Teks -- Ezekiel 1:12 (NET)

1:12 Each moved straight ahead– wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Eze 1:12 - Straight

Which way soever they went, each living creature had one face looking straight forward.

Wesley: Eze 1:12 - The spirit

The will, command, and breathing of the Spirit of God, both gave and guided their motions.

Wesley: Eze 1:12 - Was to go

Going is attributed here to the Spirit of God, by allusion, for he who is in every place cannot properly be said to go from or to any place.

Wesley: Eze 1:12 - Turned not

They looked not back, they turned not out of the way, they gave not over, 'till they had compleated their course.

JFB: Eze 1:12

The same idea as in Eze 1:9. The repetition is because we men are so hard to be brought to acknowledge the wisdom of God's doings; they seem tortuous and confused to us, but they are all tending steadily to one aim.

JFB: Eze 1:12 - the spirit

The secret impulse whereby God moves His angels to the end designed. They do not turn back or aside till they have fulfilled the office assigned them.

Clarke: Eze 1:12 - They went every one straight forward

They went every one straight forward - Not by progressive stepping, but by gliding

Clarke: Eze 1:12 - Whither the spirit was to go

Whither the spirit was to go - Whither that whirlwind blew, they went, being borne on by the wind, see Eze 1:4.

Calvin: Eze 1:12 - NO PHRASE

Here the Prophet repeats, that the movement of the living creatures was in each case directed towards, or in the direction of its face: and he will say the same again: nor is this repetition superfluous, since, as we said yesterday and must repeat again, mankind can scarcely’ be induced to ascribe glory to the wisdom of God. For we are so stupid, that we think that God mingles all things inconsiderately, as if he were in the dark. Since, therefore, the actions of God appear to us distorted, it is needful to repeat this clause, viz., that angels proceed straight forward, that is, are constrained to obedience. For the son who wishes to imitate his father, and the servant his master, is often agitated and at a loss what to do. Since then, something always appears confused in creatures, the Prophet diligently enforces that angels proceed in the direction of their face, that is, they tend at once to their goal, and decline neither to one side or the other. What he announces with regard to angels, ought to be referred to God himself; because his intention was not to extol angelic wisdom, but he sets them before us as God’s ministers, that we may perceive here one of the fundamental principles of our faith, viz., that God so regulates his actions, that nothing is with him either distorted or uncontrolled.

He adds, wheresoever there was spirit for proceeding, they proceeded ³⁶ Spirit is here used in the sense of mind or will: we know that it is often put metaphorically for wind, and also for the human soul, but here the will ought to be understood, and so the Prophet alludes to that very motion by which angels are borne along when God uses their assistance. Since, therefore, the vigor and swiftness of angels is so great that they fly like the wind, the Prophet seems to allude to this likeness. And what David says in the 104^th Psalm, “God makes the winds his ministers,” the Apostle, in the first chapter of the Hebrews, aptly applies to the angels themselves. This analogy then, will stand very well, viz., that the angels proceeded wherever their will bore them; and yet by this word the Prophet points out that secret motion by which God bends his angels as he pleases. In the meantime, he confirms what we have lately seen, that angels are not rashly driven in every direction, but have a definite end, because God, who is the fountain of all wisdom, works through their means. He says again, they so proceed as not to return, that is, that they do not deviate from their course, for he afterwards says, they do turn backwards. But it is easy to reconcile these statements, because it only signifies that their course was not abrupt. While, therefore, they are proceeding in one direction, they go forward until they finish their allotted space, and then they return like lightning. For God does not so fit his angels for one single work, and that they should rest ever afterwards, but daily, nay, every moment, he exercises them in obedience. Since, then, the angels are continually occupied, it is not wonderful that the Prophet says, that they go and return, and yet not return, which is explained by their not receding until they have discharged their duty. Lastly, this vision has no other meaning than to inform the Prophet that God does not desert his works in the middle of their course, as he says in Psa 138:8. Since, therefore, in the works of God, there is nothing unfinished or mutilated, the angels go forward, and finish their allotted space till the goal: they afterwards return like lightning, as he will shortly say. It follows: —

TSK: Eze 1:12 - they went every // whither

they went every : Eze 1:9, Eze 1:17, Eze 10:22

whither : Eze 1:20,Eze 1:21; Heb 1:14

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Eze 1:12 - They went every one straightforward // Whither the spirit was to go // They went // They turned not when they went

They went every one straightforward: see Eze 1:9 . Which way soever they went, each living creature had one face looking straight forwards, and their other faces looking toward other coasts of the world; if the fore right were to the south, the other faces looked one to the east, one to the west, and the other to the north. Thus with rectitude, constancy, wisdom, and universal care Providence rules and guides affairs of the world, and especially of the church, to the glory of God.

Whither the spirit was to go the wind moved, say some; but if there were a gale of wind, which blowing gently on these living creatures stirred them in the sight of the prophet, it was emblematical, and represented to his view the power and influence of the Spirit of God, which moved and acted these admirable creatures. The will, command, and breathing of the Spirit of God both gave and guided their motions to ends he himself designed. Going is attributed here to the Spirit of God by allusion, and not properly, for who is ever in every place cannot properly be said to go from or to any place.

They went the living creatures readily observed the impressions of the Spirit of God, and obeyed.

They turned not when they went: see Eze 1:9 . They looked not back as unwilling, they turned not out of the way as froward, they gave not over till they had completed their course.

Gill: Eze 1:12 - And they went everyone straight forward // whither the spirit was to go they went // and they turned not when they went

And they went everyone straight forward,.... Or, "over against his face" ^q; for, which way soever they went, whether forward or backward, or on either side, they had a face to go before them, to direct the way, and steer their course; so the ministers of the Gospel have a face to go by and follow after, the word of God, to look to and direct them, which way soever they go, or whatsoever service they are called unto;

whither the spirit was to go they went; which may be meant of their own spirit, will, and inclination; so the Targum,

"to the place where it was their good pleasure to go they went;''

so Jarchi and Kimchi; but this is not always the case, see Act 16:6; rather the Holy Spirit of God is intended, by whom holy men of God were moved, and spoke formerly; and by whom Gospel ministers are led into the truth, as it is in Jesus; and by whom they are directed where to go, and what to do; and they are sent, and go where the Spirit of God is designed to go, in order to work upon the hearts of men and effectually call them by his grace, which is usually done by the ministry of the word; and therefore Gospel ministers must go, and they do go where the Spirit of God has work to do by them; see Act 16:6;

and they turned not when they went; they had no occasion to turn their bodies, because, which way soever they went, they had a face to go before them, and direct the way; See Gill on Eze 1:9.