Ezekiel 10
The Coals of Fire from the Cherubim
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.
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.
The Departure of God's Glory
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.
Ezekiel witnesses God's glory departing from the temple in Jerusalem through an elaborate vision involving cherubim, wheels, and divine fire. A figure clothed in linen is commanded to take burning coals from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city as an instrument of judgment. The chapter provides detailed descriptions of the cherubim and their accompanying wheels, emphasizing their supernatural mobility and the eyes covering their forms, before concluding with God's glory moving from the temple threshold to the east gate.
Context
This vision continues the temple judgment themes from chapter 8-9 and anticipates the complete departure of God's glory in chapter 11.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2The Sapphire Throne and CommandEzekiel sees a throne-like appearance above the cherubim and hears God command the linen-clothed figure to take burning coals.
- 3-8The Coals of Fire RetrievedThe man enters between the cherubim as God's glory fills the temple with cloud and brightness, and receives the burning coals.
- 9-17Description of the Cherubim and WheelsDetailed account of the four-faced cherubim, their accompanying wheels covered with eyes, and their coordinated supernatural movement.
- 18-22The Glory's DepartureGod's glory moves from the temple threshold to rest above the cherubim at the east gate, preparing to leave the temple entirely.
The Coals of Fire from the Cherubim
10:1–10:8Ezekiel sees a man in linen taking burning coals from between the cherubim to scatter over the city. The vision emphasizes God's glory and power as divine judgment is prepared to fall upon Jerusalem.
person_contrast
Ezekiel's vision uniquely transforms the cherubim from Eden's guardians into agents of divine judgment, as burning coals—symbols of purification—become instruments of Jerusalem's destruction.
The Departure of God's Glory
10:9–10:22Ezekiel describes the intricate details of the cherubim and wheels, culminating in God's glory departing from the temple threshold. This vision symbolizes God's withdrawal of His presence from the corrupted temple and city.
person_contrast
Ezekiel's meticulous description of the cherubim's synchronized movement—"when they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning"—mirrors the precise, unstoppable nature of divine judgment departing Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 10:2
Leviticus 16:12lexicalHe shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beate…
Ezekiel 9:3lexicalThe glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called t…
Leviticus 16:32lexicalThe priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and sha…
Ezekiel 1:13lexicalAs for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of tor…
Ezekiel 28:16lexicalBy the abundance of your commerce, your insides were filled with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore I have cast yo…
Ezekiel 10:4
Ezekiel 9:3lexicalThe glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called t…
Ezekiel 1:28lexicalAs the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all ar…
Isaiah 4:5lexicalThe LORD will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the…
2 Chronicles 5:13lexicalwhen the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when t…
2 Chronicles 5:14lexicalso that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the LORD’s glory filled God’s house.
Ezekiel 10:6
Ezekiel 9:2lexicalBehold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in…
Ezekiel 9:3lexicalThe glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called t…
Ezekiel 10:9
Ezekiel 1:16lexicalThe appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl. The four of them had one likeness. Their appearance and th…
Ezekiel 1:15lexicalNow as I saw the living creatures, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the…
Ezekiel 10:10
Ezekiel 1:16lexicalThe appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl. The four of them had one likeness. Their appearance and th…
Ezekiel 1:5lexicalOut of its center came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man.
Ezekiel 10:11
Ezekiel 43:17lexicalThe ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides; and the border about it shall be half a cubi…
Ezekiel 1:17lexicalWhen they went, they went in their four directions. They didn’t turn when they went.
Ezekiel 10:12
Ezekiel 1:18lexicalAs for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.
Ezekiel 39:17lexical“You, son of man, the Lord GOD says: ‘Speak to the birds of every sort, and to every animal of the field, “Assemble your…
1 Kings 7:33lexicalThe work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel. Their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were…
Ezekiel 10:14
Ezekiel 1:10lexicalAs for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man. The four of them had the face of a lion on the right sid…
1 Chronicles 26:2lexicalMeshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
1 Chronicles 3:15lexicalThe sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum.
1 Chronicles 26:4lexicalObed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
1 Chronicles 23:19lexicalThe sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
Ezekiel 10:19
Ezekiel 11:22lexicalThen the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels were beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was over them a…
Ezekiel 3:13lexicalI heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside t…
Ezekiel 11:1lexicalMoreover the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the LORD’s house, which looks eastward. Behold, twen…
Exodus 25:20lexicalThe cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one…
Exodus 37:9lexicalThe cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another…
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