Ezekiel Chapter 10 — God's Glory Departs the Temple

Ezekiel sees God's glory leaving the temple while a man in linen is commanded to scatter burning coals over the city of Jerusalem.

Divine JudgmentGod's GloryHeavenly VisionsHoliness

1Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire*or, lapis lazuli stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

2He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, “Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.”

3Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.

4The LORD’s glory mounted up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.

5The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.

6It came to pass, when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” that he went in and stood beside a wheel.

7The 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 him who was clothed in linen, who took it and went out.

8The form of a man’s hand appeared here in the cherubim under their wings.

9I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub. The appearance of the wheels was like a beryl stone.

10As for their appearance, the four of them had one likeness, like a wheel within a wheel.

11When they went, they went in their four directions. They didn’t turn as they went, but to the place where the head looked they followed it. They didn’t turn as they went.

12Their whole body, including their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes all around, even the wheels that the four of them had.

13As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, “the whirling wheels”.

14Every one of them had four faces. The first face was the face of the cherub. The second face was the face of a man. The third face was the face of a lion. The fourth was the face of an eagle.

15The cherubim mounted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.

16When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels also didn’t turn from beside them.

17When they stood, these stood. When they mounted up, these mounted up with them; for the spirit of the living creature was in them.

18The LORD’s glory went out from over the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim.

19The cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went out, with the wheels beside them. Then they stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.

21Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. The likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

22As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves. They each went straight forward.

WEB Translation

Notable Verses

Ezekiel 10:4

The LORD’s glory mounted up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.

This verse marks a significant transition as God's presence begins to move away from the inner sanctuary.

Ezekiel 10:12

Their whole body, including their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes all around, even the wheels that the four of them had.

The description of eyes all around emphasizes the all-seeing nature and divine awareness of the heavenly beings.

Ezekiel 10:18

The LORD’s glory went out from over the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim.

It depicts the moment God's glory prepares to leave the temple structure entirely.

Chapter Summary

In Ezekiel 10, the prophet witnesses a vision of God's throne above the cherubim. A man dressed in linen is commanded to take burning coals from between the whirling wheels and scatter them over the city, symbolizing judgment. The text provides a detailed description of the cherubim, which are covered in eyes and possess four faces: a cherub, a man, a lion, and an eagle. These heavenly beings move in perfect synchronization with four wheels that are described as having the appearance of beryl stone. As the vision unfolds, the glory of the Lord moves from the threshold of the temple and settles over the cherubim. Eventually, the cherubim lift their wings and mount up from the earth, pausing at the east gate of the temple. Ezekiel notes that these are the same living creatures he previously saw by the river Chebar, identifying the departure of God's presence from His sanctuary.

Frequently Asked Questions

The coals of fire taken from between the cherubim and scattered over Jerusalem represent divine judgment. This action symbolizes the coming destruction and purification of the city by fire.

The wheels, described as 'wheels within wheels' and covered in eyes, represent the mobility and omniscience of God. They move in any direction without turning, showing that God's spirit and purposes are not confined to the temple.

The man clothed in linen is a heavenly messenger who previously appeared in chapter 9. In this chapter, he is commanded to collect and scatter coals of fire, acting as an agent of God's judgment.

Study Note

In this chapter, Ezekiel explicitly identifies the living creatures from his first vision as 'cherubim,' a specific class of heavenly beings associated with the holiness and presence of God.

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