Ezekiel 10:3

Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.

Now the cherubims {H3742} stood {H5975} on the right side {H3225} of the house {H1004}, when the man {H376} went in {H935}; and the cloud {H6051} filled {H4390} the inner {H6442} court {H2691}.

Now the k'ruvim were standing to the right of the house when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner courtyard.

Now when the man went in, the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple, and a cloud filled the inner court.

Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.

Commentary

Ezekiel 10:3 continues the prophet Ezekiel's profound vision of God's glory and its impending departure from the Jerusalem Temple. This verse vividly describes the positioning of the cherubim and the manifestation of God's presence through a cloud, signaling a critical moment in Israel's history of divine judgment.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of the extensive idolatry and spiritual corruption within the Temple, as detailed in Ezekiel chapter 8. The previous chapter (Ezekiel 9) depicted the beginning of judgment upon Jerusalem, with a "man clothed in linen" (likely an angelic figure or divine agent, first mentioned in Ezekiel 9:2) who was tasked with marking those who lamented the city's sins. Here, in Ezekiel 10, the focus shifts to the movement of the cherubim and the cloud, which are integral to the divine throne-chariot and the manifestation of God's presence (Ezekiel 1). The "right side of the house" likely refers to the south side of the Temple, indicating a specific, deliberate movement of God's glory preparing to leave due to the nation's unfaithfulness.

Key Themes

  • The Departure of God's Glory: The most significant theme. The "cloud" filling the inner court is the visible manifestation of the Shekinah glory, the divine presence of God. Its movement with the cherubim signifies that God's tangible presence is actively withdrawing from His defiled sanctuary and people. This is a stark consequence of Israel's persistent sin and idolatry.
  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: This departure is not a sudden, panicked flight, but a deliberate, orchestrated act of judgment. The cherubim, associated with God's throne and judgment (Genesis 3:24), are positioned, and the cloud fills the court, emphasizing God's control even in the act of withdrawal.
  • The Sacredness of God's Dwelling: The scene underscores the holiness required for God's presence to dwell among His people. When that holiness is violated by rampant idolatry, the divine presence cannot remain.

Linguistic Insights

  • Cherubims (ื›ึฐึผืจื•ึผื‘ึดื™ื, keruvim): These are powerful, angelic beings often depicted with multiple faces and wings, serving as guardians of God's holiness and associated with His throne-chariot. Their presence here highlights the majesty and power accompanying God's glory.
  • Cloud (ืขึธื ึธืŸ, anan): In biblical literature, a cloud frequently symbolizes the manifest presence of God's glory, as seen when the tabernacle was filled (Exodus 40:34) or when Solomon's Temple was dedicated (1 Kings 8:10). Here, its movement implies the departure of that glorious presence, a terrifying prospect for the people of God.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 10:3 serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of unfaithfulness and the importance of holiness. For believers today, it emphasizes that:

  1. God's Presence is Conditional: While God is omnipresent, His manifest, dwelling presence can be withdrawn from those who persist in unrepentant sin and defilement. This applies to individual lives and corporate worship.
  2. Reverence for God's Holiness: We are called to live lives worthy of God's presence, understanding that He is holy and cannot abide with unaddressed sin.
  3. Hope for Restoration: Although God's glory departed in Ezekiel's time (Ezekiel 11:23), the New Testament reveals God's ultimate plan to dwell permanently with His people through Jesus Christ, promising a future where God will indeed be with humanity forever (Revelation 21:3). This historical departure underscores the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice, which makes renewed fellowship with God possible.
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Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 43:4 (3 votes)

    And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect [is] toward the east.

  • Ezekiel 9:3 (3 votes)

    And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which [had] the writer's inkhorn by his side;

  • Ezekiel 8:16 (1 votes)

    And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.