Ezekiel10
World English Bible · Public Domain
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 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.” He went in as I watched.
3Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4Yahweh’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 Yahweh’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.
18Yahweh’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 Yahweh’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.
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