Eze 1:4-5, 16 | JFB | STEP | 4. whirlwind —emblematic of God's judgments ( ). out of the north —that is, from Chaldea, whose hostile forces would invade Judea from a northerly direction. The prophet conceives himself in the temple. fire infolding itself —laying hold on whatever surrounds it, drawing it to itself, and devouring it. Literally, "catching itself," that is, kindling itself [FAIRBAIRN ]. The same Hebrew occurs in , as to the "fire mingled with the hail." brightness . . . about it —that is, about the "cloud." out of the midst thereof —that is, out of the midst of the "fire." colour of amber —rather, "the glancing brightness (literally, 'the eye', and so the glancing appearance ) of polished brass. The Hebrew, chasmal, is from two roots, "smooth" and "brass" (compare ) [GESENIUS ]. The Septuagint and Vulgate translate it, " electrum "; a brilliant metal compounded of gold and silver.

Ezekiel 1:4-5

4. whirlwind—emblematic of God's judgments (Jer 23:19; 25:32).

out of the north—that is, from Chaldea, whose hostile forces would invade Judea from a northerly direction. The prophet conceives himself in the temple.

fire infolding itself—laying hold on whatever surrounds it, drawing it to itself, and devouring it. Literally, "catching itself," that is, kindling itself [FAIRBAIRN]. The same Hebrew occurs in Ex 9:24, as to the "fire mingled with the hail."

brightness . . . about it—that is, about the "cloud."

out of the midst thereof—that is, out of the midst of the "fire."

colour of amber—rather, "the glancing brightness (literally, 'the eye', and so the glancing appearance) of polished brass. The Hebrew, chasmal, is from two roots, "smooth" and "brass" (compare Eze 1:7; Re 1:15) [GESENIUS]. The Septuagint and Vulgate translate it, "electrum"; a brilliant metal compounded of gold and silver.

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, Re 4:6, not as English Version, "beasts"; for one of the "four" is a man, and man cannot be termed "beast." Eze 10:20 shows that it is the cherubim that are meant.

likeness of a man—Man, the noblest of the four, is the ideal model after which they are fashioned (Eze 1:10; Eze 10:14). The point of comparison between him and them is the erect posture of their bodies, though doubtless including also the general mien. Also the hands (Eze 10:21).

Ezekiel 1:16

16. appearance . . . work—their form and the material of their work.

beryl—rather, "the glancing appearance of the Tarshish stone"; the chrysolite or topaz, brought from Tarshish or Tartessus in Spain. It was one of the gems in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex 28:20; So 5:14; Da 10:6).

four had one likeness—The similarity of the wheels to one another implies that there is no inequality in all God's works, that all have a beautiful analogy and proportion.