Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 1:13

"As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning." — Ezekiel 1:13 (ASV)

Like the appearance of lamps. —The word “and” before this phrase is not in the original, and should be omitted. These words are merely a further explanation. The cherubim were like burning coals of fire, like torches or lightnings. The word “lamps” does not refer to the material, but to the light, and whether in the Hebrew or in its Greek equivalent, is translated as torches (Nahum 2:4; John 18:3), firebrands (Judges 15:4), or lightnings (Exodus 20:18). Ezekiel could find no single word to express his meaning, and has therefore given two, so that between them the idea of the fiery brilliancy might be better conveyed.

It went up and down. —“It” refers to the fire. This indescribable fiery appearance went up and down among the living creatures, “bright” in itself, and throwing out coruscations of “lightning.”