18 As for their rings, H1354 they were so high H1363 that they were dreadful; H3374 and their rings H1354 were full H4392 of eyes H5869 round about H5439 them four. H702
And their whole body, H1320 and their backs, H1354 and their hands, H3027 and their wings, H3671 and the wheels, H212 were full H4392 of eyes H5869 round about, H5439 even the wheels H212 that they four H702 had.
And G2532 before G1799 the throne G2362 there was a sea G2281 of glass G5193 like G3664 unto crystal: G2930 and G2532 in G1722 the midst G3319 of the throne, G2362 and G2532 round about G2945 the throne, G2362 were four G5064 beasts G2226 full G1073 of eyes G3788 before G1715 and G2532 behind. G3693
And G2532 the four G5064 beasts G2226 had G2192 each G303 G1520 of them G2596 G1438 six G1803 wings G4420 about G2943 him; and G2532 they were full G1073 of eyes G3788 within: G2081 and G2532 they rest G372 not G3756 G2192 day G2250 and G2532 night, G3571 saying, G3004 Holy, G40 holy, G40 holy, G40 Lord G2962 God G2316 Almighty, G3841 which G3588 was, G2258 and G2532 is, G5607 and G2532 is to come. G2064 G3801
Fair weather H2091 cometh H857 out of the north: H6828 with God H433 is terrible H3372 majesty. H1935 Touching the Almighty, H7706 we cannot find him out: H4672 he is excellent H7689 in power, H3581 and in judgment, H4941 and in plenty H7230 of justice: H6666 he will not afflict. H6031 Men H582 do therefore fear H3372 him: he respecteth H7200 not any that are wise H2450 of heart. H3820
The waters H4325 saw H7200 thee, O God, H430 the waters H4325 saw H7200 thee; they were afraid: H2342 the depths H8415 also were troubled. H7264 The clouds H5645 poured out H2229 water: H4325 the skies H7834 sent out H5414 a sound: H6963 thine arrows H2687 also went abroad. H1980 The voice H6963 of thy thunder H7482 was in the heaven: H1534 the lightnings H1300 lightened H215 the world: H8398 the earth H776 trembled H7264 and shook. H7493 Thy way H1870 is in the sea, H3220 and thy path H7635 in the great H7227 waters, H4325 and thy footsteps H6119 are not known. H3045
Clouds H6051 and darkness H6205 are round about H5439 him: righteousness H6664 and judgment H4941 are the habitation H4349 of his throne. H3678 A fire H784 goeth H3212 before H6440 him, and burneth up H3857 his enemies H6862 round about. H5439 His lightnings H1300 enlightened H215 the world: H8398 the earth H776 saw, H7200 and trembled. H2342 The hills H2022 melted H4549 like wax H1749 at the presence H6440 of the LORD, H3068 at the presence H6440 of the Lord H113 of the whole earth. H776
The eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 are in every place, H4725 beholding H6822 the evil H7451 and the good. H2896
For as the heavens H8064 are higher H1361 than the earth, H776 so are my ways H1870 higher H1361 than your ways, H1870 and my thoughts H4284 than your thoughts. H4284
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
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,