Bible Commentary

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 13. A slight correction of the text after LXX. is necessary … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:13”

And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; [and] they turned not when they went. 12. went straightforward ] i.e. in the direction to which the living creature’s face was turned. The chariot had four sides facing the four quarters of the heavens; on each side of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:12”

Thus [were] their faces: and their wings [were] stretched upward; two [wings] of every one [were] joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. 11. Thus were their faces ] This rendering is perhaps just possible, particularly if present text in Eze 47:17-19 be accepted (which most scholars, however, alter according to Eze 1:20). … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:11”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:10”

Their wings [were] joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:9”

And [they had] the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 8. Each living creature appears to have had four hands or arms, cf. ch. Eze 10:21. The last words of Eze 1:8 must be joined with Eze 1:9: “and their faces … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:8”

And their feet [were] straight feet; and the sole of their feet [was] like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. 7. straight feet ] “Feet” here means limbs. These appear to have been two in number, though this is not expressly stated. The foot itself was … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:7”

And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 6. had four faces ] These were a man’s in front of each, an eagle’s opposite to this at the back of each; a lion’s on the right hand of each, and the face of an ox on the left of each. Thus … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:6”

Also out of the midst thereof [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 5. out of the midst thereof ] Most naturally, out of the midst of the whole phenomenon of the tempestuous fiery cloud, though it might be out of that splendour … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:5”

And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire enfolding itself, and a brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 4. God appears in cloud and storm: clouds and darkness are … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 1:4”