Behold one wheel upon the earth— The prophet now proceeds to describe the wheels of this chariot borne by the living creatures. "Now, as I contemplated these living creatures (says he) there appeared upon the ground a wheel, near each of them by their four faces; each living creature had his wheel near him: that appearance and their work were as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel," Ezekiel 1:16 like two circles in a sphere, cutting each other at right angles; to signify, says a commentator, the liability and uniformity of their motion, and the subserviency of one part of providence to another, Ezekiel 1:17. When they went, they went by the sides of those four living creatures, nor in going did they change their situation, each wheel still continuing in its proper place by the side of the living creature. Houbigant renders the 18th verse, Their spokes were at equal distances; and when I beheld them, their felloes were full of eyes round about in them four. These wheels went whither the living creatures went, carried by the same powerful wind which bore the living creatures along. See Ezekiel 1:12. In reading this passage we should remember that the prophets commonly speak in a very lofty and figurative style; and there is nothing more agreeable to sublime and poetic description, than what we here read in our prophet, concerning the chariot of the Almighty, borne on the wings of the wind, to execute his commands. See Psalms 18:8-10.
Ezekiel 1:15-21
15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their ringsf were full of eyes round about them four.
19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.