Ezekiel 10
Commentary from 6 fathers
And he said to the man clothed with the [long] robe, Go in between the wheels that are under the cherubs, and fill thine hands with coals of fire from between the cherubs, and scatter [them] over the city. And he went in in my sight.
καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν ἐνδεδυκότα τὴν στολήν· εἴσελθε εἰς τὸ μέσον τῶν τροχῶν τῶν ὑποκάτω τῶν Χερουβὶμ καὶ πλῆσον τὰς δράκας σου ἀνθράκων πυρὸς ἐκ μέσου τῶν Χερουβὶμ καὶ διασκόρπισον ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν· καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ.
И҆ речѐ къ мꙋ́жꙋ ѡ҆блече́номꙋ во ᲂу҆́тварь: вни́ди средѣ̀ коле́съ, ꙗ҆̀же под̾ херꙋві́мами, и҆ напо́лни гѡ́рсти твоѧ̑ ᲂу҆́глїѧ ѻ҆́гненнагѡ ѿ среды̀ херꙋві́мѡвъ и҆ разсы́пли на гра́дъ. И҆ вни́де предо мно́ю:
And the cherubs stood on the right hand of the house, as the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
καὶ τὰ Χερουβὶμ εἰστήκει ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ οἴκου ἐν τῷ εἰσπορεύεσθαι τὸν ἄνδρα, καὶ ἡ νεφέλη ἔπλησε τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν ἐσωτέραν.
херꙋві́ми же стоѧ́хꙋ ѡ҆деснꙋ́ю до́мꙋ, внегда̀ вхожда́ше мꙋ́жъ, и҆ ѡ҆́блакъ напо́лни дво́ръ внꙋ́треннїй.
3–7(Verses 3 and following) And he entered in my sight. But the cherubim stood at the right side of the house, when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner courtyard. And the glory of the Lord was lifted up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the courtyard was filled with the splendor of the glory of the Lord. And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard up to the outer courtyard, like the voice of God Almighty speaking. And when he commanded the man who was dressed in linen, saying: Take fire from the middle of the wheels, which are between the cherubim: he entered and stood beside the wheel. And the cherub stretched forth his hand from the midst of the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it and went out. And there appeared in the cherubim the likeness of a hand of a man under their wings. Then the prophet, seeing the vision, approached the man who was clothed in a long linen garment or tunic. And according to the Septuagint now they change the interpretation, the holy vestment, when among the Hebrews it is called Baddim, and the other interpreters persist in the translation they have begun. However, as it is said in the second part, he entered into the midst of the wheels, which are beneath the Cherubim, to fill his hands with burning coals. When he had entered, he stood only next to the wheel, either out of sadness for the punishment of Jerusalem, or out of astonishment at the greatness of glory, he himself did not put his hand into the fire, but one of the Cherubim, that is, the Cherub, put his hand into the fire and took the fire, which was in the midst of the Cherubim, and gave it into the hand of the one who was clothed in linen garments. The one receiving went out; and yet Scripture does not say what he did, so that it would leave the narration of the sad event to our understanding rather than subjecting it to our eyes. But when the man entered, who was dressed in linen garments, the Cherubim stood on the right side of the house, so that they seemed to hold the right part of the house of God, as holy and heavenly powers, and those who are sent for punishment, of whom it is written: 'He sent upon them the heat of his anger, fury and indignation and trouble, a sending of evil angels.' (Psalm 78:49), may be believed to possess the left parts. And when the glory of the Lord was lifted up from the cherub, who was about to deliver coals of fire to the man; and it passed over to the threshold of the house, immediately the cloud, darkness, and gloom fill the inner courtyard. For in the presence of the majesty of the Lord, no punishments are carried out, and the glory of the Lord is seen in the courtyard, of which it is written: The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer courtyard. For the Hebrew word for sound is used instead of the Latin word voice: and this sound had a resemblance to the voice of God Almighty speaking. Why they translated it as seventy: as the voice of God Saddai (); which Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotio translated as suitable, which signifies strong and powerful. Note, reader, in which they agree, and in which they differ, so that from the comparison of both, without our admonition, you may understand the divine sacraments, and that which I mentioned before, that both in the firmament and on the throne, and in the hand of man, it is not called untruth but resemblance. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (I Corinthians 13)
Commentary on Ezekiel
Then the glory of the Lord departed from the cherubs to the porch of the house; and the cloud filled the house, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord.
:
И҆ воздви́жесѧ сла́ва гдⷭ҇нѧ ѿ херꙋві́мѡвъ въ непокрове́нїе до́мꙋ, и҆ напо́лни до́мъ ѡ҆́блакъ, и҆ дво́ръ напо́лнисѧ сїѧ́нїѧ сла́вы гдⷭ҇ни:
The prophet did not see the throne but the likeness of the throne, just as he said earlier that he did not see the glory of the Lord but the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Excerpts on Ezekiel 10
Note, reader, how this higher vision both harmonizes and is at variance with what went before; if you compare each and take our suggestion, you understand divine mysteries and what I impressed on you previously, namely, how it is not truth that is meant on the firmament, on the throne and on the hand of the man, but only the likeness of the truth.
Commentary on Ezekiel 3:10.2-8
To Ezekiel he made appear a driver in human form, flame-shaped and fire-tongued in a chariot composed of various forms. And he showed to him cherubim composed of various wild beasts, and a cherub’s hand extended like a man’s from the midst of the cherubim.
On God 118
And the sound of the cherubs’ wings was heard as far as the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God speaking.
καὶ φωνὴ τῶν πτερύγων τῶν Χερουβὶμ ἠκούετο ἕως τῆς αὐλῆς τῆς ἐξωτέρας ὡς φωνὴ Θεοῦ Σαδδαΐ λαλοῦντος.
и҆ гла́съ кри́лъ херꙋві́мскихъ слы́шашесѧ да́же до внѣ́шнѧгѡ двора̀, ꙗ҆́коже гла́съ бг҃а саддаі̀ гл҃ющагѡ.
The prophet Ezekiel clearly declares that “cherubim” is the name of the angelic powers that he describes as having appeared to him with wings, according to the pattern in which they are ordered to be deployed here.
On the Tabernacle 1:5.25:18-21
And it came to pass, when he gave a charge to the man clothed with the sacred robe, saying, Take fire from between the wheels from between the cherubs, that he went in, and stood near the wheels.
И҆ бы́сть внегда̀ заповѣ́даше мꙋ́жꙋ ѡ҆блече́номꙋ во ᲂу҆́тварь ст҃ꙋ́ю, гл҃ѧ: возмѝ ѻ҆́гнь ѿ среды̀ коле́съ, и҆́же средѣ̀ херꙋві́мѡвъ. И҆ вни́де и҆ ста̀ бли́з̾ коле́съ.
And he stretched forth his hand into the midst of the fire that was between the cherubs, and took [thereof], and put [it] into the hands of the man clothed with the sacred robe: and he took [it], and went out.
καὶ ἐξέτεινε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ εἰς μέσον τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ ὄντος ἐν μέσῳ τῶν Χερουβὶμ καὶ ἔλαβε καὶ ἔδωκεν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας τοῦ ἐνδεδυκότος τὴν στολὴν τὴν ἁγίαν, καὶ ἔλαβε καὶ ἐξῆλθε.
И҆ прострѐ херꙋві́мъ рꙋ́кꙋ свою̀ въ среди́нꙋ ѻ҆гнѧ̀ сꙋ́щагѡ средѣ̀ херꙋві́мѡвъ, и҆ взѧ̀ и҆ вдадѐ въ рꙋ́цѣ ѡ҆болче́номꙋ во ᲂу҆́тварь ст҃ꙋ́ю, и҆ взѧ̀ и҆ и҆зы́де.
And I saw the cherubs [having] the likeness of men’s hands under their wings.
καὶ εἶδον τὰ Χερουβὶμ ὁμοίωμα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων ὑποκάτωθεν τῶν πτερύγων αὐτῶν.
И҆ ви́дѣхъ херꙋві́мы, и҆ сѐ, подо́бїе рꙋ́къ человѣ́чихъ под̾ кри́лы и҆́хъ.
8–14(Versed 8 and following) And I saw, and behold, there were four wheels beside the Cherubim. One wheel beside one Cherub, and another wheel beside another Cherub. The appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a chrysolite stone, and they all had the same likeness, like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved, they went in the four directions without turning as they went. And the wheels went toward the place where the first wheel went, and they followed in its tracks and did not turn back. And all their bodies, and necks, and hands, and wings, and circles, were full of eyes all around the four wheels. And these wheels he called voluble, as I heard. But it had four faces. One face, the face of a Cherub; and the second face, the face of a man; and in the third, the face of a lion; and in the fourth, the face of an eagle. And the Cherubim were elevated. Notice what was before, or how many species of wheels, according to the Septuagint, like the appearance of a beryl: but now, according to the same, like the appearance of a carbuncle; so that the likeness of wings being moved by fire, which is attributed to the Cherub, may be shown: although in Hebrew, both above and here, it is written 'beryl,' which the Eagle translated as 'chrysolite' and Symmachus as 'hyacinth.' And again, when we turn to them: And the whole body of them, which is understood to be of the wheels, is written in Hebrew: And all their flesh, and necks, and hands, and feathers, and circles. Note that flesh is called in heavenly powers, as when we read: Flesh and blood shall not possess the kingdom of God, neither shall corruption possess incorruption (I Cor. XV), let us know that not the substance of the flesh, but the works, are condemned: For Basar () which is written in this place, signifies not the body, but rather flesh. But he called the circles of wheels, iron edges, by which the roundness of the wood is constrained and tightened. And these wheels not only have flesh, or bodies, or limbs: but also necks, and hands, and feathers, so that we perceive the effectiveness of things in each, not images of limbs. The wheels themselves are also called in the Hebrew tongue Gelgel, which Symmachus interpreted as revolving, and Aquila as a wheel. Furthermore, what follows: When I was listening, until the place where it is written: The Cherubim are lifted up, it is not found in the Septuagint; but it has been added from the Hebrew. In which it is to be noted that, as stated above, there are not, as it were, four faces on the right and four faces on the left: the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right, and the face of a calf on the left, and the face of an eagle; so that they are believed to be different on the left and on the right. But an equal order of all is described, with Scripture saying: Yet it had four faces: one face, the face of a Cherub, and the second face, the face of a man; and in the third, the face of a lion; and in the fourth, the face of an eagle; so that the first and second, and third, and fourth faces, are described not by the difference of places on the right and the left, but by one order of degrees. He named the first face Cherub, which he had spoken about earlier as the face of a calf. From this, it is understood that the face of the Cherub is the face of a calf. The explanation of this vision includes the meaning of all these things.
Commentary on Ezekiel
And I saw, and behold, four wheels stood by the cherubs, one wheel by each cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the appearance of a carbuncle stone.
καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ τροχοὶ τέσσαρες εἱστήκεισαν ἐχόμενοι τῶν Χερουβίμ, τροχὸς εἷς ἐχόμενος Χερουβὶμ ἑνός, καὶ ἡ ὄψις τῶν τροχῶν ὡς ὄψις λίθου ἄνθρακος.
И҆ ви́дѣхъ, и҆ сѐ, четы́ри коле́са стоѧ́хꙋ держа́щесѧ херꙋві́мѡвъ: ко́ло є҆ди́но держа́шесѧ є҆ди́нагѡ херꙋві́ма, и҆ ко́ло є҆ди́но держа́шесѧ дрꙋга́гѡ херꙋві́ма: взо́ръ же коле́съ ꙗ҆́коже взо́ръ ка́менїѧ а҆нѳра́ѯа:
And [as for] their appearance, [there was] one likeness to the four, as if there should be a wheel in the midst of a wheel.
и҆ взо́ръ и҆́хъ подо́бїе є҆ди́но четы́ремъ, а҆́кибы бы́ло ко́ло въ колесѝ:
When they went, they went on their four sides; they turned not when they went, for whichever way the first head looked, they went; and they turned not as they went.
ἐν τῷ πορεύεσθαι αὐτὰ εἰς τὰ τέσσαρα μέρη αὐτῶν ἐπορεύοντο, οὐκ ἐπέστρεφον ἐν τῷ πορεύεσθαι αὐτά· ὅτι εἰς ὃν ἂν τόπον ἐπέβλεψεν ἡ ἀρχὴ ἡ μία, ἐπορεύοντο καὶ οὐκ ἐπέστρεφον ἐν τῷ πορεύεσθαι αὐτά.
внегда̀ и҆дѧ́хꙋ, на четы́ри ча̑сти и҆́хъ и҆дѧ́хꙋ, и҆ не ѡ҆браща́хꙋсѧ внегда̀ и҆дѧ́хꙋ: ꙗ҆́кѡ, на не́же мѣ́сто а҆́ще зрѧ́ше нача́ло є҆ди́но, и҆дѧ́хꙋ (в̾слѣ́дъ є҆гѡ̀), и҆ не ѡ҆браща́хꙋсѧ, внегда̀ и҆тѝ и҆̀мъ.
And their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about the four wheels.
καὶ οἱ νῶτοι αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ πτέρυγες αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ τροχοὶ πλήρεις ὀφθαλμῶν κυκλόθεν τοῖς τέσσαρσι τροχοῖς αὐτῶν·
Всѧ̑ же тѣлеса̀ и҆́хъ и҆ хребты̀ и҆́хъ, и҆ рꙋ́цѣ и҆́хъ и҆ кри́ла и҆́хъ и҆ коле́са пѡ́лна ѻ҆че́съ ѡ҆́крестъ четы́рехъ коле́съ.
Wherefore those who are over others are to be admonished, that through earnestness of circumspection they have eyes watchful within and round about, and strive to become living creatures of heaven. For the living creatures of heaven are described as full of eyes round about and within. And so it is meet that those who are over others should have eyes within and round about, so as both in themselves to study to please the inward judge, and also, affording outwardly examples of life, to detect the things that should be corrected in others.
Subjects are to be admonished that they judge not rashly the lives of their superiors, if perchance they see them act blamably in anything, lest whence they rightly find fault with evil they thence be sunk by the impulse of elation to lower depths. They are to be admonished that, when they consider the faults of their superiors, they grow not too bold against them, but, if any of their deeds are exceedingly bad, so judge of them within themselves that, constrained by the fear of God, they still refuse not to bear the yoke of reverence under them.
Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 4
And these wheels were called Gelgel in my hearing. [
τοῖς δὲ τροχοῖς τούτοις ἐπεκλήθη Γελγὲλ ἀκούοντός μου· [
Коле́самъ же си̑мъ воззва́сѧ ге́лгель, слы́шащꙋ мнѣ̀.
And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third face the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.]*
Четы́ри же ли́ца коемꙋ́ждо и҆́хъ: є҆ди́номꙋ лицѐ херꙋві́мле, лице́ же дрꙋго́мꙋ лицѐ человѣ́чо, тре́тїе же лицѐ льво́во и҆ четве́ртое лицѐ ѻ҆́рлее.
And the cherubs were the same living creature which I saw by the river of Chobar.
καὶ ᾖραν τὰ Χερουβίμ. τοῦτο τὸ ζῷον, ὃ εἶδον ἐπὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ Χοβάρ.
И҆ взѧ́шасѧ херꙋві́ми: сїѐ є҆́сть живо́тное, є҆́же ви́дѣхъ на рѣцѣ̀ хова́ръ.
15–17(Vers. 15 seqq.) It is a creature that I saw beside the river Chobar. And when the Cherubim walked, the wheels also went beside them. And when the Cherubim lifted their wings to be lifted up from the ground, the wheels did not resist, but were also beside them. When they stood, they stood, and when they were lifted up, they were lifted up. For the spirit of life was in them. All things live to God and feel their Creator. For God is not the God of the dead but of the living (Matthew 22:32). And all the bodies of the wheels are full of eyes (Supra I) . And in the psalm it is said: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands. Day unto day speaks forth speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge (Ps. 19:1-2) . The sun also and the moon, the sea and the rivers, the mountains and hills praise God, and in their own cycle they revolve through the years, and we perceive the order of the heavens on earth, so that, by preserving the order of the ancient law, they may turn and run; and let us not see anything new upon the earth. But when it is said, 'It is an animal, which I saw by the river Chobar' (Ecclesiastes 1)', Scripture shows that we should understand the same thing in the interpretation of 'animal' as we understood above.
Commentary on Ezekiel
And when the cherubs went, the wheels went, and they were close to them: and when the cherubs lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, their wheels turned not.
καὶ ἐν τῷ πορεύεσθαι τὰ Χερουβὶμ ἐπορεύοντο οἱ τροχοί, καὶ οὗτοι ἐχόμενοι αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐξαίρειν τὰ Χερουβὶμ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτῶν τοῦ μετεωρίζεσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς οὐκ ἐπέστρεφον οἱ τροχοὶ αὐτῶν.
И҆ є҆гда̀ и҆дѧ́хꙋ херꙋві́ми, и҆дѧ́хꙋ и҆ коле́са и҆́хъ, и҆ сі́и держа́хꙋсѧ и҆́хъ: и҆ внегда̀ воздвиза́хꙋ херꙋві́ми кри́ла своѧ̑, є҆́же возвы́ситисѧ ѿ землѝ, не ѡ҆браща́хꙋсѧ коле́са и҆́хъ, и҆ та̑ держа́хꙋсѧ и҆́хъ:
When they stood, [the wheels] stood; and when they mounted up, [the wheels] mounted up with them: because the spirit of life was in them.
ἐν τῷ ἑστάναι αὐτὰ εἱστήκεισαν, καὶ ἐν τῷ μετεωρίζεσθαι αὐτὰ ἐμετεωρίζοντο μετ᾿ αὐτῶν, διότι πνεῦμα ζωῆς ἐν αὐτοῖς ἦν.
є҆гда̀ стоѧ́хꙋ ті́и, стоѧ́хꙋ и҆ ѻ҆нѝ, и҆ внегда̀ возвыша́хꙋсѧ ті́и, возвыша́хꙋсѧ и҆ ѻ҆нѝ съ ни́ми: занѐ дꙋ́хъ жи́зни бѣ̀ въ ни́хъ.
Then the glory of the Lord departed from the house, and went up on the cherubs.
καὶ ἐξῆλθε δόξα Κυρίου ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου καὶ ἐπέβη ἐπὶ τὰ Χερουβίμ,
И҆ и҆зы́де сла́ва гдⷭ҇нѧ ѿ непокрове́нїѧ до́мꙋ и҆ взы́де на херꙋві́мы.
18–22(v. 18 seqq.) And the glory of the Lord went forth from the threshold of the Temple and stood over the Cherubim. And the Cherubim lifted up their wings and were exalted from the ground before me. And as they went, the wheels also followed them. And it stood at the entrance of the gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. It is the creature that I saw beneath the God of Israel, by the river Chebar, and I understood that they were Cherubim. Four, through four faces to one: and four wings to one, and the likeness of the hands of a man under their wings: and the likeness of their faces, the very faces which I had seen by the river Chobar, and their looks, and the way each one went forward to his own front. The glory of the Lord, or the majesty, which had stood in the entrance of the temple, stood over the cherubims. They lifting up their wings, and the prophet seeing, were raised up: and the wheels followed them: and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. First, he was in the temple, then he stood in the courtyard of the temple or at the threshold. As he was departing from the temple, clouds and darkness filled the inner sanctuary of the temple. And once again, the glory itself sat upon the cherubim, and as they immediately flew away and departed to the outside, the wheels followed. And the glory stood at the gate of the house of the Lord facing east, not at the entrance of the temple, but behind the courtyard and threshold at the entrance of the gate of the house of the Lord facing east. When the prophet saw this, he said, 'It is the creature that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chobar, and I understood that they were cherubim.' For what new thing had he seen, which he understood to be Cherubim, which he had not understood before? Cherubim, in our language, is a multitude of knowledge: the knowledge of the sacraments of God, and his throne and rest. Therefore, it is said in the psalm: You who sit above the Cherubim, reveal yourself. (Ps. LXXIX, 2). For the glory of the Lord always resides in the multitude of knowledge; and it is manifested when all things are shown by divine providence; nothing happens by chance, nor does anyone say anything without reason: The Lord has abandoned the earth, and the Lord does not see. (Supra IX, 9). Wherefore also, having beheld the cherubim and their desire, is to forget the things that are past, and to stretch forth unto those which are before (Philippians 3).
Commentary on Ezekiel
I linger long in the land of the midday sun, for it was there and then that the spouse found her bridegroom at rest and Joseph drank wine with his brothers once more. I will return to Jerusalem and, passing through Tekoa the home of Amos, I will look on the glistening cross of Mount Olive from which the Savior made his ascension to the Father. Here year by year a red heifer was burned as an offering to the Lord, and its ashes were used to purify the children of Israel. Here also according to Ezekiel the cherubim after leaving the temple founded the church of the Lord.
Letter 108.12
And the cherubs lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went forth, the wheels were also beside them, and they stood at the entrance of the front gate of the house of the Lord; and the glory of the God of Israel was upon them above.
καὶ ἀνέλαβον τὰ Χερουβὶμ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτῶν καὶ ἐμετεωρίσθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐξελθεῖν αὐτά, καὶ οἱ τροχοὶ ἐχόμενοι αὐτῶν. καὶ ἔστησαν ἐπὶ τὰ πρόθυρα τῆς πύλης οἴκου Κυρίου τῆς ἀπέναντι, καὶ δόξα Θεοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἦν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν ὑπεράνω.
И҆ воздвиго́ша херꙋві́ми кри́ла своѧ̑ и҆ возвы́сишасѧ ѿ землѝ предо мно́ю: є҆гда̀ и҆зыдо́ша ті́и, и҆ коле́са держа́хꙋсѧ и҆́хъ: и҆ ста́ша над̾ преддве́рїемъ вра́тъ до́мꙋ гдⷭ҇нѧ, ꙗ҆̀же проти́вꙋ восто́кꙋ, и҆ сла́ва гдⷭ҇а бг҃а і҆и҃лева бѣ̀ над̾ ни́ми свы́ше.
This is the living creature which I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chobar; and I knew that they were cherubs.
τοῦτο τὸ ζῷόν ἐστιν, ὃ εἶδον ὑποκάτω Θεοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπί τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ Χοβάρ, καὶ ἔγνων ὅτι Χερουβίμ ἐστι.
Сїѐ живо́тное є҆́сть, є҆́же ви́дѣхъ под̾ бг҃омъ і҆и҃левымъ на рѣцѣ̀ хова́ръ, и҆ позна́хъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ херꙋві́ми сꙋ́ть.
Each one [had] four faces, and each one [had] eight wings; and under their wings was the likeness of men’s hands.
τέσσαρα πρόσωπα τῷ ἑνί, καὶ ὀκτὼ πτέρυγες τῷ ἑνί, καὶ ὁμοίωμα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπου ὑποκάτωθεν τῶν πτερύγων αὐτῶν.
Четы́ри ли́ца є҆ди́номꙋ, и҆ четы́ри кри́ла є҆ди́номꙋ, и҆ подо́бїе рꙋ́къ человѣ́чихъ под̾ кри́лы и҆́хъ.
Here God truly mounts and guides the soul. He always obtains the victory skillfully directing and leading with expertise the chariot of the soul to a heavenly mind forever. God does not wage war against wickedness, but since he possesses all power and authority of himself, he brings about the victory by himself. Therefore the cherubim go not where they wish but where the rider in control directs them. Wherever God inclines them, there they go, and he supports them.
Fifty Spiritual Homilies 1:9
And [as for] the likeness of their faces, these are the [same] faces which I saw under the glory of the God of Israel by the river of Chobar: and they went each straight forward.
καὶ ὁμοίωσις τῶν προσώπων αὐτῶν, ταῦτα τὰ πρόσωπά ἐστιν ἃ εἶδον ὑποκάτω τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ Χοβάρ, καὶ αὐτὰ ἕκαστον κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν ἐπορεύοντο. * [A note by Herb Swanson:] Since the very source of Ezekiel
И҆ подо́бїе ли́цъ и҆́хъ: сїѧ̑ ли́ца сꙋ́ть, ꙗ҆̀же ви́дѣхъ под̾ сла́вою бг҃а і҆и҃лева при рѣцѣ̀ хова́ръ воззрѣ́нїе и҆́хъ: и҆ сїѧ̑ ко́ждо прѧ́мѡ лицꙋ̀ своемꙋ̀ и҆дѧ́хꙋ.
Then I looked, and, behold, over the firmament that was above the head of the cherubs [there was] a likeness of a throne over them, as a sapphire stone.
:
И҆ ви́дѣхъ, и҆ сѐ, верхꙋ̀ тве́рди сꙋ́щїѧ над̾ главо́ю херꙋві́мѡвъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ка́мень сапфі́ровый, подо́бїе престо́ла на ни́хъ.