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Ezekiel 10:12

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 10:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, [even] the wheels that they four had.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, [even] the wheels that they four had.
Ezekiel 10:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like unto a beryl stone.
10And as for their appearance, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel have been within a wheel.
11When they went, they went in their four directions: they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
12And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, [even] the wheels that they four had.
13As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, the whirling [wheels].
14And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third face the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15And the cherubim mounted up: this is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
← Ezekiel 10:11Ezekiel 10:13 →
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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 their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, &c.] This is to be understood not of the wheels, to whom body or flesh, backs, hands, and wings, do not belong, but of the cherubim; and the sense is, that as the wheels were alike, and had one and the same form and appearance, so had the cherubim; they were exactly alike in their body, backs, hands, and wings; denoting the agreement between Gospel ministers, in their doctrine, work, and conversation: and the wheels [were] full of eyes round about; that is, the rings or circles of the wheels, as in (<260118>Ezekiel 1:18); signifying that churches consisted of enlightened persons, who had a sight of their sin and danger,…”
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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
“body--literally, "flesh," because a body consists of flesh. wheels . . . full of eyes--The description (Eze 1:18) attributes eyes to the "wheels" alone; here there is added, on closer observation, that the cherubim themselves had them. The "eyes" imply that God, by His wisdom, beautifully reconciles seeming contrarieties (compare Ch2 16:9; Pro 15:3; Zac 4:10).”
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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
“And - Now he describes both the cherubim and wheels as full of wisdom, and as governed by an excellent wisdom. The wheels - Which the four cherubim had to move, govern, and direct. Ezekiel 10:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“10:12 covered with eyes: The elders’ earlier statement that “the Lord doesn’t see us” (8:12) was foolish and false.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“body: Heb. flesh were: Eze 1:18; Rev 4:6, Rev 4:8 Ezekiel 10:13”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification