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Book of Ezekiel - Chapter 1 - Verse 10

1:10
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

Meaning

It is believed that the verse you are referring to comes from the book of Ezekiel in the Bible and is a description of a vision the prophet Ezekiel had. In this vision, Ezekiel sees four living creatures with multiple faces - the face of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. These four faces are often interpreted symbolically in Christian theology. The face of a man represents intelligence and reason, the face of a lion represents courage and strength, the face of an ox represents patience and endurance, and the face of an eagle represents vision and swiftness. These four living creatures are said to be guardians of God's throne and serve as a reminder of the multifaceted nature of God and His attributes. The combination of these faces symbolizes the different aspects of God's character and the diverse ways in which He interacts with His creation.

Theological Overview

In this verse from the book of Ezekiel, the prophet describes a vision in which he sees four living creatures with faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. Many theologians see these creatures as representing different aspects of God's creation. The face of the man symbolizes intelligence and reason, while the lion represents strength and courage. The ox is often associated with patience and hard work, while the eagle signifies swiftness and keen vision. Some scholars also interpret these creatures as a foreshadowing of the four Gospels in the New Testament, with each face corresponding to one of the evangelists: Matthew (man), Mark (lion), Luke (ox), and John (eagle).

American Standard Version

As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle.
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