Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:10
As for the likeness of their faces, they four 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.
10. Read as R. V., and as for the likeness of their faces: they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side, &c. The right side is that of the living creature, not of the beholder.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 which he looked upon it.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. As for the likeness of their faces] There was but one body to each of those compound animals: but each body had four faces; the face of a man and of a lion on the right side; the face of an ox and an eagle on the left side. Many of these compound images appear in the Asiatic idols. Many are now before me: some with the head and feet of a monkey, with the body, arms, and legs of a man. Others with the head of the dog; body, arms, and legs human. Some with the head of an ape; all the rest human. Some with one head and eight arms; others with six heads or faces, with twelve arms. The head of a lion and the head of a cock often appear; and some with the head of a cock, the whole body human, and the legs terminating in snakes. All these were symbolical, and each had its own appropriate meaning. Those in the text had theirs also, could we but find it out.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Here the prophet doth more expressly set forth what was more darkly mentioned in the 6th verse, and describeth their faces both by the proper resemblances, and by their respect to the local differences of east and west, or right and left hand. But since such differences are in themselves of little moment, and undeterminable, unless we were certain what prospect these living creatures stood in, whether looking to the prophet, or to Jerusalem, or toward Babylon, we shall say no more of it; what these signify is more material. Each face is compared to what is most excellent in its kind, man excels in wisdom, the lion in strength, the ox in patience and constancy of labour, the eagle in speed and high flight. So in the ministry of angels, and government of the world by the providence of God, what is most excellent may be observed.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. they . . . had the face of amannamely, in front. The human face was the primary andprominent one and the fundamental part of the composite whole. On itsright was the lion’s face; on the left, the ox’s (called “cherub,”Eze 10:14); at the back fromabove was the eagle’s.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man,…. For these living creatures are men, redeemed from among men by the blood of Christ; their business lies with men, to preach the Gospel to them: and they should be humane, kind, and tender in their behaviour towards them; wounded consciences of weak believers, distressed and disconsolate souls, requiring such usage; and they should be men in understanding, have a large knowledge of the Scriptures, of the truths of the Gospel, and of Jesus Christ, since their work is to feed men with knowledge and understanding; and should act the manly part, quit themselves like men in defence of the Gospel, and the truths of it;
and the face of a lion on the right side; denoting the strength of Gospel ministers, the lion being the strongest among beasts, Pr 30:30; and they have need to be strong in the grace of Christ, and in the power of his might, to do the several parts of their work; to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ; to wrestle with principalities and powers, and to bear the infirmities of the weak: and also their courage and fortitude of mind; their boldness in preaching the Gospel of Christ, not fearing the faces of men, nor their revilings; see
Pr 28:1;
and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; expressive of the patience of Gospel ministers in bearing the yoke that is upon them, not only of the ministry, but of the weaknesses of saints, and the reproaches and indignities of the wicked; and in instructing those that oppose themselves, and in waiting the issue of their ministry: and also of their laboriousness in their ministrations; particularly in treading out the corn of the word, for the subsistence of the saints: see 1Co 9:9;
they four also had the face of an eagle; showing their strong and clear sight of the Gospel, and the mysteries of it; the eagle having so strong an eye, that it is able to look full and steadfastly upon the sun; and their diligence in searching into the deep things of God, and particularly to find out where the carcass is, a crucified Christ, to feed upon themselves, and to direct others to it likewise. It seems as if these four living creatures had four distinct heads, as well as faces, and that the position of them was in this manner; the face of a man before; the face of a lion on the right side; the face of an ox on the left; and the face of an eagle behind, These four are the most excellent of creatures. The Talmudists have a saying,
“there are four that are proud (or excel) in the world; the lion among beasts; the ox among cattle; the eagle among birds; and man, whom God has exalted above all, for he rules over all o.”
o Apud Schindler. Lex. Pentaglott, p. 267.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He now comes down to the faces or countenances of the living creatures themselves. The face is properly used with reference to the whole body, but the Prophet only means the countenance. He says therefore that there was on the right as it were the face of a man and of a lion, and on the left, the face of an ox and of an eagle We explained yesterday why four heads and as many faces are ascribed to the angels of God, because so great was the dullness of the people, that they did not acknowledge the providence of God over all parts of the world. For we know that they were so intoxicated with foolish confidence, that they wished to hold God shut up as it were within a prison: for their temple was as it were God’s prison. Hence the Prophet shows how the providence of God shines over other parts of the world. But since there is vigor in animals, so for brevity’s sake he puts four remarkable species of animals. Yet one question remains, and that a difficult one, for in Eze 10:14, he puts a cherub for an ox. Some think, or at least reply, that it appeared at a distance the face of an ox, but nearer it was that of a cherub. All see that this is a sophistry, and because they cannot otherwise escape the difficulty, they have imagined that fiction, which has no firmness in it. Others think that cherub and ox are identical; but this may be refuted from many places, for cherubim have not the heads of oxen, as all very well know. I therefore have no doubt there was some difference in the second vision, when God appeared to his own Prophet in the Temple. It is called the same vision on account of the likeness, but it does not follow that all particulars were exactly the same. Nor ought this conjecture to be rejected, because when God made himself known to his servant in Chaldea, as I have said before, he wished to reprove the sloth of the people by this multiform image; but when he appeared a second time in the Temple, there it was something more divine. Hence therefore the variety, because each animal then bore the face of a cherub instead of that of an ox. Therefore, besides the stature of the whole body, there was a remarkable feature whence the Prophet could more easily and familiarly recognize these living-creatures to be cherubim or angels. This reason also seems to explain why God showed to his Prophet a form which approached more nearly to that of the sanctuary, and to the two cherubim who surrounded the ark. Besides, some think that the heads were so arranged, that the man’s head should look towards the east, and the opposite head towards the west. But it is scarcely to be doubted that the four faces had the same aspect, and turned their eyes in the same direction, there being on the right the two forms which we have mentioned of a man and a lion, and on the left, those of an ox and an eagle. Afterwards follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) On the right side . . . on the left side.The apparent obscurity of this description is due only to the punctuation in the English Bible. They four had the face of a man (viz., in front, as Ezekiel viewed them), 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 (viz., on the back, or side opposite to Ezekiel). These faces are the same as those given to the living creatures in Rev. 4:7, except that there each creature had but one of them.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face [“appearance,” Gesenius] of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side, etc. Here again is the emphasis of the appearance, human appearance, of this creature of four faces. Ewald well points out that the prophet does not attempt to describe this fourfold unity, but only its likeness. His language constantly shows that he felt the difficulty of understanding the deep reality behind this symbol or “likeness.” (See note Eze 1:26.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 1:10. They fourand they four Milton had a right notion of this hieroglyphic, when he says of the cherubic shapes, “Four faces each had wondrous;” and afterwards calls them “The fourfold-visaged four.” Par. Lost. vi. 753. 845.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four 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.
Ver. 10. They four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion. ] Hereby is set forth the wisdom, strength, serviceability, and perspicaciousness of the holy angels for the Church’s good, all things requisite to great undertakings; neither forbear they to serve us, though we have the scent of the earth and hell about, us. Quantumnis eos, proh dolor, foetore peccatorum non raro laedamus, Deumque offendamus, a Though, by the stench of our sins, we do frequently annoy them, and offend God.
And they four had the face of an ox.
They four also had the face of an eagle.
a Polan. – Would any great prince attend a lowly man full of sores and vermin?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
faces. See App-41.
man. Hebrew ‘adam, App-14.
stretched upward = divided or spread out from above.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
for the: Eze 10:14, Rev 4:7
the face of a man: Num 2:10, Isa 46:8, Luk 15:10, 1Co 14:20
the face of a lion: Num 2:3, Jdg 14:18, 1Ch 12:8, Rev 5:5
the face of an ox: Eze 10:14, Cherub, Num 2:18, Pro 14:4, 1Co 9:9, 1Co 9:10
the face of an eagle: Num 2:25, Deu 28:49, Job 39:27, Isa 40:31, Dan 7:4
Reciprocal: Exo 36:8 – cherubims 1Ki 7:25 – General 1Ki 7:29 – lions 2Ch 4:3 – And under Eze 1:6 – And every one had four faces Eze 10:22 – the likeness Eze 41:18 – and every
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 1:10. Let the reader not forget that all figures and their explanations apply to each of the four empires. That does not mean that no differences existed between the four in their general history for there were many, In fact, no two of them were uniformly alike in their whole make-up and conduct. But as far as this chapler is concerned they are the same for all of them possessed the characteristics portrayed hy these symbols and figures of speech. Neither do I wish to appear arbitrary in ray selection of characteristics to be at-tributed to these empires. There are numerous terms in our language that could be used correctly because such vast institutions as we are considering would have many things in common with each other. I only claim that among such traits, the ones that will be named were true of each of the empires. In keeping with the foregoing explanations the following comments are offered on this and the following verses of the chapter. Please note the writer says they four had these marks which is the reason for my comments in the beginning of this paragraph. The face of a man indicates intelligence; a lion is fierce and bold; an ox is strong; and an eagle has the quality of fleetness and exaltation.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had {h} 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.
(h) Every cherubim had four faces, the face of a man, and of a lion on the right side, and the face of a bullock and of an eagle on the left side.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The forward face on each creature looked like a man, another like a lion, another like a bull, and the fourth like an eagle (cf. Rev 4:7). These were traditionally the four most impressive animals, man being the chief over all, the lion chief of the wild animals, the ox chief of the domesticated animals, and the eagle chief of the birds. [Note: Stuart, p. 32.] Their faces may represent the intelligence, majesty (or strength), strength (or ferocity), and speed (or freedom) of these creatures. Their wings spread out above them, evidently to support the platform above (Eze 1:22-23). Another view is that the cherubim were the wheels in the sense that the life spirit of the creatures was in the wheels. [Note: Merrill, p. 368.] Two wings of each creature touched the wings of another of the creatures uniting them in action, and two of them covered the bodies of each creature, probably demonstrating humility.
The church fathers connected the lion with Matthew, the ox with Mark, the man with Luke, and the eagle with John. They believed that these writers stressed a prominent characteristic of Jesus Christ represented by each of these creatures in their Gospels, namely, royalty, service, humanity, and godlikeness.