The Meaning of Ezekiel 1:5 Explained

Ezekiel 1:5

KJV: 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.

YLT: And out of its midst is a likeness of four living creatures, and this is their appearance; a likeness of man is to them,

Darby: Also out of the midst thereof, the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

ASV: And out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

Discover Ezekiel 1:5

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Ezekiel 1:5?

MEANING: What does Ezekiel 1:5 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Ezekiel 1:5 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Ezekiel 1:5?

What is the context of Ezekiel 1:5?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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.

What does Ezekiel 1:5 Mean?

Study Notes

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 Revelation 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" Genesis 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 Exodus 25:17-20 . See Scofield " Romans 3:25 ". See Scofield " Romans 3:26 ". The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. See Scofield " Isaiah 6:2 ". The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim. Isaiah 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.; Exodus 3:2-10 ; Isaiah 6:1-10 ; Daniel 10:5-14 ; Revelation 1:12-19 .

Redemption

Redemption, "to deliver by paying a price." The N.T. doctrine. The N.T. records the fulfilment of the O.T. types and prophecies of redemption through the sacrifice of Christ. The completed truth is set forth in the three words which are translated redemption

(1) agorazo, "to purchase in the market." The underlying thought is of a slave-market. The subjects of redemption are "sold under sin" Romans 7:14 but are, moreover, under sentence of death; Ezekiel 18:4 ,; John 3:18 ; John 3:19 ; Romans 3:19 ; Galatians 3:10 , and the purchase price is the blood of the Redeemer who dies in their stead; Galatians 3:13 ; 2 Corinthians 5:21 ; Matthew 20:28 ,; Mark 10:45 ; 1 Timothy 2:6 ; 1 Peter 1:18 .

(2) exagorazo, "to buy out of the market." The redeemed are never again to be exposed to sale;

(3) lutroo, "to loose," "to set free by paying a price" John 8:32 ; Galatians 4:4 ; Galatians 4:5 ; Galatians 4:31 ; Galatians 5:13 ; Romans 8:21 . Redemption is by sacrifice and by power (See Scofield " Exodus 14:30 ") Christ paid the price, the Holy Spirit makes deliverance actual in experience Romans 8:2 .

(See Scofield " Isaiah 59:20 ") . See Scofield " Romans 1:16 ".

grace Grace (in salvation), Romans 4:4-16 ; Romans 3:24 . (See Scofield " John 1:17 ") .

Context Summary

Ezekiel 1:1-21 - A Vision Of God's Majesty

A dark storm-cloud approaches the prophet, from which an incessant blaze of lightning scintillated. As it drew near, the forms of four living creatures became visible, combining, under various figures, intelligence, strength, patience, and soaring aspiration. The wheels were evidently symbolical of the cycles of divine providence, which cooperate with the ministers of the divine will. The slab of blue expanse supported a human semblance, suggestive of that great after-event-God manifest in the flesh. The whole conception impresses us with the reality, order, majesty, and humanness, of the Eternal God. Those holy beings surely represent the intelligent company of innumerable angels and servants, while the wheels represent the material creation. All these are sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation. Angels and nature minister to us, if we are in union with God. All things serve the servants of the Most High. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 1

¹ The time of Ezekiel's prophecy at Chebar
⁴ His vision of four cherubim;
¹⁵ of the four wheels;
²⁶ and of the glory of God

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 1:5 mean?

And from within it [came] the likeness of four living creatures And this [was] their appearance the likeness of a man had they

וּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּ דְּמ֖וּת אַרְבַּ֣ע חַיּ֑וֹת וְזֶה֙ מַרְאֵֽיהֶ֔ן דְּמ֥וּת אָדָ֖ם לָהֵֽנָּה

וּמִ֨תּוֹכָ֔הּ	And from within it
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular Root: תָּוֶךְ Sense: midst, middle.
דְּמ֖וּת	[came] the likeness
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: דְּמוּת Sense: likeness, similitude adv.
אַרְבַּ֣ע	of four
Parse: Number, feminine singular Root: אַרְבַּע Sense: four.
חַיּ֑וֹת	living creatures
Parse: Noun, feminine plural Root: חַי Sense: living, alive.
וְזֶה֙	And this [was]
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, masculine singular Root: זֶה Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
מַרְאֵֽיהֶ֔ן	their appearance
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine plural Root: מַרְאֶה Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
דְּמ֥וּת	the likeness
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: דְּמוּת Sense: likeness, similitude adv.
אָדָ֖ם	of a man
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: אָדָם Sense: man, mankind.
לָהֵֽנָּה	had they
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, third person feminine plural Root: הֵנָּה Sense: they, these, the same, who.

What are the major concepts related to Ezekiel 1:5?

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