Ezekiel 10

God’s Presence Leaves the Temple

1 And I looked, and look! On the expanse that [was] above the head of the cherubim [something] like a stone of sapphire, [and] like [the] appearance of [the] shape of a throne it appeared above them.

2 And he spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, "Go {in among the wheel area under the cherubim} and fill the hollow of your hands [with] coals of fire from among the cherubim, and toss [them] on the city." And he went [right] before my eyes.

3 Now the cherubim [were] standing on [the] south of the temple {when the man went}, and the cloud filled the inner courtyard.

4 And the glory of Yahweh rose up from on the cherub toward the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the courtyard was filled with the brightness of the glory of Yahweh.

5 And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard {as far as} the outer courtyard; [it was] like the voice of God Shaddai {when he speaks}.

6 And then at his command to the man clothed in linen, {saying}, "Take fire from among the wheel area from among the cherubim," he went and stood beside the wheel.

7 Then the cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim toward the fire that [was] among the cherubim, and he lifted up and gave [it] into the hollow of the hand of [the man] clothed with linen, and he took [it], and he went out.

8 And [there] appeared for the cherubim [the] form of {a human hand} under their wings.

9 And I saw, and look, four wheels beside the cherubim, {one wheel beside each cherub}, and the appearance of the wheels [was] like [the] outward appearance of {turquoise stone}.

10 Their appearance {was the same for each of the four of them}, as if the wheel was in the midst of a wheel.

11 {When they went} to the four of their directions [that] they went, they did not change direction {when they went}, for the place [to] which the head turned, they went behind him; they did not change direction at their going.

12 And {their whole body}, and their rims, and their spokes, and their wings, and the wheels [were] full of eyes [all] around--{the wheels for the four of them}.

13 Concerning the wheels, he [was] calling them "the wheelwork" {in my hearing}.

14 And {each one had four faces}; the face of the one [was] the face of a cherub, and the face of the second [was the] face of a human, and the face of the third [was the] face of a lion, and the fourth [was the] face of an eagle.

15 And the cherubim rose; that is, the living creatures that I saw at the {Kebar River}.

16 And {when the cherubim went}, the wheels beside them went; and {when the cherubim lifted their wings to rise up from the earth}, the wheels also did not turn aside from beside them.

17 {When they stood}, they stood, and at their rising, they rose with them, for the spirit of the living creatures [was] in them.

18 And the glory of Yahweh went out from the threshold of the temple, and it stood above the cherubim.

19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and they rose from the earth before my eyes. At their going out, the wheels [were] beside them. And he stood [at] the doorway of the eastern gate of the temple of Yahweh, and the glory of the God of Israel {was over them}.

20 This [was] the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel at the {Kebar River}, and I knew that they [were] cherubim.

21 {Each one had four faces}, and [there were] four wings for each, and [the] likeness of {human hands} [was] under their wings.

22 And the likeness of their faces, they [were] the faces that I saw at the {Kebar River}; [thus was] their appearance, and they each went {straight ahead}.

Ezekiel 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

A vision of the burning of the city. (1-7) The Divine glory departing from the temple. (8-22)

Verses 1-7 The fire being taken from between the wheels, under the cherubim, ch. 1:13 , seems to have signified the wrath of God to be executed upon Jerusalem. It intimated that the fire of Divine wrath, which kindles judgment upon a people, is just and holy; and in the great day, the earth, and all the works that are therein, will be burnt up.

Verses 8-22 Ezekiel sees the working of Divine providence in the government of the lower world, and the affairs of it. When God is leaving a people in displeasure, angels above, and all events below, further his departure. The Spirit of life, the Spirit of God, directs all creatures, in heaven and on earth, so as to make them serve the Divine purpose. God removes by degrees from a provoking people; and, when ready to depart, would return to them, if they were a repenting, praying people. Let this warn sinners to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call on him while he is near, and cause us all to walk humbly and watchfully with our God.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "lapis lazuli"
• [b]. Or "said"
• [c]. Literally "to between to the wheel to under the cherub"
• [d]. Or "And"
• [e]. Literally "at his coming the man"
• [f]. Or "onto"
• [g]. Or "temple"
• [h]. Or "temple"
• [i]. Literally "up to"
• [j]. Often translated "Almighty"
• [k]. Literally "in his speaking"
• [l]. Or "when he commanded"
• [m]. Literally "to say"
• [n]. Or "between"
• [o]. Or "between"
• [p]. Or "placed"
• [q]. Literally "to"
• [r]. Literally "a hand of a man"
• [s]. Literally "wheel one beside the cherub one, and wheel one beside the cherub one"
• [t]. Literally "stone of turquoise"
• [u]. That is, of the wheels
• [v]. Literally "likeness one [was] for the four of them"
• [w]. Literally "In their going"
• [x]. Literally "At their going"
• [y]. Or "first" or "lead wheel"
• [z]. Literally "the whole of their body"
• [aa]. Literally "for the four of them their wheels"
• [ab]. Literally "in my ears"
• [ac]. Literally "four faces [were] to each"
• [ad]. Hebrew "creature"
• [ae]. Literally "river of Kebar"
• [af]. Literally "at the going of the cherubim"
• [ag]. Literally "and at the lifting of the cherubim wings their to rise from on the earth"
• [ah]. Literally "at their standing"
• [ai]. Hebrew "from on"
• [aj]. Hebrew "to"
• [ak]. Or "house"
• [al]. Literally "on them from to above"
• [am]. Or "these were"
• [an]. Literally "river of Kebar"
• [ao]. Literally "four faces [were] for one/each"
• [ap]. Literally "hands of a man"
• [aq]. Litearlly "river of Kebar"
• [ar]. Literally "to the opposite of face his"

Chapter Summary

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.