Bible Question:
Do the 4 creatures in Eziekel bear any resemblance to those in Revelations? If so, what are some examples? |
Bible Answer: Greetings and welcome to the forum. Here is the subject from the (Bible Knowledge Commentary) with reference to Ezekiel Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. CF Ezekiel 10:14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (BKC) 1:10. In recording more details of the cherubim (vv. 10-14), Ezekiel first described their faces. The front of each cherub was the face of a man, and on the right side was the face of a lion. The left side was the face of an ox, and the face of an eagle was apparently in the back. Some interpreters feel that these represent intelligence (man), power (lion), service (ox), and swiftness (eagle). However, it seems better to see the faces as representing the highest forms of life in God’s created realm. Man was mentioned first because he was the acme of God’s creative work. He was followed by the lion, “king” among wild beasts; the ox, one of the strongest of domestic animals; and the eagle, the “lord” of the birds. 10:14. Ezekiel then described the faces of the cherubim a second time (see comments on 1:10). However, an apparent discrepancy exists between these two descriptions. In chapter 1 the cherubim had the faces of a man, a lion, an eagle, and an ox; but in chapter 10 they had the faces of a cherub… a man… a lion, and an eagle. Some have suggested that a later scribe mistakenly copied “a cherub” in place of “face of an ox.” A second view is that the face of an ox was, in fact, the normal understanding of the face of a cherub. In Akkadian literature the (cognate of “cherub”) appear to have nonhuman faces I sure hope you enjoy the forum, CDBJ |