Ezekiel10
New American Standard
1Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne, appeared above them.
2And He spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, “Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” And he entered in my sight.
3Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the temple when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner courtyard.
4Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud, and the courtyard was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord.
5Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer courtyard, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.
6And it came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel.
7Then the cherub reached out with his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some coals and put them into the hands of the one clothed in linen; and he took them and went out.
8The cherubim appeared to have something like a human hand under their wings.
9Then I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a Tarshish stone.
10And as for their appearance, all four of them had the same likeness, as if one wheel were within another wheel.
11When they moved, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went; but they followed in the direction which they faced, without turning as they went.
12And their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings and the wheels were covered with eyes all around, the wheels belonging to all four of them.
13The wheels were called, as I heard, the whirling wheels.
14And each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a human, the third, the face of a lion, and the fourth, the face of an eagle.
15Then the cherubim rose up. They are the living beings that I saw by the river Chebar.
16Now when the cherubim moved, the wheels would move beside them; also when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels themselves would not turn away from beside them.
17When the cherubim stood still, the wheels would stand still; and when they rose up, the wheels would rise with them, because the spirit of the living beings was in them.
18Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.
19When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the ground in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.
20These are the living beings that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; so I knew that they were cherubim.
21Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands.
22As for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. Each one went straight ahead.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A vision of the burning of the city. (1-7). The Divine glory departing from the temple. (8-22).
vv1-7
The fire being taken from between the wheels, under the cherubim, 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.
vv8-22
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.
Key Words
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
הִנֵּה: lo!
רָקִיעַ: properly, an expanse, i.e. the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רֹאשׁ: the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
כְּרוּב: a cherub or imaginary figure
מַרְאֶה: a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision
דְּמוּת: resemblance; concretely, model, shape; adverbially, like
כִּסֵּא: properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied)
Cross References
Ezekiel 10Direct parallel to the firmament, sapphire stone, and throne vision over the heads of the creatures.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Identifies the man clothed in linen who was first marked for mercy, now executing judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Traces the progressive departure of God's glory from the temple threshold to the cherubim.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The primary description of the four wheels and their appearance, repeated here for confirmation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The final stage of the glory of the Lord departing from the city to the mountain.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the sound of the wings of the cherubim as the voice of the Almighty.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Reiterates that they went straight forward and turned not as they went.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
John's vision of the four beasts full of eyes round about and within.
Supported by JFB
Compares the four faces of the living creatures, here specifying the first as a cherub.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Explicitly identifies the living creatures seen at the river Chebar as cherubims.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Contrast of a seraph taking a coal from the altar for purgation, not destruction.
Supported by JFB
An angel takes fire from the altar and casts it to the earth, signifying judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Poetic parallel describing the powerful, thunderous voice of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects the eyes round about the wheels in chapter 1 with those in chapter 10.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Lord riding upon a cherub, showing his sovereign majesty over them.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The elders saw God's throne standing as it were upon a paved work of sapphire stone.
Supported by John Calvin
Earlier mention of the glory of the God of Israel going up from the cherub.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The cloud filling the temple of the Lord, showing His solemn presence.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus pronouncing the desolation of the temple, signaling the departure of God's presence.
Supported by Matthew Henry