Ezekiel 10:21
New International Version
Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was what looked like human hands.

New Living Translation
for each had four faces and four wings and what looked like human hands under their wings.

English Standard Version
Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands.

Berean Standard Bible
Each had four faces and four wings, with what looked like human hands under their wings.

King James Bible
Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

New King James Version
Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

New American Standard Bible
Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands.

NASB 1995
Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands.

NASB 1977
Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands.

Legacy Standard Bible
Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the likeness of human hands.

Amplified Bible
Each one had four faces and each one had four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands.

Christian Standard Bible
Each had four faces and each had four wings, with what looked something like human hands under their wings.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Each had four faces and each had four wings, with the form of human hands under their wings.

American Standard Version
Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

English Revised Version
Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings were what looked like human hands.

Good News Translation
Each of them had four faces, four wings, and what looked like a human hand under each wing.

International Standard Version
Each one had four faces. Each one had four wings, and the form of human hands could be seen under their wings.

Majority Standard Bible
Each had four faces and four wings, with what looked like human hands under their wings.

NET Bible
Each had four faces; each had four wings and the form of human hands under the wings.

New Heart English Bible
Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

Webster's Bible Translation
Every one had four faces each, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

World English Bible
Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. The likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[The] four—each had four faces, and each had four wings, and the likeness of the hands of man [is] under their wings.

Young's Literal Translation
Four faces are to each, and four wings to each, and the likeness of the hands of man is under their wings.

Smith's Literal Translation
Four, four faces to the one, and four wings to the one; and the likeness of the hands of a man under their wings.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings: and the likeness of a man's hand was under their wings.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. And the likeness of the hand of a man was under their wings.

New American Bible
Each of them had four faces and four wings, and something like human hands under their wings.

New Revised Standard Version
Each had four faces, each four wings, and underneath their wings something like human hands.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Each one had four faces, and each one four wings; and the likeness of a man's hand was under their wings.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Each one of them had four faces and each of them had four wings, and the likeness of the hand of a son of man was under their wings
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Each one had four faces, and each one had eight wings; and under their wings was the likeness of men's hands.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Glory Exits the Temple
20These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim. 21Each had four faces and four wings, with what looked like human hands under their wings. 22Their faces looked like the faces I had seen by the River Kebar. Each creature went straight ahead.…

Cross References
Ezekiel 1:5-10
and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form, / but each had four faces and four wings. / Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze. ...

Revelation 4:6-8
And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. / The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. / And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Isaiah 6:2-3
Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. / And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”

Revelation 1:13-16
and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. / The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. / His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. ...

Daniel 7:9-10
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. / A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

Revelation 5:6-8
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. / And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne. / When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Exodus 25:18-20
Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, / one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. / And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

Revelation 19:4
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

Isaiah 37:16
“O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

Revelation 15:7
Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.

1 Kings 6:23-28
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. / One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits. / The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, ...

Revelation 7:11
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,

2 Chronicles 3:10-13
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold. / The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub. / The wing of the second cherub also measured five cubits and touched the wall of the temple, while its other wing measured five cubits and touched the wing of the first cherub. ...

Revelation 14:3
And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Psalm 99:1
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!


Treasury of Scripture

Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

had four

Ezekiel 10:14
And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

Ezekiel 1:8-10
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings…

Ezekiel 41:18,19
And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces; …

and the

Ezekiel 10:8
And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.

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Ezekiel 10
1. The vision of the coals of fire, to be scattered over the city
8. The vision of the cherubim














Each had four faces
The phrase "each had four faces" refers to the cherubim, celestial beings that Ezekiel describes in his vision. The number four often symbolizes completeness or universality in biblical literature. The four faces—typically understood as those of a man, lion, ox, and eagle—represent the fullness of creation and God's sovereignty over all living creatures. In Hebrew, the word for face is "פָּנִים" (panim), which can also mean presence. This suggests that the cherubim, with their multiple faces, are constantly in the presence of God, able to see and reflect His glory from every direction.

and four wings
The "four wings" of the cherubim signify their swiftness and ability to move in any direction without turning, symbolizing the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. Wings in biblical imagery often denote protection and divine intervention. The Hebrew word for wing is "כָּנָף" (kanaph), which can also imply covering or shelter, suggesting that these beings are under God's command, ready to execute His will and provide protection.

and under their wings was the form of human hands
The "form of human hands" under the wings of the cherubim indicates the capability for action and interaction with the physical world. Hands are a symbol of power, skill, and agency. In Hebrew, the word for hand is "יָד" (yad), which often represents strength and authority. This detail emphasizes that the cherubim are not only spiritual beings but also have the ability to influence the earthly realm, acting as agents of God's will. The presence of human hands suggests a connection between the divine and human, highlighting the role of cherubim as intermediaries between God and His creation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Each
לְאֶחָ֔ד (lə·’e·ḥāḏ)
Preposition-l | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

had four
אַרְבָּעָ֨ה (’ar·bā·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 702: Four

faces
פָנִים֙ (p̄ā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

and
לְאֶחָ֑ד (lə·’e·ḥāḏ)
Preposition-l | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

four
אַרְבָּעָ֤ה (’ar·bā·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 702: Four

wings,
כְּנָפַ֖יִם (kə·nā·p̄a·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 3671: An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle

with what looked like
וּדְמוּת֙ (ū·ḏə·mūṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1823: Resemblance, model, shape, like

human
אָדָ֔ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

hands
יְדֵ֣י (yə·ḏê)
Noun - fdc
Strong's 3027: A hand

under
תַּ֖חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

their wings.
כַּנְפֵיהֶֽם׃ (kan·p̄ê·hem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3671: An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 10:21 Every one had four faces and every (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 10:20
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