Ezekiel 10:7-17

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.

Ezekiel 10:7-17 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.

Footnotes 21

  • [a]. Or "between"
  • [b]. Or "between"
  • [c]. Or "placed"
  • [d]. Literally "to"
  • [e]. Literally "a hand of a man"
  • [f]. Literally "wheel one beside the cherub one, and wheel one beside the cherub one"
  • [g]. Literally "stone of turquoise"
  • [h]. That is, of the wheels
  • [i]. Literally "likeness one [was] for the four of them"
  • [j]. Literally "In their going"
  • [k]. Literally "At their going"
  • [l]. Or "first" or "lead wheel"
  • [m]. Literally "the whole of their body"
  • [n]. Literally "for the four of them their wheels"
  • [o]. Literally "in my ears"
  • [p]. Literally "four faces [were] to each"
  • [q]. Hebrew "creature"
  • [r]. Literally "river of Kebar"
  • [s]. Literally "at the going of the cherubim"
  • [t]. Literally "and at the lifting of the cherubim wings their to rise from on the earth"
  • [u]. Literally "at their standing"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.