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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 1:5-6

Ezekiel 1:5-6. Out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures Termed cherubim, Ezekiel 9:3; Ezekiel 9:10. throughout. These seem to have been a hieroglyphical representation of the holy angels, attendants on the king of glory, and the ministers of his providence, as well when he executes judgments on sinners, as when he confers benefits on his people. They were four, probably to denote that they were employed in all the four quarters of the world. They had the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 1:1-28

1:1-3:27 THE CALL OF EZEKIELA vision of God’s glory (1:1-28)Ezekiel lived in a Jewish settlement that bordered the Chebar River. He had been in Babylon five years and was now thirty years of age, the age at which he normally would have begun his priestly service in the temple in Jerusalem (cf. Numbers 4:2-3). But he had no chance now of returning to Jerusalem. Instead God called him to be a prophet, who would take his message to his people in Babylon (1:1-3).The call came as Ezekiel was... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezekiel 1:5

four living creatures. These are "the Cherubim". See App-41 . The zoa of Revelation 4:6 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 1:5

5. Ezekiel was himself of a "gigantic nature, and thereby suited to counteract the Babylonish spirit of the times, which loved to manifest itself in gigantic, grotesque forms" [HENGSTENBERG]. living creatures—So the Greek ought to have been translated in the parallel passage, Revelation 4:6, not as English Version, "beasts"; for one of the "four" is a man, and man cannot be termed "beast." Revelation 4:6- : shows that it is the cherubim that are meant. likeness of a man—Man, the noblest of the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezekiel 1:4-28

2. The vision proper 1:4-28Ezekiel saw three things in this vision: living beings (Ezekiel 1:4-14), wheels in motion (Ezekiel 1:15-21), and a great expanse (Ezekiel 1:22-28). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezekiel 1:5-7

Within the cloud the prophet saw four figures that resembled living beings (cf. Revelation 4). They had human form, but each of them had four faces and four wings. [Note: See Allen, pp. 27-30, for some illustrations reproduced from a German work by O. Keel, which is "a lavishly illustrated study of ancient Near Eastern and Anatolian royal and religious iconography that sheds light on the particular throne imagery reflected here." (Ibid., p. 27.)] Each face represents the highest form of animal... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 1:1-27

§ 1. Ezekiel’s Call and Consecration as a Prophet (Ezekiel 1-3)Date, June-July, 592 b.c.Ezekiel’s call and consecration to his prophetic work took place by means of a vision of God’s glory (Ezekiel 1), and of a divine commission, or rather series of commissions, conveyed partly in speech and partly in symbol (Ezekiel 2, 3). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 1:1-28

The Vision of God’s GloryThis vision, unlike the inaugural visions of Isaiah and Jeremiah, came to Ezekiel not only at the beginning of his prophetic ministry, but also several times during the course of it. It was early repeated in connexion with his call and commission (Ezekiel 3:23), and it appeared on two other occasions (Ezekiel 8-11, Ezekiel 43:1-5). In Ezekiel 10 in particular the account in Ezekiel 1 is closely reproduced, with some additional details.In a state of trance, or ecstasy,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ezekiel 1:5

(5) The likeness of four living creatures next appeared from this centre of the fiery cloud. The word “likeness” is not without significance. The prophet would make it plain that this was a vision, that these were symbolic, not actually existing creatures. Their prominent characteristic is that they were “living.” This word is used over and over again in connection with them (see Ezekiel 1:13-15; Ezekiel 1:19; Ezekiel 1:21, &c.); and in fact, in Ezekiel and Revelation (Ezekiel 4:6, &c.,... read more

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