Ezekiel 10:11

11 When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved. But wherever the head faced, they would go in that direction,^[a] without pivoting as they went.

Ezekiel 10:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 10:11

When they went, they went upon their four sides
Which four sides they had, by being made in the transverse way before mentioned; just as the New Jerusalem church state is said to be foursquare, ( Revelation 21:16 ) ; and this may denote the uniformity of Gospel churches in every state and condition, prosperous and adverse; and the constancy of their walk, conduct, and conversation: they turned not as they went:
neither to the right hand or the left, but went on in the path of faith and duty, keeping close to the word of God, and keeping up a conversation, discipline, and worship, according to it: but to the place where the head looked they, followed it;
meaning either the rulers, guides, and governors of churches, pastors and elders; whose faith and conversation are followed by the members: or rather Christ himself, the head of the church, who is to be followed whithersoever he goes or directs: unless by the head is meant the same as the spirit, ( Ezekiel 1:20 ) ; the Spirit of God, by whom the true members of Gospel churches are led, and after whom they walk. The Targum is,

``the place to which the first turned (or looked), after it they went;''

that is, the first of the wheels; and so may signify that the primitive churches are the pattern after which all the churches in after ages are to go; they turned not as they went;
this is repeated partly for the confirmation of it; and partly to excite attention to it, as being worthy of observation; (See Gill on Ezekiel 1:17).

Ezekiel 10:11 In-Context

9 I looked, and there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. The luster of the wheels was like the gleam of beryl.

10 In appearance, all four had the same form, like a wheel within a wheel.

11 When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved. But wherever the head faced, they would go in that direction, without pivoting as they went.

12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, hands, wings, and the wheels that the four of them had, were full of eyes all around.

13 As I listened the wheels were called "the wheelwork."

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit go after it