Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 5. Living creatures. Cherubims, (as appears from Eccles. 49:10) represented to the prophet under these mysterious shapes, as supporting the throne of God, and as it were drawing his chariot. All this chapter appeared so obscure and full of mysteries to the ancient Hebrews, that, as we learn from S. Jerom, (ep. ad Paulin.) they suffered none to read it before they were thirty years old. Challoner.—The pagans had many such compound figures as are here represented. Parkhurst, p. 411. Bible.—Sanchoniathon (ap. Eus. præp. 2.) seems to have borrowed his description from this place.—In them. They stood upright and had some parts of the human figure. Calmet.—Indeed, it seems to have been predominant. Bible.