In-Depth Studies, Mysteries, Old Testament

Four Living Creatures

God in a Nutshell

Ezekiel 1:5 …and within it was the form of four living creatures.

The living creatures have no name. There is nothing else like these four entities described in Scripture. They are not like the seraphim or the cherubim. Ezekiel goes into great detail to give a physical description of the beings.

I take it these beings have the body shape of a human with some additions.

Ezekiel 1:5b …And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness…

As humans, we only have one face. These creatures are different. They have four faces, a human, a lion, an ox, and an eagle.

Ezekiel 1:6a but each had four faces…

Ezekiel 1:10-11a As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces.

Each creature possessed four wings. Two wings functioned to cover the body of the being. The other two wings appear to assist with movement.

Ezekiel 1:6b …and each of them had four wings.

Ezekiel 1:11b And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.

Ezekiel 1:23b And each creature had two wings covering its body.

These creatures are loud and imposing when they are in motion. Imagine the sound of a white water river rushing through a steep, narrow canyon.

Ezekiel 1:24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

There is no need to turn when moving because these beings can see in all directions with their four faces.

Ezekiel 1:12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went.

The creatures can move with exceptional speed, quickness, and agility.

Ezekiel 1:14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

These creatures may have legs like a human but they do not have toes on their feet. They appear to have a split hoof.

Ezekiel 1:7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot.

They also possess hands like a human.

Ezekiel 1:8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.

Images of heat, fire, and lightning describe their appearance.

Ezekiel 1:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.