Numbers 4:30, at which age both John the Baptist and our Lord began th... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jewish date. This verse and Ezekiel 1:3, which seem rather to interrupt the course of the narrative, may have been added by the prophet when he revised and put together the whole book. The word “captivity” (as in Ezekiel 1:1) refers to the “transportation” of the king and others from their nativ... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME EXPRESSLY - The phrase marks that it was in truth a heaven-sent vision. THE HAND OF THE LORD - A phrase in all prophecy implying a “constraining” power, because the spirit “constrains” the prophet independently of his own will.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE NORTH - From this quarter the Assyrian conquerors came upon the holy land. The vision, though seen in Chaldaea, had reference to Jerusalem, and the seer is to contemplate judgment as it is coming upon the holy land. Others consider the words expressive of the special seat of the power of... [ Continue Reading ]
LIVING CREATURES - The Hebrew word answers very nearly to the English “beings,” and denotes those who live, whether angels, men (in whom is the breath of life), or inferior creatures.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the Revelation of John each “beast” has its own distinctive character, here each unites in itself the four characters; there each has six wings, like the Seraphim Isaiah 6:2, here only four.... [ Continue Reading ]
The “foot” seems here to mean the lower part of the leg, including the knee, and this was “straight,” i. e. upright like a man’s. The “sole” is the “foot” as distinguished from the “leg,” the leg terminated in a solid calf’s hoof. This was suitable for a being which was to present a front on each of... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, “They had the hands of a man under their wings on all four sides, just as they had wings and faces on all four sides.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Two of the wings were in the act of flying, so stretched out that the extremity of each touched a wing of a neighboring living creature, similarly stretched out. This was only when they were in motion. See Ezekiel 1:24. THEY WENT EVERY ONE STRAIGHT FORWARD - The four together formed a square, and n... [ Continue Reading ]
Each living creature had four faces, in front the face of a man, that of a lion on the right side, that of an ox on the left side, and that of an eagle behind, and the “chariot” would present to the beholder two faces of a man, of a lion, of an eagle, and of an ox, according to the quarter from whic... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS ... - Rather, And their faces and their wings were separated above. All four formed a whole, yet the upper parts of each, the heads and the wings (though touching), rose distinct from one another. Two wings of each, as in the case of Isaiah’s Seraphim, were folded down over the body: and two we... [ Continue Reading ]
The “chariot,” though composed of distinct parts, was to be considered as a whole. There was one spirit expressive of one conscious life pervading the whole, and guiding the motions of the whole in perfect harmony.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAMPS - “like the appearance of” flames. Omit the “and” before “like.” The “bright flames” resembled “coals of fire.” IT WENT UP - i. e. “fire went up.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Translate it: “one wheel upon the earth by” each of “the liviing creatures” on his four sides (i. e. on the four sides of each of the living creatures). There was a wheel to “each” of the living creatures: it was set “by,” i. e. immediately “beneath” the feet of the living creature, and was construc... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THEIR FOUR SIDES - i. e. straight in the direction toward which their faces looked. Since the four quarters express all directions, the construction of the living creatures was such that they could move in each direction alike.... [ Continue Reading ]
RINGS - The felloes (circumference) of the wheels: they were both high and terrible. The “eyes” may have been no more than dazzling spots adding to their brilliancy. But it seems more likely that they had a symbolic meaning expressing either the universal fulfillment of God’s will through His creati... [ Continue Reading ]
Whithersoever the spirit of the four living creatures was to go, the wheels went - there was the spirit of the wheels to go. All four creatures together with their wheels are here called “the living creature,” because they formed a whole, one in motion, and in will, for one spirit was in them.... [ Continue Reading ]
“The color” (Hebrew, “eye”) “of the terrible crystal” refers to the dazzling brightness of the “firmament,” a clear bright expanse between the “throne” and the “living creatures,” separating heaven from earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY ONE HAD TWO, WHICH COVERED ... - Or, each one had two wings covering his body on either side.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF THE ALMIGHTY - Thunder. THE VOICE OF SPEECH - Rendered in Jeremiah 11:16 “a great tumult.” Some take it to describe the rushing of a storm.... [ Continue Reading ]
A VOICE FROM THE FIRMAMENT - Compare Ezekiel 3:12; in the midst of the tumult, are heard articulate sounds declaring the glory of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
SAPPHIRE - Clear heavenly blue. THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN - Deeply significant is the form of this manifestation. Here is no angel conveying God’s message to man, but the glory of the Lord Himself. We recognize in this vision the prophetic annunciation of the Holy Incarnation. We are told little of t... [ Continue Reading ]
The rainbow is not simply a token of glory and splendor. The “cloud” and the “day of rain” point to its original message of forgiveness and mercy, and this is especially suited to Ezekiel’s commission, which was first to denounce judgment, and then promise restoration.... [ Continue Reading ]