The word for ‘creature’, ‘created being’ (therefore sometimes also translated as ‘animal’, ‘beast’) is ‘zóo-on’ in Greek. Plural: ‘zoo-è, or zoo-a’. Probably the background of our word for an exhibition in a park of a lot of animals called a ZOO! Zoology is the science that deals with animal life. Because we are dealing in this verse with ‘Heavenly creatures’, like ‘cherubim’ and ‘seraphim’, we prefer the translation ‘created being, creature’ instead of ‘animal, beast’. Although the four living beings have also characteristics of animals. Why do they bear characteristics of animals, and of a human being? And why these animals in particular?
Lions, bulls and cherubim were depicted on the panels between the bronze supports of the ‘sea’1—the laver, the washbasin within the Temple—together with palms and wreaths around it.2 King Solomon’s power and might was depicted by two lions at the elbow-rests of his throne, and twelve of them stood on the throne steps.3 One of the names of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lion of Judah4— mighty and also ferocious. “What is stronger than a lion?” Samson asks.5 This is a symbol of exceptional power, courage, leadership, regality and judgment violence. “He will roar like a lion,” says Hosea6. The lion points to God’s Kingship.
The bull (a young bull, a calf as well) points to ‘sacrifice’ in Israel.7 The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the ‘aleph’, and that signifies the head of a bull. It is the first of a series of letters/alphabet and also the first in rank—the most important—pointing to the divine ‘First One’. Wealth is defined in terms of cattle.8 The ‘sea’ rested on twelve bronze bulls.9 The bull expresses service, readiness to sacrifice, God’s goodness towards man on earth, the ‘fat of the land’, prosperity, fertility and affluence. Mankind, however, makes ‘gods’ (‘Baal’ and ‘Astarte’) of prosperity and fertility itself, just as Israel did with the golden calf,10 worshipping Creation instead of the Creator. Lion and bull seem to refer to God’s characteristics, like Kingship, Giver of Life, Father and Motherhood, Power and Omnipotence.
The third living creature has a face like a man. “Your face, countenance, facial expression shows what you are like. It is the mirror of the soul, the expression of your being.”11 Seeing God’s face makes one happy.12 David seeks God’s face.13 Moses’ face shines following his meeting with God in His presence.14 Human beings represent God’s being—we are created in His image, in His likeness.15 And God finally revealed Himself in a Man—the revelation of the divine in human form, in human likeness. ‘The Word became flesh.’ Apparently this is what the third living creature’s face like a man points to.
Each of the four living creatures expresses something more of God’s nature, His character, His being, with His relationship to His Creation.
The fourth living creature looks like an eagle (positive) in flight and protection, but this can also be translated as ‘vulture’ (negative). An eagle is a positive symbol while a vulture is a negative one. God carried Israel on eagle’s wings.16 God hovers over His children like an eagle, and has carried Israel as on the wings of an eagle.17 Our youth is renewed like the eagles. “They will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”18 Judgment comes over Israel like an eagle as well, however.19 Eagles were unclean birds.20 This is why the New International Version translates the word correctly as ‘vulture’ in Micah 1:16 (note the bald head, the featherless neck!) Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather21 with speed and ferociousness. This is God’s judgment side. Thus, in the midst of Heaven, an angel calls upon all the birds of the skies, these being scavengers to mete out judgment.22 The wings point to God’s omnipresence, and the eyes to His omniscience.
• The differences in appearance in the living creatures in the accounts of Ezekiel and John are as follows: in Revelation they have a face and six wings, and the order of rank is: lion, bull, man, eagle. In Ezekiel they each have four faces and four wings and the order of rank is: man, lion, bull, eagle. In Revelation they are in the midst of the throne and surrounding it. In Ezekiel they are under the arch of Heaven, the firmament upon which the throne is placed.
• In the early church the four Gospels were likened to them: John as the lion, Luke as the bull, Matthew as the man and Mark as the eagle. The order later altered to become: Matthew – lion, Mark – man, Luke – bull, John – lion.
Bible References:
1. 1 Kings 7:29 2. 1 Kings 7:36 3. 1 Kings 10:19–20 4. Revelation 5:5 5. Judges 14:18 6. Hosea 11:10 7. Leviticus 1:5, 4:3, 14 and Numbers 8:13 8. Genesis 24:35, 26:12–14; Job 1:3; Exodus 12:38; Genesis 41 9. 1 Kings 7:25 10. Exodus 32:1– 20 11. Matthew 6:20–22 12. Psalm 16:11 13. Psalm 27:8–9; 2 Samuel 21:1 14. Exodus 34:29–35 15. Genesis 1:26 16. Exodus 19:4–5 17. Deuteronomy 32:11 18. Psalm 103:5; Isaiah 40:31 19. Hosea 8:1 20. Leviticus 11:13; Deuteronomy 14:13 21. Matthew 24:28 22. Revelation 19:17–18
