Ezekiel 10:5

And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard [even] to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.

And the sound {H6963} of the cherubims {H3742}' wings {H3671} was heard {H8085} even to the outer {H2435} court {H2691}, as the voice {H6963} of the Almighty {H7706} God {H410} when he speaketh {H1696}.

The sound of the wings of the k'ruvim could be heard even in the outer courtyard sounding like the voice of God, Shaddai, when he speaks.

The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.

And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of God Almighty when he speaketh.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 10:5 is part of a profound and often unsettling vision granted to the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. This chapter vividly describes the departure of God's glory (the Shekinah) from the Temple in Jerusalem, a tragic consequence of the rampant idolatry and moral corruption among the people of Judah. The cherubim, celestial beings associated with God's throne and presence, are instrumental in this movement. The preceding chapters, particularly Ezekiel 1, introduce these creatures and their role in bearing the divine chariot-throne. Here, the sound of their wings signals a momentous shift, indicating that God's protective presence is actively withdrawing before the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.

Key Themes

  • Divine Power and Majesty: The comparison of the cherubims' wings to "the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh" underscores the immense power and authority accompanying God's actions. It's not just a loud sound, but one imbued with divine significance and awe.
  • God's Presence and Departure: The audible sound reaching the "outer court" signifies that the departure of God's glory was not a secret, internal temple event, but a powerful, observable reality. It highlights the solemn and deliberate nature of God's withdrawal due to human sin.
  • Holiness and Judgment: The movement of the cherubim and the departure of God's glory are directly linked to the defilement of the Temple and the nation's rebellion. This loud, powerful sound serves as a warning and a testament to the severity of God's judgment against unholiness.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Almighty God" in the KJV often translates the Hebrew term El Shaddai, which emphasizes God's omnipotence, self-sufficiency, and power to fulfill His purposes. The sound being "as the voice of the Almighty God" implies that the noise was not merely thunderous, but carried the weight, authority, and intrinsic power of God's own speech. This reinforces the idea that what is happening is a direct, powerful act of God.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 10:5 serves as a powerful reminder of God's active involvement in human affairs and the profound consequences of sin. Just as the sound of the cherubim's wings heralded a significant divine action in Ezekiel's day, so too does God continue to speak and act in our world. This verse calls us to:

  • Reverence and Awe: To recognize the overwhelming power and majesty of God, who is not distant but intimately involved in the world.
  • Listen to God's Voice: To be attentive to the various ways God communicates, whether through Scripture, conscience, or circumstances, understanding that His "voice" carries ultimate authority and significance.
  • Understand Consequences: To grasp that persistent unholiness and rebellion can lead to a withdrawal of God's manifest presence or blessing, just as it did for ancient Israel before the Babylonian exile (Ezekiel 11:23).
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Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 1:24

    And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

  • Job 40:9

    Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

  • Exodus 19:19

    And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

  • 2 Chronicles 4:9

    Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

  • 1 Kings 7:9

    All these [were of] costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and [so] on the outside toward the great court.

  • Job 37:2

    Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound [that] goeth out of his mouth.

  • Job 37:5

    God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.