Ezekiel 10NKJV
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Ezekiel10

New King James Version

1And I looked, and there in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim, there appeared something like a sapphire stone, having the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

2Then He spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, “Go in among the wheels, under the cherub, fill your hands with coals of fire from among the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” And he went in as I watched.

3Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court.

4Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord’s glory.

5And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even in the outer court, like the voice of Almighty God when He speaks.

6Then it happened, when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” that he went in and stood beside the wheels.

7And the cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen, who took it and went out.

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

9And when I looked, there were four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by one cherub and another wheel by each other cherub; the wheels appeared to have the color of a beryl stone.

10As for their appearance, all four looked alike—as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

11When they went, they went toward any of their four directions; they did not turn aside when they went, but followed in the direction the head was facing. They did not turn aside when they went.

12And their whole body, with their back, their hands, their wings, and the wheels that the four had, were full of eyes all around.

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

14Each one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

15And the cherubim were lifted up. This was the living creature I saw by the River Chebar.

16When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them.

17When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when one was lifted up, the other lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living creature was in them.

18Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.

19And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

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

21Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

22And the likeness of their faces was the same as the faces which I had seen by the River Chebar, their appearance and their persons. They each went straight forward.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 10.

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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.

Cross References

Ezekiel 10
v1Ezekiel 1:22-26thematic

Direct parallel to the firmament, sapphire stone, and throne vision over the heads of the creatures.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v2Ezekiel 9:2thematic

Identifies the man clothed in linen who was first marked for mercy, now executing judgment.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Ezekiel 10:18thematic

Traces the progressive departure of God's glory from the temple threshold to the cherubim.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v9Ezekiel 1:15-20thematic

The primary description of the four wheels and their appearance, repeated here for confirmation.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v19Ezekiel 11:23thematic

The final stage of the glory of the Lord departing from the city to the mountain.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Ezekiel 1:28thematic

Parallels the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v5Ezekiel 1:24thematic

Parallels the sound of the wings of the cherubim as the voice of the Almighty.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v11Ezekiel 1:12thematic

Reiterates that they went straight forward and turned not as they went.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v12Revelation 4:8allusion

John's vision of the four beasts full of eyes round about and within.

Supported by JFB

v14Ezekiel 1:10thematic

Compares the four faces of the living creatures, here specifying the first as a cherub.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v20Ezekiel 10:15thematic

Explicitly identifies the living creatures seen at the river Chebar as cherubims.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v2Isaiah 6:6thematic

Contrast of a seraph taking a coal from the altar for purgation, not destruction.

Supported by JFB

v2Revelation 8:5allusion

An angel takes fire from the altar and casts it to the earth, signifying judgment.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v5Psalms 29:3-9thematic

Poetic parallel describing the powerful, thunderous voice of the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v12Ezekiel 1:18thematic

Connects the eyes round about the wheels in chapter 1 with those in chapter 10.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Psalms 18:10thematic

The Lord riding upon a cherub, showing his sovereign majesty over them.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Exodus 24:10thematic

The elders saw God's throne standing as it were upon a paved work of sapphire stone.

Supported by John Calvin

v4Ezekiel 9:3thematic

Earlier mention of the glory of the God of Israel going up from the cherub.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v41 Kings 8:10-12thematic

The cloud filling the temple of the Lord, showing His solemn presence.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v18Matthew 23:37-39thematic

Jesus pronouncing the desolation of the temple, signaling the departure of God's presence.

Supported by Matthew Henry