Ezekiel 10:19

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.

And the cherubims {H3742} lifted up {H5375} their wings {H3671}, and mounted up {H7426} from the earth {H776} in my sight {H5869}: when they went out {H3318}, the wheels {H212} also were beside {H5980} them, and every one stood {H5975} at the door {H6607} of the east {H6931} gate {H8179} of the LORD'S {H3068} house {H1004}; and the glory {H3519} of the God {H430} of Israel {H3478} was over them above {H4605}.

The k'ruvim lifted their wings and rose off the earth - I was watching as they went off with the wheels next to them. They paused at the entrance to the east gate of ADONAI's house, with the glory of the God of Isra'el over them, from above.

As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the ground, with the wheels beside them as they went. And they stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, with the glory of the God of Israel above them.

And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went forth, and the wheels beside them: and they stood at the door of the east gate of Jehovah’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 10:19 describes a pivotal moment in the prophet Ezekiel's vision of God's glory and judgment. This passage is part of a larger narrative (Ezekiel chapters 8-11) where Ezekiel, exiled in Babylon, is given a supernatural tour of the Jerusalem Temple. He witnesses the idolatry and abominations being committed there by the leaders and people of Israel. The Lord's response to this defilement is the progressive departure of His glorious presence from the Temple, symbolizing the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and the end of the first Temple era. This verse specifically details the next stage in the glory's movement away from the inner sanctuary, heading towards the city gate.

Key Themes

  • The Departure of God's Glory: This verse dramatically portrays the continual withdrawal of the Shekinah glory from the Temple. The cherubim, carrying God's throne, lift off, signifying that God is not bound by a physical structure and can remove His presence due to human sin and rebellion. This is a powerful visual of judgment.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Mobility: The cherubim and the accompanying "wheels" (often called Ophanim in Jewish tradition) are integral parts of God's mobile throne-chariot, first seen in Ezekiel's initial vision in chapter 1. Their movement underscores God's absolute freedom and sovereignty. He is not confined to Israel or its Temple; He is the God of all creation.
  • Judgment and Abandonment: The act of the glory moving to the "east gate of the LORD'S house" is a symbolic step towards abandoning the Temple and Jerusalem to destruction. It signifies that God's protective presence is being lifted, leaving the city vulnerable to its enemies.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Cherubims" (Hebrew: keruvim): These are powerful, winged, angelic beings often depicted as guardians of sacred space (e.g., guarding the Garden of Eden) and as bearers of God's throne, symbolizing His majesty and holiness.
  • "Glory of the God of Israel" (Hebrew: k'vod YHWH Elohei Yisrael): This refers to the visible manifestation of God's presence and majesty. It is the same glory that filled the Tabernacle in Exodus 40:34 and Solomon's Temple in 1 Kings 8:11. Its departure is a profound spiritual crisis for Israel.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 10:19 serves as a stark reminder that God's presence is not guaranteed by physical structures or religious rituals alone. His presence is contingent upon the holiness, obedience, and sincere worship of His people. For us today, this means:

  • Holiness Matters: The departure of God's glory from the Temple due to idolatry and sin emphasizes the importance of personal and corporate holiness. God desires genuine worship and obedience, not just outward forms.
  • God's Presence is Dynamic: God is not static; He is sovereign and active. While we have the promise of the Holy Spirit's indwelling for believers in the New Covenant, the principle remains that ongoing sin can grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and hinder our experience of God's manifest presence.
  • Warning and Hope: This passage is a warning against spiritual complacency and rebellion. However, for those who repent, there is always hope. Ezekiel himself later prophesied the future return of God's glory to a new Temple, offering a promise of restoration and renewed relationship with God.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 1:26

    ¶ And above the firmament that [was] over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne [was] the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

  • Ezekiel 1:28

    As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so [was] the appearance of the brightness round about. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw [it], I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

  • Ezekiel 11:22

    ¶ Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above.

  • Ezekiel 11:23

    And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which [is] on the east side of the city.

  • Ezekiel 11:1

    ¶ Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

  • Ezekiel 1:17

    When they went, they went upon their four sides: [and] they turned not when they went.

  • Ezekiel 1:21

    When those went, [these] went; and when those stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels.
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