CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 1:8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/1-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/26_Ezk_01_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 1:8 - The Four Living Creatures" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ezekiel/1-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ezekiel/1-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ezekiel/">Ezekiel</a> > <a href="/ezekiel/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ezekiel/1-7.htm" title="Ezekiel 1:7">◄</a> Ezekiel 1:8 <a href="/ezekiel/1-9.htm" title="Ezekiel 1:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ezekiel/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Under each of their four wings I could see human hands. So each of the four beings had four faces and four wings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And <i>they had</i> the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The hands of a man <i>were</i> under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides <i>were</i> human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides <i>were</i> human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And under their wings on their four sides <i>were</i> hands of a man. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings thus:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Under each of their wings, these creatures had a human hand. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides: and they four had their faces and their wings thus;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They had human hands under their wings on each of their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />In addition to their four faces and four wings, they each had four human hands, one under each wing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />From under their wings there were human hands on their four sides. Now as to their four faces and four pairs of wings, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four of them had their faces and their wings thus:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. The four of them had their faces and their wings like this: <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and on their four sides [each had] hands of man under their wings; and [each] of the four had their faces and their wings;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and hands of man under their wings -- on their four sides, and their faces and their wings -- are to them four;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And his hand of a man from under their wings upon their four sides; and their faces and their wings to these four.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides: and they bad faces, and wings on the four sides, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they had the hands of a man under their wings on the four sides. And they had faces with the wings on the four sides.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Human hands were under their wings, and the wings of one touched those of another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus:<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And they had human hands under their wings on their four sides; and their faces and their wings were on their four sides.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the hand of a son of man was under their wings from their four sides, and their faces and their wings were at their sides<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and as for the faces and wings of them four,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the hand of a man was under their wings on their four sides.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=64" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/1.htm">The Four Living Creatures</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: mit·ta·ḥaṯ (Prep-m) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">Under</a> <a href="/hebrew/3671.htm" title="3671: kan·p̄ê·hem (N-fpc:: 3mp) -- Wing, extremity. From kanaph; an edge or extremity; specifically a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle.">their wings</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/702.htm" title="702: ’ar·ba·‘aṯ (Number-msc) -- Four. Masculine oarbaah; from raba'; four.">their four</a> <a href="/hebrew/7253.htm" title="7253: riḇ·‘ê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Fourth part, four sides (pl.). From raba'; a fourth.">sides</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">they had human</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: wə·yå̄·ḏō (Conj-w:: N-fdc) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">hands.</a> <a href="/hebrew/702.htm" title="702: lə·’ar·ba‘·tām (Prep-l:: Number-msc:: 3mp) -- Four. Masculine oarbaah; from raba'; four.">All four living creatures</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: ū·p̄ə·nê·hem (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">had faces</a> <a href="/hebrew/3671.htm" title="3671: wə·ḵan·p̄ê·hem (Conj-w:: N-fpc:: 3mp) -- Wing, extremity. From kanaph; an edge or extremity; specifically a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle.">and wings,</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/4-6.htm">Revelation 4:6-8</a></span><br />And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. / The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. / And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/6-2.htm">Isaiah 6:2</a></span><br />Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/1-13.htm">Revelation 1:13-16</a></span><br />and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. / The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. / His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/10-5.htm">Daniel 10:5-6</a></span><br />I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. / His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/10-1.htm">Revelation 10:1</a></span><br />Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/24-10.htm">Exodus 24:10</a></span><br />and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-10.htm">Revelation 19:10</a></span><br />So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/22-19.htm">1 Kings 22:19</a></span><br />Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/5-6.htm">Revelation 5:6</a></span><br />Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-6.htm">Isaiah 1:6</a></span><br />From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/15-6.htm">Revelation 15:6</a></span><br />And out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean and bright linen and girded with golden sashes around their chests.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/7-9.htm">Daniel 7:9-10</a></span><br />As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. / A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/6-1.htm">Zechariah 6:1-5</a></span><br />And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. / The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, / the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/14-6.htm">Revelation 14:6</a></span><br />Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-31.htm">Isaiah 40:31</a></span><br />But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/8-3.htm">Ezekiel 8:3</a></b></br> And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where <i>was</i> the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/10-2.htm">Ezekiel 10:2,7,8,18,21</a></b></br> And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, <i>even</i> under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter <i>them</i> over the city. And he went in in my sight… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/6-6.htm">Isaiah 6:6</a></b></br> Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, <i>which</i> he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/1-6.htm">Faces</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-6.htm">Four</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-12.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-5.htm">Human</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-7.htm">Sides</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-6.htm">Wings</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/1-9.htm">Faces</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-10.htm">Four</a> <a href="/ezekiel/6-11.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-26.htm">Human</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-17.htm">Sides</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-9.htm">Wings</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/1-1.htm">The time of Ezekiel's prophecy at Chebar.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/1-4.htm">His vision of four cherubim;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/1-15.htm">of the four wheels;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/1-26.htm">and of the glory of God.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.</b><br>The presence of human hands under the wings of the living creatures signifies the ability to act and perform tasks, symbolizing divine agency and intervention in the world. In biblical symbolism, hands often represent power and action (<a href="/isaiah/41-10.htm">Isaiah 41:10</a>). The four sides suggest completeness and universality, indicating that God's reach and influence extend in all directions. This imagery aligns with the vision's overall theme of God's omnipresence and omnipotence. The combination of wings and hands suggests both the swiftness of divine action and the careful, deliberate nature of God's work.<p><b>All four living creatures had faces and wings,</b><br>The four living creatures, each with faces and wings, are reminiscent of the cherubim described in other parts of Scripture, such as in <a href="/revelation/4-6.htm">Revelation 4:6-8</a> and <a href="/isaiah/6-2.htm">Isaiah 6:2</a>. These beings serve as guardians of God's holiness and are often associated with His throne, emphasizing His majesty and sovereignty. The multiple faces may symbolize the multifaceted nature of God's creation and His dominion over all aspects of life. The wings indicate mobility and the ability to swiftly carry out God's will, reinforcing the theme of divine authority and presence. The number four often represents universality in the Bible, suggesting that these creatures embody the entirety of creation serving and worshiping God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the author of the book and the recipient of the visions described.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/c/cherubim.htm">Cherubim</a></b><br>These are the living creatures described in Ezekiel's vision, often associated with the presence and glory of God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon</a></b><br>The place of exile for the Israelites, where Ezekiel received his visions.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_vision_of_god's_glory.htm">The Vision of God’s Glory</a></b><br>This is the broader context of <a href="/bsb/ezekiel/1.htm">Ezekiel 1</a>, where Ezekiel sees a vision of God's glory and the heavenly beings that accompany it.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_multifaceted_nature_of_god's_servants.htm">The Multifaceted Nature of God’s Servants</a></b><br>The presence of human hands under the wings of the cherubim suggests that God's servants are equipped for action and service. This reminds us that God equips His people with the necessary tools to fulfill His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_wings_and_hands.htm">Symbolism of Wings and Hands</a></b><br>Wings often symbolize divine protection and presence, while hands represent action and work. Together, they illustrate the balance of divine oversight and human responsibility in God's plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_holiness_of_god's_presence.htm">The Holiness of God’s Presence</a></b><br>The detailed description of the cherubim underscores the holiness and majesty of God’s presence. As believers, we are called to approach God with reverence and awe.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_exile.htm">God’s Sovereignty in Exile</a></b><br>Ezekiel’s vision occurs during a time of exile, reminding us that God’s sovereignty and presence are not limited by geographical or political boundaries. God is with His people even in difficult circumstances.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 1</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/inconsistencies_in_ezekiel_1_vs._isaiah_6.htm">Are there any inconsistencies between Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 1) and visions of divine glory in other scriptural passages, such as Isaiah 6 or Revelation 4?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_god_ride_a_cherub_if_formless.htm">If God 'rode upon a cherub' (Psalm 18:10), how does this align with the notion of a formless, omnipresent deity in other biblical passages?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/was_ezekiel_physically_taken_to_jerusalem.htm">In Ezekiel 8:3-4, what evidence supports or contradicts the claim Ezekiel was physically transported to Jerusalem by a divine hand?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_ezekiel's_creatures_fit_science.htm">How can the description of living creatures with multiple faces and wheels full of eyes (Ezekiel 1:5-18) be reconciled with any known scientific or natural phenomenon?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">The hands of a man.</span>--Implying, of course, also human arms. This particular adds to the generally human appearance of the cherubim, yet we must understand (see <a href="/ezekiel/1-11.htm" title="Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.">Ezekiel 1:11</a>) that there were four hands corresponding to the wings for each cherub. These hands were "under their wings on their four sides." Hence the wings must have been attached at the shoulder. The repetition, "they four had their faces and their wings," is for the sake of emphasis and distinctness.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They had the hands of a man, etc</span>. The prophet seems to describe each detail in the order in which it presented itself to him. What he next sees is that each of the four forms has two hands on each of its four sides. Nothing could supersede that symbol of activity and strength. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Under</span><br /><span class="heb">מִתַּ֙חַת֙</span> <span class="translit">(mit·ta·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their wings</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּנְפֵיהֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(kan·p̄ê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3671.htm">Strong's 3671: </a> </span><span class="str2">An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(‘al)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their four</span><br /><span class="heb">אַרְבַּ֣עַת</span> <span class="translit">(’ar·ba·‘aṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_702.htm">Strong's 702: </a> </span><span class="str2">Four</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sides</span><br /><span class="heb">רִבְעֵיהֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(riḇ·‘ê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7253.htm">Strong's 7253: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fourth part, four sides </span><br /><br /><span class="word">they had human</span><br /><span class="heb">אָדָ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">hands.</span><br /><span class="heb">וִידֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(wî·ḏê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - fdc<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">All four</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’ar·ba‘·tām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Number - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_702.htm">Strong's 702: </a> </span><span class="str2">Four</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of them had faces</span><br /><span class="heb">וּפְנֵיהֶ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·p̄ə·nê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and wings,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכַנְפֵיהֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵan·p̄ê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3671.htm">Strong's 3671: </a> </span><span class="str2">An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/1-8.htm">Ezekiel 1:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/1-8.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 1:8 They had the hands of a man (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/1-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 1:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 1:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/1-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 1:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 1:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>