以西結書1:4-14

1:4 我觀看，見狂風從北方颳來，隨著有一朵包括閃爍火的大雲，周圍有光輝；從其中的火內發出好像光耀的精金；

1:5 又從其中顯出四個活物的形像來。他們的形狀是這樣：有人的形像，

1:6 各有四個臉面，四個翅膀。

1:7 他們的腿是直的，腳掌好像牛犢之蹄，都燦爛如光明的銅。

1:8 在四面的翅膀以下有人的手。這四個活物的臉和翅膀乃是這樣：

1:9 翅膀彼此相接，行走並不轉身，俱各直往前行。

1:10 至於臉的形像：前面各有人的臉，右面各有獅子的臉，左面各有牛的臉，後面各有鷹的臉。

1:11 各展開上邊的兩個翅膀相接，各以下邊的兩個翅膀遮體。

1:12 他們俱各直往前行。靈往哪裡去，他們就往那裡去，行走並不轉身。

1:13 至於四活物的形像，就如燒著火炭的形狀，又如火把的形狀。火在四活物中間上去下來，這火有光輝，從火中發出閃電。

1:14 這活物往來奔走，好像電光一閃。

4 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. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance:they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 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. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus:9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 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. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

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    有猶太人的文獻（最早是西元300年的文獻）證明猶太人認為「人、鷹、牛、獅」分別代表「人類」、「鳥類」、「家畜」與「野獸」的王，因此四活物應該就是代表所有在「地上的生物」。

此處的「靈」因為原文也可以解釋成「風」，所以究竟是指什麼就有很多不同的看法。比較可能是指著「活物的靈」或者是「上帝由寶座上推動活物的動力或生命力」。

    這些活物讓人想到上帝寶座的四周圍的天使，他們代表著宇宙萬物，在上帝面前敬拜！如同我們屬乎基督的人，在禮拜中代表人在上帝面前敬拜一樣。而敬拜的目的，就是要讓上帝喜悅，所以有神學家說：「唱歌讚美主要向母親唱安眠曲一般，讓上帝睡得安穩，我們就會承受恩福滿滿！」