Ezekiel10

Ezekiel witnesses a command for a man clothed in linen to scatter coals of fire over Jerusalem, symbolizing divine judgment. The glory of the LORD then ascends from the cherubim to the temple threshold, filling the house with its brightness. Subsequently, the glory departs from the threshold and ascends with the cherubim and their accompanying wheels. They ultimately move towards and stand at the east gate of the temple.
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The Command to Scatter Fire

1
Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. ​
2
And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. ​
3
Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4
Then the glory of the LORD went 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. ​
5
And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
6
And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
7
And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out. ​

Description of the Cherubim and Wheels

8
And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.
9
And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
10
And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
11
When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. ​
12
And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. ​
13
As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
14
And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. ​
15
And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
16
And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
17
When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them. ​

The Glory of the Lord Departs

18
Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. ​
19
And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one 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. ​
20
This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. ​
21
Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22
And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.

Study Notes for Ezekiel 10

Verse 1

This vision confirms the appearance of the sapphire throne above the cherubim, recalling the description of God’s glory in the initial call vision (Ezek 1:26) and the revelation at Sinai (Exod 24:10).

Verse 2

The fire taken from the mobile throne symbolizes divine judgment and wrath, paralleling the destruction of Jerusalem with the purification of the temple by fire. The man clothed in linen is the executioner of God’s decree (cf. Ezek 9:2).

Verse 4

The *kavod* (glory) moving to the threshold is the first step in the divine withdrawal from the temple. The cloud filling the house recalls the dedication of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11), but here it precedes judgment, not consecration.

Verse 7

The cherubim, guardians of the holy space, actively participate in the judgment by delivering the coals of fire to the linen-clothed man, emphasizing the divine origin of the impending destruction.

Verse 11

The description of the wheels moving without turning emphasizes the instantaneous and directed nature of God's judgment and movement; the divine vehicle is always ready to move in any direction.

Verse 12

The creatures and wheels being 'full of eyes' symbolizes their comprehensive knowledge and vigilance. This detail reinforces the theme of divine omnipresence and the absolute awareness of God’s judgment.

Verse 14

Ezekiel clarifies the identity of the four faces. The 'face of a cherub' here likely corresponds to the 'ox' or 'bull' face found in the initial vision (Ezek 1:10), serving as a clarification of the nature of these angelic guardians.

Verse 17

The unity of movement between the wheels and the cherubim is explained by the 'spirit of the living creature' being within the mechanism, confirming that the entire apparatus is animated by divine power and intelligence.

Verse 18

This verse marks the theological climax: the visible departure of the *kavod* (Glory of the Lord) from the inner temple. This signals that God has permanently withdrawn his presence due to the temple's defilement, sealing the city’s fate.

Verse 19

The glory settles over the East Gate, the outer boundary of the temple complex. This position prepares for the final departure eastward, toward the location of the exiles in Babylon (Ezek 11:23).

Verse 20

Ezekiel confirms the identity of the complex, mobile creatures he saw by the Chebar river. Recognizing them as cherubim links his vision to the traditional temple guardians and the protectors of Eden (Gen 3:24).

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