Ezekiel 10:8-18

8 I saw that each creature had what looked like a human hand under each of its wings.

9 I also saw that there were four wheels, all alike, one beside each creature. The wheels shone like precious stones, and each one had another wheel which intersected it at right angles. ¹

11 When the creatures moved, they could go in any direction without turning. They all moved together in the direction they wanted to go, without having to turn around.

12 Their bodies, backs, hands, wings, and wheels were covered with eyes. ²

13 I heard a voice calling out, "Whirling wheels."

14 Each creature had four faces. The first was the face of a bull, the second a human face, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. ³

15 (They were the same creatures that I had seen by the Chebar River.) When the creatures rose in the air

16 and moved, the wheels went with them. Whenever they spread their wings to fly, the wheels still went with them.

17 When the creatures stopped, the wheels stopped; and when the creatures flew, the wheels went with them, because the creatures controlled them.

18 Then the dazzling light of the Lord's presence left the entrance of the Temple and moved to a place above the creatures.

Ezekiel 10:8-18 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

• 1. 10.9-13Ezekiel 1.15-21.
• 2. 10.12Revelation 4.8.
• 3. 10.14Ezekiel 1.10;Revelation 4.7.