Ezekiel 10:1-7

The Glory of the Lord Leaves the Temple

1 Then I looked, and behold, 1on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something 2like a sapphire,[a] in appearance like a throne.
2 And he said to 3the man clothed in linen, "Go in among 4the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with 5burning coals from between the cherubim, and 6scatter them over the city."And he went in 7before my eyes.
3 Now the cherubim were standing 8on the south side of the house, when the man went in, and 9a cloud filled 10the inner court.
4 And 11the glory of the LORD 12went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house 13was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with 14the brightness of the glory of the LORD.
5 And 15the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, 16like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
6 And when he commanded 17the man clothed in linen, 18"Take fire from between 19the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim," he went in and stood beside a wheel.
7 And a cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out.

Ezekiel 10:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 10

In this chapter is a vision, very much like that in the first chapter, with some difference, and with a different view, the design of it being to represent the wrath of God against Jerusalem, and his departure from the city and temple. A throne much like that in Eze 1:26 is described, Eze 10:1; orders are given from it to scatter coals over the city, Eze 10:2; the situation of the cherubim when these orders were given, Eze 10:3; the removal of the glory of the Lord from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the consequences of it; the house filled with smoke; the court with the brightness of the Lord's glory; and the sound of the cherubim's wings heard to the outer court, as the voice of God, Eze 10:4,5; the orders of taking and scattering fire over the city executed, and the manner in which they were, Eze 10:6,7; a description of the cherubim and the wheels, much like that in the first chapter, Eze 10:8-17; the departure of the glory of God from the threshold to the east gate of the Lord's house, with the motion of the cherubim and wheels along with him, Eze 10:18,19; and the chapter is concluded with observing, that the cherubim are the same with the living creatures seen in the vision of the first chapter, and had the same form, likeness, and motion, Eze 10:20-22.

Cross References 19

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.