Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 8. The form of a man's hand under their wings.] I am still of opinion that the hands and wings were not distinct. The arms were feathered like wings, and the hand terminated the arm; but as the long front feathers of the wings would extend much beyond the fingers, hence the hands would appear to be under the wings. See on chap. i. 8. The human hand might be intended to show that God helps and punishes man by man; and that, in the general operations of his providence, he makes use of human agency.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The idolatries committed by the Jewish rulers. (Ezek. 8:1-6) The superstitions to which the Jews were then devoted, the Egyptian. (Ezek 8:7-12) The Phoenician. (Ezek. 8:13,14) The Persian. (Ezek. 8:15,16 The heinousness of their sin. (Ezek. 8:17,18)
Ezek. 8:1-6 The glorious personage Ezekiel beheld in vision, seemed to take hold upon him, and he was conveyed in spirit to Jerusalem. There in the inner court of the temple, was prepared a place for some bas idol. The whole was presented in vision to the prophet. If it shoul please God to give any man a clear view of his glory and majesty, an of all the abominations committing in any one city, he would then admi the justice of the severest punishments God should inflict thereon.
Ezek. 8:7-12 A secret place was, as it were, opened, where the prophe saw creatures painted on the walls, and a number of the elders of Israel worshipped before them. No superiority in worldly matters wil preserve men from lust, or idolatries, when they are left to their ow deceitful hearts; and those who are soon wearied in the service of God often grudge no toil nor expense when following their superstitions When hypocrites screen themselves behind the wall of an outwar profession, there is some hole or other left in the wall, somethin that betrays them to those who look diligently. There is a great dea of secret wickedness in the world. They think themselves out of God' sight. But those are ripe indeed for ruin, who lay the blame of their sins upon the Lord.
Ezek. 8:13-18 The yearly lamenting for Tammuz was attended with infamous practices; and the worshippers of the sun here described, ar supposed to have been priests. The Lord appeals to the prophe concerning the heinousness of the crime; "and lo, they put the branc to their nose," denoting some custom used by idolaters in honour of the idols they served. The more we examine human nature and our own hearts the more abominations we shall discover; and the longer the believe searches himself, the more he will humble himself before God, and the more will he value the fountain open for sin, and seek to wash therein _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew וירא7200 לכרבים3742 תבנית8403 יד3027 אדם120 תחת8478 כנפיהם׃3671
