Ezekiel 1:18

18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings[a] were full of eyes round about them four.

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 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
17 When they went , they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went .
18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
19 And when the living creatures went , the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up .
20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go , they went , thither was their spirit to go ; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. and their rings: or, and their strakes
The King James Version is in the public domain.