John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 1:8

"And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings [thus]:" — Ezekiel 1:8 (ASV)

Now the Prophet says: hands were under their wings. Since hands are the principal instruments of action, we know that all actions are often denoted by this word. Consequently, hands, whether pure or defiled, signify human works, whether clean or unclean. When the Prophet says that the animals were endowed with hands, this signifies that they were ready for the performance of any duty assigned to them, for one who is without hands is useless and cannot execute any work.

Therefore, to express angelic vigor, the Prophet says that they had hands. This also refers to their human figure, but hands denote something particular: namely, that they have such agility that they can execute every commandment of God. For he says, they were under their wings. By these words, he signifies that the angels have no movement of their own, so that they cannot move as they please, unless they are divinely impelled and their every action is guided by the will of God.

For undoubtedly, by 'wings,' both here and elsewhere, we must understand something more than human. Therefore, since the wings with which the animals are equipped signify nothing other than God's secret guidance, it follows that hands hidden under the wings denote that angels do not move intrinsically, as we might say. Instead, they are impelled externally—that is, by the power of God Himself. Consequently, they are not moved about erratically here and there; rather, all their actions are governed by God, since He bends and directs them wherever He pleases.

This is why the Prophet says that he saw hands on the animals, and then that those hands were under their wings. He repeats, they had faces, and four wings to them. The use of the phrase four sides is noteworthy, as if to say that the animals have the ability to act equally in all directions. This does not mean that they each had four hands—although at first glance this might seem to be the meaning of the words on four sides, or 'in each corner.' Rather, it simply means that the hands appeared on the animals in such a way that they were ready for action whenever God wishes to impel them.