Ezekiel 10:11

11 {When they went} to the four of their directions [that] they went, they did not change direction {when they went}, for the place [to] which the head turned, they went behind him; they did not change direction at their going.

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 And I saw, and look, four wheels beside the cherubim, {one wheel beside each cherub}, and the appearance of the wheels [was] like [the] outward appearance of {turquoise stone}.

10 Their appearance {was the same for each of the four of them}, as if the wheel was in the midst of a wheel.

11 {When they went} to the four of their directions [that] they went, they did not change direction {when they went}, for the place [to] which the head turned, they went behind him; they did not change direction at their going.

12 And {their whole body}, and their rims, and their spokes, and their wings, and the wheels [were] full of eyes [all] around--{the wheels for the four of them}.

13 Concerning the wheels, he [was] calling them "the wheelwork" {in my hearing}.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "In their going"
• [b] Literally "At their going"
• [c] Or "first" or "lead wheel"