Ezekiel 41:18

And [it was] made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree [was] between a cherub and a cherub; and [every] cherub had two faces;

And it was made {H6213} with cherubims {H3742} and palm trees {H8561}, so that a palm tree {H8561} was between a cherub {H3742} and a cherub {H3742}; and every cherub {H3742} had two {H8147} faces {H6440};

consisting of k'ruvim and palm trees, with a palm tree between every two k'ruvim. Every keruv had two faces;

were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces:

And it was made with cherubim and palm-trees; and a palm-tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces;

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 41:18 is part of a detailed, visionary description of a new temple given to the prophet Ezekiel by God, starting in Ezekiel chapter 40. This extensive section (chapters 40-48) outlines the precise dimensions, architectural features, and spiritual significance of a future temple, distinct from Solomon's Temple or the Second Temple. The intricate details, including the decorative elements like those mentioned in verse 18, emphasize the holiness, order, and divine presence that characterize this sacred structure. The vision was given to Ezekiel while in Babylonian exile, offering a profound message of hope and restoration to the Jewish people regarding God's enduring covenant and ultimate dwelling among them.

Key Themes and Symbolism

  • Cherubim: These are powerful angelic beings consistently associated with God's presence, glory, and the guarding of sacred spaces. They appeared in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24), on the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-22), and prominently in Solomon's Temple decorations (1 Kings 6:29). Their inclusion in Ezekiel's temple signifies the utmost sanctity and divine habitation of the structure, underscoring its role as a place of God's manifest glory.
  • Palm Trees: In ancient Near Eastern and biblical cultures, palm trees often symbolized prosperity, fruitfulness, victory, and righteousness. Their presence alongside the cherubim suggests a motif of life, blessing, and perhaps the flourishing of God's people within the context of His holy presence. This imagery also connects to the decorations of Solomon's Temple, establishing a continuity of sacred aesthetic and meaning. The alternating pattern ("a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub") creates a beautiful and ordered design.
  • Two Faces: The detail that "every cherub had two faces" is a specific feature of these decorative cherubim in Ezekiel's temple vision. While cherubim in other parts of Ezekiel's prophecy (e.g., Ezekiel 1:6, Ezekiel 10:14) are described with four faces (man, lion, ox/cherub, eagle), here they specifically have two. This might imply a focus on particular aspects of their nature or function within the temple setting, perhaps representing both human understanding and divine power, or looking both inward to the sanctuary and outward to the world.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew word for "cherubims" is k'ruvim (ื›ึฐึผืจื•ึผื‘ึดื™ื), the plural form of keruv (ื›ึฐึผืจื•ึผื‘), consistently referring to these celestial beings. The "palm trees" are t'marim (ืชึฐึผืžึธืจึดื™ื), a common Hebrew term for date palms, valued for their height, longevity, and valuable fruit. The phrase "between a cherub and a cherub" (ื›ึฐึผืจื•ึผื‘ ื‘ึตึผื™ืŸ ื›ึฐึผืจื•ึผื‘ ื•ึผื›ึฐืจื•ึผื‘) highlights the precise, repetitive, and ordered pattern of the temple's decoration, contributing to its overall sense of holiness and divine design.

Practical Application

While the exact nature of Ezekiel's temple vision is debated (whether a literal future temple, a symbolic representation of the church, or a heavenly reality), the decorative elements still offer profound spiritual insights. The presence of cherubim and palm trees suggests that true worship and God's dwelling place are characterized by both divine holiness (cherubim) and the flourishing of life, fruitfulness, and peace (palm trees). The meticulous detail of the vision highlights God's regard for order, beauty, and purity in His presence. For believers today, this can inspire a pursuit of holiness, righteousness, and fruitfulness in their own lives, recognizing that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, called to reflect God's glory and bear much fruit for His kingdom (John 15:8).

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Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 7:36 (6 votes)

    For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.

  • Ezekiel 40:16 (4 votes)

    And [there were] narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows [were] round about inward: and upon [each] post [were] palm trees.

  • Ezekiel 40:22 (3 votes)

    And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, [were] after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof [were] before them.

  • Ezekiel 10:21 (3 votes)

    Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man [was] under their wings.

  • 2 Chronicles 3:7 (3 votes)

    He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.

  • Ezekiel 10:14 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Revelation 4:7 (2 votes)

    And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.