14 And the living creatures H2416 ran H7519 and returned H7725 as the appearance H4758 of a flash of lightning. H965
For who hath despised H936 the day H3117 of small things? H6996 for they shall rejoice, H8055 and shall see H7200 the plummet H68 H913 in the hand H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 with those seven; H7651 they are the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 which run to and fro H7751 through the whole earth. H776
Yea, whiles I was speaking H1696 in prayer, H8605 even the man H376 Gabriel, H1403 whom I had seen H7200 in the vision H2377 at the beginning, H8462 being caused to fly H3286 swiftly, H3288 touched H5060 me about the time H6256 of the evening H6153 oblation. H4503
And G2532 he shall send G649 his G846 angels G32 with G3326 a great G3173 sound G5456 of a trumpet, G4536 and G2532 they shall gather together G1996 his G846 elect G1588 from G1537 the four G5064 winds, G417 from G575 one end G206 of heaven G3772 to G2193 the other. G206 G846
For G1063 as G5618 the lightning, G796 that lighteneth G797 out of G1537 the one part under G5259 heaven, G3772 shineth G2989 unto G1519 the other part under G5259 heaven; G3772 so G3779 shall also G2532 the Son G5207 of man G444 be G2071 in G1722 his G846 day. G2250
And, behold, the angel H4397 that talked H1696 with me went forth, H3318 and another H312 angel H4397 went out H3318 to meet H7125 him, And said H559 unto him, Run, H7323 speak H1696 to this H1975 young man, H5288 saying, H559 Jerusalem H3389 shall be inhabited H3427 as towns without walls H6519 for the multitude H7230 of men H120 and cattle H929 therein: H8432
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezekiel 1
Commentary on Ezekiel 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of
The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
Chapter 1
In this chapter we have,
And the more we are acquainted, and the more intimately we converse, with the glory of God in these three branches of it, the more commanding influence will divine revelation have upon us and the more ready shall we be to submit to it, which is the thing aimed at in prefacing the prophecies of this book with these visions. When such a God of glory speaks, it concerns us to hear with attention and reverence; it is at our peril if we do not.
Eze 1:1-3
The circumstances of the vision which Ezekiel saw, and in which he received his commission and instructions, are here very particularly set down, that the narrative may appear to be authentic and not romantic. It may be of use to keep an account when and where God has been pleased to manifest himself to our souls in a peculiar manner, that the return of the day, and our return to the place of the altar (Gen. 13:4), may revive the pleasing grateful remembrance of God's favour to us. "Remember, O my soul! and never forget what communications of divine love thou didst receive at such a time, at such a place; tell others what God did for thee.'
Eze 1:4-14
The visions of God which Ezekiel here saw were very glorious, and had more particulars than those which other prophets saw. It is the scope and intention of these vision,
Now, to answer these ends, we have in these verses the first part of the vision, which represents God as attended and served by an innumerable company of angels, who are all his messengers, his ministers, doing his commandments and hearkening to the voice of his word. This denotes his grandeur, as it magnifies an earthly prince to have a splendid retinue and numerous armies at his command, which engages his allies to trust him and his enemies to fear him.
Eze 1:15-25
The prophet is very exact in making and recording his observations concerning this vision. And here we have,
Eze 1:26-28
All the other parts of this vision were but a preface and introduction to this. God in them had made himself known as Lord of angels and supreme director of all the affairs of this lower world, whence it is easy to infer that whatever God by his prophets either promises or threatens to do he is able to effect it. Angels are his servants; men are his tools. But now that a divine revelation is to be given to a prophet, and by him to the church, we must look higher than the living creatures or the wheels, and must expect that from the eternal Word, of whom we have an account in these verses. Ezekiel, hearing a voice from the firmament, looked up, as John did, to see the voice that spoke with him, and he saw one like unto the Son of man, Rev. 1:12, 13. The second person sometimes tried the fashion of a man occasionally before he clothed himself with it for good and all; and the Spirit of prophecy is called the Spirit of Christ (1 Pt. 1:11) and the testimony of Jesus, Rev. 19:10.
Lastly, We have the conclusion of this vision. Observe,