5. Ezekiel was himself of a "gigantic nature, and thereby suited to
counteract the Babylonish spirit of the times, which loved to manifest
itself in gigantic, grotesque forms" [HENGSTENBERG].
living creatures--So the Greek ought to have been translated in
the parallel passage,
Re 4:6,
not as English Version, "beasts"; for one of the "four" is a
man, and man cannot be termed "beast."
Eze 10:20
shows that it is the cherubim that are meant.
likeness of a man--Man, the noblest of the four, is the ideal model
after which they are fashioned
(Eze 1:10;
Eze 10:14).
The point of comparison between him and them is the erect posture of
their bodies, though doubtless including also the general mien. Also
the hands
(Eze 10:21).
JFB.
Picture Study Bible