Ezekiel 1:8
"And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides,.... "Hands of a man" denote action, according to knowledge; ministers of the Gospel are men of practice and business, as well as have the theory and knowledge of things; and they act like men in a rational way, according to the will of God revealed in the word: and these being "on their four sides", show that they have much work to do all around, on every side; in

ministering the word, administering ordinances; visiting their people; giving counsel, caution, comfort, exhortation, instruction, &c. and that they have many hands to do, it with, much grace and strength from above; and they have need of all the hands they have; and what they have they constantly employ, and are steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Briareus, a man of business, is represented by the poets as having a hundred hands. These being "under their wings", show that, besides their public ministrations, they do much work secretly and privately, in their closet and studies, where no eye sees them but the eye of God, as well as in private houses, by their visits and conversation; and is also expressive of their modesty and humility, not doing what they do to be seen of men, nor boasting of their works; but ascribing all to the grace of God, and strength of Christ, by which they perform them, and which give them success The Jews, in the Talmud (m), interpret this of the hand of God himself which is stretched out under the wings of the living creatures, to receive penitent persons; because it is written "his hand", but read "hands". And they four had their faces and their wings; that is, on their four sides; a face and a wing before, and a face and a wing behind, and a face and a wing on each side; and under each wing a man's hand and arm. The Targum of the whole is, "and hands, as the hands of a man, were made for them under their wings on their four sides; to take in them coals of fire from between the cherubim under the firmament, which was over their seats, to, put them into the hands of the seraphim, to scatter upon the place of the ungodly, to destroy the wicked that transgress his word; and their faces and their wings were equal to them four;'' see Eze 10:2 . (m) Bab. Pesachim, fol. 119. 1.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (11 words)

H3027 יָד
Definition:

26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G 26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G

Possible Meanings:
  • power (semantic_range)
H3027 יָד
Definition:

26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G 26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G

Possible Meanings:
  • power (semantic_range)
H0120 אָדָם
Definition:

27man, mankind(Phoenicianאדם, Sabeanid., CISiv.1,l.4and others; compare Assyrianadmu,young(of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722identification with Arabiccollectivecreatures) — Singular absolute except co 27man, mankind(Phoenicianאדם, Sabeanid., CISiv.1,l.4and others; compare Assyrianadmu,young(of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722identification with Arabiccollectivecreatures) — Singular absolute except co

Possible Meanings:
  • carnelian (semantic_range)
  • redness (semantic_range)
H8478 תַּחַת
Definition:

4(Cooke320), Syriac); —1asadverb accusativeGenesis 49:25(=Deuteronomy 33:13) the deepרֹבֶצֶת תָּ֑חַתthat couchethbeneath; more usually withמִן,מִתָּחַתliterallyoff(מִן1c)the under part = beneath,Exodu 4(Cooke320), Syriac); —1asadverb accusativeGenesis 49:25(=Deuteronomy 33:13) the deepרֹבֶצֶת תָּ֑חַתthat couchethbeneath; more usually withמִן,מִתָּחַתliterallyoff(מִן1c)the under part = beneath,Exodu

Possible Meanings:
  • underneath (semantic_range)
  • below (semantic_range)
  • instead of (semantic_range)
H3671 כָּנָף
Definition:

27(masculineEzekiel 7:2Kt, but compare Qr and Co; also apparently 2 Chronicles 3:11,13, but see Be),wing, extremity(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicכַּנְפָֿא,; Zinjirliאחז בכנף מראה, figurative forattached him 27(masculineEzekiel 7:2Kt, but compare Qr and Co; also apparently 2 Chronicles 3:11,13, but see Be),wing, extremity(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicכַּנְפָֿא,; Zinjirliאחז בכנף מראה, figurative forattached him

Possible Meanings:
  • be cornered (semantic_range)
  • thrust into a corner (semantic_range)
  • aside (semantic_range)
H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)
H0702 אַרְבַּע
Definition:

: Aramaicאַרְבַּע,אַרְבְּעָה,,; Nabataeanארבע, Palmyreneארבע,ארבעא, Lzb367); —masculine148(c.noun feminine)אַרְבַּע(absolute or construct)Exodus 21:37+; alsoאַרְבַּ֑עLeviticus 11:20+; note (Baer Gi)Jo : Aramaicאַרְבַּע,אַרְבְּעָה,,; Nabataeanארבע, Palmyreneארבע,ארבעא, Lzb367); —masculine148(c.noun feminine)אַרְבַּע(absolute or construct)Exodus 21:37+; alsoאַרְבַּ֑עLeviticus 11:20+; note (Baer Gi)Jo

Possible Meanings:
  • four (semantic_range)
H7253 רֶבַע
Definition:

81fourth part.2pluralfour sides; —1׳רconstruct,fourth part, of shekel1 Samuel 9:8, of hinExodus 29:40.2in Ezekiel, plural suffixfour sides(אַרְבַּעַתalways preceding):רְבָעָיוEzekiel 43:16,רְבָעֶיהָEz 81fourth part.2pluralfour sides; —1׳רconstruct,fourth part, of shekel1 Samuel 9:8, of hinExodus 29:40.2in Ezekiel, plural suffixfour sides(אַרְבַּעַתalways preceding):רְבָעָיוEzekiel 43:16,רְבָעֶיהָEz

Possible Meanings:
  • lie stretched out (semantic_range)
  • lie down (semantic_range)
  • my lying down (semantic_range)
  • thy cattle thou shalt not cause to (semantic_range)
  • lie down (semantic_range)
H6440 פָנִים
Definition:

23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ 23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ

H3671 כָּנָף
Definition:

27(masculineEzekiel 7:2Kt, but compare Qr and Co; also apparently 2 Chronicles 3:11,13, but see Be),wing, extremity(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicכַּנְפָֿא,; Zinjirliאחז בכנף מראה, figurative forattached him 27(masculineEzekiel 7:2Kt, but compare Qr and Co; also apparently 2 Chronicles 3:11,13, but see Be),wing, extremity(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicכַּנְפָֿא,; Zinjirliאחז בכנף מראה, figurative forattached him

Possible Meanings:
  • be cornered (semantic_range)
  • thrust into a corner (semantic_range)
  • aside (semantic_range)
H0702 אַרְבַּע
Definition:

: Aramaicאַרְבַּע,אַרְבְּעָה,,; Nabataeanארבע, Palmyreneארבע,ארבעא, Lzb367); —masculine148(c.noun feminine)אַרְבַּע(absolute or construct)Exodus 21:37+; alsoאַרְבַּ֑עLeviticus 11:20+; note (Baer Gi)Jo : Aramaicאַרְבַּע,אַרְבְּעָה,,; Nabataeanארבע, Palmyreneארבע,ארבעא, Lzb367); —masculine148(c.noun feminine)אַרְבַּע(absolute or construct)Exodus 21:37+; alsoאַרְבַּ֑עLeviticus 11:20+; note (Baer Gi)Jo

Possible Meanings:
  • four (semantic_range)

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

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