Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Ezekiel 1

Eze 1:1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

fourth month

i.e. July "of the thirtieth year of Ezekiel's age."

by the river of Chebar

Eze 1:3; Eze 3:15, 23; 10:15.

Eze 1:3 The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

the hand of the LORD

Eze 3:14, 22; 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; 40:1; 1Ki 18:46; 2Ki 3:15.

Eze 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

living creatures

The "living creatures" are identical with the Cherubim. The subject is somewhat obscure, but from the position of the Cherubim at the gate of Eden, upon the cover of the ark of the covenant, and in Rev 4, it is clearly gathered that they have to do with vindication of the holiness of God as against the presumptuous pride of sinful man who, despite his sin, would "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life" (Gen 3:22-24). Upon the ark of the covenant, of one substance with the mercy-seat, they saw the sprinkled blood which, in type, spake of the perfect maintenance of the divine righteousness by the sacrifice of Christ (Exo 25:17-20; Scofield Romans 3:24-26, notes). The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. Scofield Isa 6:2, note. The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim (Isa 6:2-7). They appear to have to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin; the Seraphim with uncleanness in the people of God. The passage in Ezekiel is highly figurative, but the effect was the revelation to the prophet of the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Such revelations are connected invariably with new blessing and service. Cf. Exo 3:2-10; Isa 6:1-10; Dan 10:5-14; Rev 1:12-19.

Eze 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

the likeness of their faces

Cf. Rev 4:7.

the face of a man

Num 2:10.

the face of a lion

Num 2:3.

the face of an ox

Num 2:18.

the face of an eagle

Num 2:25.

Eze 1:12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.

whither the spirit was to go

Eze 1:20.

Eze 1:14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

ran and returned

Zec 4:10.

Eze 1:16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

like unto the colour of a beryl

Dan 10:6.

Eze 1:18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.

were full of eyes round about

Eze 10:12; Zec 4:10.

Eze 1:24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

like the noise of great waters

Eze 43:2; Dan 10:6; Rev 1:15.

the voice of the Almighty

Job 37:4, 5; Psa 29:3, 4; 68:33.

Eze 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

a sapphire stone

Exo 24:10.

Eze 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

the bow

Rev 4:3; 10:1.

I fell upon my face

Eze 3:23; Dan 8:17; Act 9:4; Rev 1:17.