Ezekiel 1:18

18 And their rims were tall and awesome, 1and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.

Ezekiel 1:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 1:18

As for their rings, they were so high, that they were
dreadful
The circles and circumferences of them were "high": which may denote the visibility and extensiveness of the churches of Christ, especially in the latter day; when they shall be exalted above the mountains and hills, the kingdoms and states of this world; and there shall be such numerous additions to them, that the place will be too strait for the members of them to dwell in, ( Isaiah 2:2 ) ( 49:20 ) ; and "they were dreadful"; terrible, as the churches of Christ will be to their enemies to look at, when they shall be in their exalted state, ( Revelation 11:12 Revelation 11:13 ) ; or the words may be rendered, "and they had fear" F19; there was fear and reverence in them; the fear of God, and a reverential affection for him; they were waiting on him, and attending his worship with great reverence and godly fear: and their rings [were] full of eyes round about them four;
everyone of the four wheels, and each of their four semicircles, were full of eyes; expressive of the knowledge of the Gospel, and the truths of it, in church members; their continual looking to Christ for fresh supplies of grace and strength; and their constant watchfulness over each other.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 (Mhl haryw) "et timor illis erat", Cocceius; "et timor ipis", Starckius; "and they were reverent", so Dr. Lightfoot, Prospect of the Temple c. 38. p. 2055.

Ezekiel 1:18 In-Context

16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.
17 When they went, they went in any of their four directionswithout turning as they went.
18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.
19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose.
20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Ezekiel 10:12; [Revelation 4:8]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.