And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Now the Prophet says: hands were under their wings Since hands are the principal instruments of action, we know that all actions are often denoted by this word: whence hands, either pure or defiled, signify the works of men either clean or unclean.
These visions filled Ezekiel with exalted thoughts of the God he served, securing him for his work and arming him with power to speak what God would do. They struck terror into the secure sinners of Zion who mocked the prophets, showing them our God is a consuming fire; and they comforted the godly captives in Babylon, assuring them their God dwelt among them still.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 1:4-14
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides,.... "Hands of a man" denote action, according to knowledge; ministers of the Gospel are men of practice and business, as well as have the theory and knowledge of things; and they act like men in a rational way, according to the will of God revealed in the word: and these...