Ezekiel 1:4-10 ESV
As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance:they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.
The glory of The Lord is revealed to Ezekiel. From the midst of that glory, he is able to see the symbol of God's throne. These creatures have human form and it is on them that God sits. This positioning of the living creatures might remind us of Christ in the midst of the lampstands of the church. The living creatures will be seen again in the throne room of John's vision in Revelation. The repetition of four emphasizes creation.
Their legs were straight and they went straight forward. They neither turn to the left or right, but proceed straight ahead according to His will.
The soles of the feet like a calf's may symbolize all that is clean.
The creatures had four faces each which epitomized the best of creation. The lion face is noted on the right side, the king of beasts. On the left was the face of an ox, the strongest of domesticated animals and associated with divinity in ancient cultures. The fourth and last face was that of the regal eagle.
As the cherubim resting on the ark in the temple and the two within the temple, the wings of these creature touched another. Under these wings were human hands, perhaps signifying the world has been given to man.
The presence of The Lord is symbolized by descriptive terms associated with the glory of God. The refining fire of His Holiness burns before Ezekiel.
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