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Ezekiel 1:6

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 1:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings.
Ezekiel 1:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him.
4And I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with a fire infolding itself, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst thereof as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.
5And out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
6And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings.
7And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf`s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.
8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings [thus]:
9their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And or but everyone had four faces, &c.] Which are described, (see Gill on “<260110>Ezekiel 1:10”). The Targum multiplies the faces in a strange monstrous manner, paraphrasing the words thus, “each had four faces, and there were four faces to everyone “of them”, and every creature had sixteen faces; the number of the faces of the four creatures was sixty and four;” and everyone had four wings; the seraphim in (<230602>Isaiah 6:2); and the four beasts or living creatures in (<660408>Revelation 4:8); had six wings; and so it seems that these had also, from (<260111>Ezekiel 1:11,23); as will be seen there; nor is this any contradiction to the account here given, since it is not said they had…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Not only were there four distinct living creatures, but each of the four had four faces, making sixteen in all. The four living creatures of the cherubim answer by contrast to the four world monarchies represented by four beasts, Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome (Dan. 7:1-28). The Fathers identified them with the four Gospels: Matthew the lion, Mark the ox, Luke the man, John the eagle. Two cherubim only stood over the ark in the temple; two more are now added, to imply that, while the law is retained as the basis, a new form is needed to be added to impart new life to it. The number four may have respect to the four quarters of the world, to imply that God's angels execute His commands…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In the Revelation of John each “beast” has its own distinctive character, here each unites in itself the four characters; there each has six wings, like the Seraphim Isaiah 6:2, here only four. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wings - With two they flew, denoting the speed of their obedience; and with two they covered their body, denoting their reverence. Ezekiel 1:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“And every one had four faces: These living creatures were probably hieroglyphical representations of the holy angels, the attendants on "the King of Glory," and the ministers of his providence. They were four, apparently to denote that they were employed in the four corners of the world; and they had the likeness of a man, to signify that they were intelligent and rational creatures. Eze 1:10, Eze 1:15, Eze 10:10, Eze 10:14, Eze 10:21, Eze 10:22; Rev 4:7, Rev 4:8 every one had four wings: Eze 1:8-11; Exo 25:20; Kg1 6:24-27; Isa 6:2 Ezekiel 1:7”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification