Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
but he means, that they had the usual human stature: although they are not entirely like human beings, yet there is much likeness in their general appearance: and now we understand why it is said that the likeness was human
Ezekiel 1:6
6. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
6. Et quatuor facies cuique, et quatuor alae cuique ex ipsis.
He now comes to the heads and wings themselves. Many suppose that each animal had four heads, and then that four appearances belonged to each head; others extend the wings much further, because they assign four wings to each of the four heads, and others even sixteen; but this does not seem in accordance with the Prophet's words. He simply says each had four heads, and then four wings. The wings and the heads correspond; but one animal was endowed with only four heads, and so I do not think that it had more than four wings, which will again be evident from the context. He adds afterwards ---
Ezekiel 1:7
7. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
7. Et pedes eorum pes rectus, et planta pedis eorum tanquam planta pedis vituli: 26 et scintillas jaciebant, 27 tanquam aspectus chalybis politi.
This seems added by way of explanation. Since Ezekiel has spoken of their human form, he adds that their feet were straight, although he calls them round or like those of a calf. I refer the straightness not to the feet only but also to the legs. It is therefore just as if he had said that these animals stood as men do. For we differ from the brutes, who look down towards the ground. As the poet appositely remarks, when he commends the singular favor which God has conferred upon man, Man looks aloft, and with erected eyes
Beholds his own hereditary skies. 28
The Prophet now signifies the same thing, when he says that the animals had straight feet. He asserts that they had not anything akin to brutes, but rather to the appearance or likeness of man. He says that their feet were round, and this seems to indicate their agility or the variety of their movements, as if he had said that their feet were not confined, to any one direction, but wherever God impels them they move easily, since their feet are round. If any of us wishes to turn either to the right or the left, he will feel himself to be contending with nature, if he attempt at the same time to walk backwards; if however his feet were round, or of the form of calves' feet, he could easily move in any direction. Agility of this kind then seems pointed at in the animals. As to the sparks which shone like polished brass or steel, we know that this similitude often occurs in Scripture, for whenever God wishes to render his servants attentive, he proposes new figures which may excite their admiration. This very thing happened to our Prophet, because if the usual fleshy color had appeared
26I conjecture that the points have been changed in this place, because {{עגלsignifies round, and here {}עגלis put, which is a calf. I know no reason why the Prophet should say calves' feet or like a calf: this seems rather strange, but I do not contend about trifles. --- Calvin.
27Others. translate, "and sparks" — Calvin. 28Os homini sublime, etc. — Ovid Metam. 1 Dryden.