Ezekiel 1:8

Verse

Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,

American Standard Version (1901)

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings thus:

Bible in Basic English

And they had the hands of a man under their wings; the four of them had faces on their four sides.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides: and they bad faces, and wings on the four sides,

Free Bible Version

They had human hands under their wings on each of their four sides. The four of them all had faces and wings,

King James (Authorized) Version

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

Translation for Translators

On their four sides under their wings there were hands like humans have.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Yet they had human hands under their wings on all four sides. For all four, their faces and wings were like this:

Noah Webster Bible

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

World English Bible

They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. The four of them had their faces and their wings like this:

Young's Literal Translation

and hands of man under their wings — on their four sides, and their faces and their wings — [are] to them four;

Context

The Four Living Creatures

⁷Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze.⁸Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,⁹and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.

Summary

In Ezekiel 1:8, the prophet describes the hands of the divine beings he sees in his vision. These hands are human-like, emphasizing the connection between the heavenly and earthly realms. The detailed imagery conveys the power and authority of God, as well as His involvement in the affairs of humanity. This verse sets the stage for the profound revelations and messages that Ezekiel will receive from God throughout the book. It symbolizes God's sovereignty and intimate care for His people, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

They had the hands of a man under their wings - I doubt much whether the arms be not here represented as all covered with feathers, so that they had the appearance of wings, only the hand was bare; and I rather think that this is the meaning of their having "the hands of a man under their wings."

John Gill Bible Commentary

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides,.... "Hands of a man" denote action, according to knowledge; ministers of the Gospel are men of practice and business, as well as have the theory and knowledge of things; and they act like men in a rational way, according to the will of God revealed in the word: and these being "on their four sides", show that they have much work to do all around, on every side; in ministering the word, administering ordinances; visiting their people; giving counsel, caution, comfort, exhortation, instruction, &c. and that they have many hands to do, it with, much grace and strength from above; and they have need of all the hands they have; and what they have they constantly employ, and are steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Briareus, a man of business, is represented by the poets as having a hundred hands. These being "under their wings", show that, besides their public ministrations, they do much work secretly and privately, in their closet and studies, where no eye sees them but the eye of God, as well as in private houses, by their visits and conversation; and is also expressive of their modesty and humility, not doing what they do to be seen of men, nor boasting of their works; but ascribing all to the grace of God, and strength of Christ, by which they perform them, and which give them success The Jews, in the Talmud (m), interpret this of the hand of God himself which is stretched out under the wings of the living creatures, to receive penitent persons; because it is written "his hand", but read "hands". And they four had their faces and their wings; that is, on their four sides; a face and a wing before, and a face and a wing behind, and a face and a wing on each side; and under each wing a man's hand and arm. The Targum of the whole is, "and hands, as the hands of a man, were made for them under their wings on their four sides; to take in them coals of fire from between the cherubim under the firmament, which was over their seats, to, put them into the hands of the seraphim, to scatter upon the place of the ungodly, to destroy the wicked that transgress his word; and their faces and their wings were equal to them four;'' see Eze 10:2. (m) Bab. Pesachim, fol. 119. 1.

Ezekiel 1:8

The Four Living Creatures

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,

American Standard Version (1901)

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings thus:

Bible in Basic English

And they had the hands of a man under their wings; the four of them had faces on their four sides.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides: and they bad faces, and wings on the four sides,

Free Bible Version

They had human hands under their wings on each of their four sides. The four of them all had faces and wings,

King James (Authorized) Version

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

Translation for Translators

On their four sides under their wings there were hands like humans have.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Yet they had human hands under their wings on all four sides. For all four, their faces and wings were like this:

Noah Webster Bible

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

World English Bible

They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. The four of them had their faces and their wings like this:

Young's Literal Translation

and hands of man under their wings — on their four sides, and their faces and their wings — [are] to them four;

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Ezekiel 1:8

Verse

Context

The Four Living Creatures

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Ezekiel 1:8

The Four Living Creatures

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary