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Ezekiel 10:21

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 10:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
Ezekiel 10:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18And the glory of Jehovah went forth from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
19And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went forth, and the wheels beside them: and they stood at the door of the east gate of Jehovah`s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
21Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; they went every one straight forward.
← Ezekiel 10:20Ezekiel 10:22 →
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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
“Every one had four faces apiece, &c.] Every one of the four living creatures, or cherubim, had four faces; which were the face of a man, of a lion, of an ox, and of an eagle, (<260110>Ezekiel 1:10); and everyone four wings: the Septuagint version reads eight wings; and the Syriac version “six”; so many in all indeed they had, (see Gill on “<260123>Ezekiel 1:23”); and the likeness of the hands of a man [was] under their wings; (see Gill on “<261008>Ezekiel 10:8”).”
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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
“The repetition is in order that the people about to live without the temple might have, instead, the knowledge of the temple mysteries, thus preparing them for a future restoration of the covenant. So perverse were they that they would say, "Ezekiel fancies he saw what has no existence." He, therefore, repeats it over and over again.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“had four: Eze 10:14, Eze 1:8-10, Eze 41:18, Eze 41:19; Rev 4:7 and the: Eze 10:8 Ezekiel 10:22”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification