Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
Parallel translations
- KJV Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
- BSB and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form,
- NKJV Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
- NASB And within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form.
- NLT From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
From the fire emerge four living creatures resembling men. These are heavenly beings attending God's throne.
Overview
The 'living creatures' are later identified as cherubim (Ezekiel 10), angelic beings associated with God's holy presence and throne. Their humanlike likeness shows intelligence and personality, yet they are clearly more than human. They serve and surround the glory of God, echoing the cherubim over the ark's mercy seat. Their appearance reminds us that the unseen heavenly realm worships and serves the living God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Rev 4:6–8Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
- Ezek 1:26Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
- Rev 6:6I heard a voice in the middle of the four living creatures saying, “A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius! Don’t damage the oil and the wine!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 1:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.