11 Now it came about in the thirtieth year , on the fifth day of the fourth month , while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles , the heavens were opened and I saw [1] visions of God . 2 (On the fifth of the month [2]in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile , 3 the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest , son of Buzi , in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar ; and there the hand of the Lord came upon him.)
4 As I looked , behold , a storm wind was coming from the north , a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire . 5 Within it there were figures resembling four living beings . And this was their appearance : they had human form . 6 Each of them had four faces and four wings . 7 Their legs were straight and [3]their feet were like a calf's hoof e , and they gleamed like burnished bronze . 8 Under their wings on their four sides were human hands . As for the faces and wings of the four of them, 9 their wings touched one another ; their faces did not turn when they moved , each went straight e e forward . 10 As for the form of their faces , each had the face of a man ; [4]all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left , and [4]all four had the face of an eagle . 11 Such were their faces . Their wings were spread out above e ; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies . 12 And each went straight e e forward ; wherever e e the spirit was about to go , they would go , without turning as they went . 13 [6]In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire , [7]like torches darting back and forth among the living beings . The fire was bright , and lightning was [8]flashing from the fire . 14 And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:1-14
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.