4 And I look, and lo, a tempestuous wind is coming from the north, a great cloud, and fire catching itself, and brightness to it round about, and out of its midst as the colour of copper, out of the midst of the fire. 5 And out of its midst 'is' a likeness of four living creatures, and this 'is' their appearance; a likeness of man 'is' to them, 6 and four faces 'are' to each, and four wings 'are' to each of them, 7 and their feet 'are' straight feet, and the sole of their feet 'is' as a sole of a calf's foot, and they are sparkling as the colour of bright brass; 8 and hands of man under their wings—on their four sides, and their faces and their wings—'are' to them four; 9 joining one unto another 'are' their wings, they turn not round in their going, each straight forward they go. 10 As to the likeness of their faces, the face of a man, and the face of a lion, toward the right 'are' to them four, and the face of an ox on the left 'are' to them four, and the face of an eagle 'are' to them four. 11 And their faces and their wings are separate from above, to each 'are' two joining together, and two are covering their bodies. 12 And each straight forward they go, whither the spirit is to go, they go, they turn not round in their going. 13 As to the likeness of the living creatures, their appearances 'are' as coals of fire—burning as the appearance of lamps; it is going up and down between the living creatures, and brightness 'is' to the fire, and out of the fire is going forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures are running, and turning back, as the appearance of the flash.
15 And I see the living creatures, and lo, one wheel 'is' in the earth, near the living creatures, at its four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their works 'is' as the colour of beryl, and one likeness 'is' to them four, and their appearances and their works 'are' as it were the wheel in the midst of the wheel. 17 On their four sides, in their going they go, they turn not round in their going. 18 As to their rings, they are both high and fearful, and their rings 'are' full of eyes round about them four. 19 And in the going of the living creatures, the wheels go beside them, and in the living creatures being lifted up from off the earth, lifted up are the wheels. 20 Whither the spirit is to go, they go, thither the spirit 'is' to go, and the wheels are lifted up over-against them, for a living spirit 'is' in the wheels. 21 In their going, they go; and in their standing, they stand; and in their being lifted up from off the earth, lifted up are the wheels over-against them; for a living spirit 'is' in the wheels. 22 And a likeness 'is' over the heads of the living creatures of an expanse, as the colour of the fearful ice, stretched out over their heads from above. 23 And under the expanse their wings 'are' straight, one toward the other, to each are two covering on this side, and to each are two covering on that side—their bodies. 24 And I hear the noise of their wings, as the noise of many waters, as the noise of the Mighty One, in their going—the noise of tumult, as the noise of a camp, in their standing they let fall their wings. 25 And there is a voice from above the expanse, that 'is' above their head: in their standing they let fall their wings.
26 And above the expanse that 'is' over their head, as an appearance of a sapphire stone, 'is' the likeness of a throne, and on the likeness of the throne a likeness, as the appearance of man upon it from above. 27 And I see as the colour of copper, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his loins and upward, and from the appearance of his loins and downward, I have seen as the appearance of fire, and brightness 'is' to it round about.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:4-27
Commentary on Ezekiel 1:1-14
(Read Ezekiel 1:1-14)
It is a mercy to have the word of God brought to us, and a duty to attend to it diligently, when we are in affliction. The voice of God came in the fulness of light and power, by the Holy Spirit. These visions seem to have been sent to possess the prophet's mind with great and high thoughts of God. To strike terror upon sinners. To speak comfort to those that feared God, and humbled themselves. In verses 4-14, is the first part of the vision, which represents God as attended and served by a vast company of angels, who are all his messengers, his ministers, doing his commandments. This vision would impress the mind with solemn awe and fear of the Divine displeasure, yet raise expectations of blessings. The fire is surrounded with a glory. Though we cannot by searching find out God to perfection, yet we see the brightness round about it. The likeness of the living creatures came out of the midst of the fire; angels derive their being and power from God. They have the understanding of a man, and far more. A lion excels in strength and boldness. An ox excels in diligence and patience, and unwearied discharge of the work he has to do. An eagle excels in quickness and piercing sight, and in soaring high; and the angels, who excel man in all these respects, put on these appearances. The angels have wings; and whatever business God sends them upon, they lose no time. They stood straight, and firm, and steady. They had not only wings for motion, but hands for action. Many persons are quick, who are not active; they hurry about, but do nothing to purpose; they have wings, but no hands. But wherever the angels' wings carried them, they carried hands with them, to be doing what duty required. Whatever service they went about, they went every one straight forward. When we go straight, we go forward; when we serve God with one heart, we perform work. They turned not when they went. They made no mistakes; and their work needed not to be gone over again. They turned not from their business to trifle with any thing. They went whithersoever the Spirit of God would have them go. The prophet saw these living creatures by their own light, for their appearance was like burning coals of fire; they are seraphim, or "burners;" denoting the ardour of their love to God, and fervent zeal in his service. We may learn profitable lessons from subjects we cannot fully enter into or understand. But let us attend to the things which relate to our peace and duty, and leave secret things to the Lord, to whom alone they belong.
Commentary on Ezekiel 1:15-25
(Read Ezekiel 1:15-25)
Providence, represented by the wheels, produces changes. Sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost, sometimes another; but the motion of the wheel on its own axletree is regular and steady. We need not despond in adversity; the wheels are turning round and will raise us in due time, while those who presume in prosperity know not how soon they may be cast down. The wheel is near the living creatures; the angels are employed as ministers of God's providence. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels; the same wisdom, power, and holiness of God, that guide and govern the angels, by them order all events in this lower world. The wheel had four faces, denoting that the providence of God exerts itself in all parts. Look every way upon the wheel of providence, it has a face toward you. Their appearance and work were as a wheel in the middle of a wheel. The disposals of Providence seem to us dark, perplexed, and unaccountable, yet are all wisely ordered for the best. The motion of these wheels was steady, regular, and constant. They went as the Spirit directed, therefore returned not. We should not have to undo that by repentance which we have done amiss, if we followed the guidance of the Spirit. The rings, or rims of the wheels were so vast, that when put in motion the prophet was afraid to look upon them. The consideration of the height and depth of God's counsel should awe us. They were full of eyes round about. The motions of Providence are all directed by infinite Wisdom. All events are determined by the eyes of the Lord, which are in every place beholding the evil and the good; for there is no such thing as chance or fortune. The firmament above was a crystal, glorious, but terribly so. That which we take to be a dark cloud, is to God clear as crystal, through which he looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth. When the angels had roused a careless world, they let down their wings, that God's voice might be plainly heard. The voice of Providence is to open men's ears to the voice of the word. Sounds on earth should awaken our attention to the voice from heaven; for how shall we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from thence.
Commentary on Ezekiel 1:26-28
(Read Ezekiel 1:26-28)
The eternal Son, the second Person in the Trinity, who afterwards took the human nature, is here denoted. The first thing observed was a throne. It is a throne of glory, a throne of grace, a throne of triumph, a throne of government, a throne of judgment. It is good news to men, that the throne above the firmament is filled with One who appears, even there, in the likeness of a man. The throne is surrounded with a rainbow, the well-known emblem of the covenant, representing God's mercy and covenanted love to his people. The fire of God's wrath was breaking out against Jerusalem, but bounds should be set to it; he would look upon the bow, and remember the covenant. All the prophet saw was only to prepare him for what he was to hear. When he fell on his face, he heard the voice of One that spake. God delights to teach the humble. Let sinners, then, humble themselves before him. And let believers think upon his glory, that they may be gradually changed into his image by the Spirit of the Lord.