Ezekiel Chapter 10

Jun 5

Ezekiel 10, The Glory and the Cherubim

Ezekiel 10 continues the vision that began in Ezekiel 8. After Ezekiel saw the abominations in the temple and the marking of the faithful remnant in Ezekiel 9, he now sees the glory of the Lord moving away from the temple. The uploaded notes rightly emphasize that the cherubim, the wheels, the fire, the cloud, and the departing glory all show that the Lord Himself is judging Jerusalem and withdrawing His visible glory from the defiled sanctuary.

Scripture Text, Ezekiel 10, KJV

Ezekiel 10:1, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:2, “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.”

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.”

Ezekiel 10:4, “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.”

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.”

Ezekiel 10:6, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:7, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:8, “And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.”

Ezekiel 10:9, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:10, “And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.”

Ezekiel 10:11, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:12, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:13, “As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.”

Ezekiel 10:14, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:15, “And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.”

Ezekiel 10:16, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:17, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:18, “Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.”

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.”

Ezekiel 10:20, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:21, “Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.”

Ezekiel 10:22, “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.”

Introduction, The Glory Begins to Depart

Ezekiel 10 is one of the most solemn chapters in the Old Testament because it shows the visible glory of the Lord moving away from the temple. The glory had once filled the tabernacle. Later, the glory filled Solomon’s temple. The temple was the place where the Lord had placed His name, the center of Israel’s worship, priesthood, sacrifice, and national life. Yet in Ezekiel’s vision, the glory is no longer settled in the sanctuary. It is moving, pausing, and departing.

The reason for this departure has already been shown in Ezekiel 8 and 9. The temple had been defiled with abominations. The image of jealousy stood near the gate. The elders worshiped idols in secret chambers. Women wept for Tammuz. Men near the altar turned their backs on the temple and worshiped the sun. Jerusalem was full of blood and perverseness. Therefore, the Lord would not continue to manifest His glory in a sanctuary polluted by idolatry and rebellion.

This chapter also connects Ezekiel’s temple vision with his earlier vision by the river Chebar in Ezekiel 1. The living creatures are now identified as cherubim. The wheels, the throne, the firmament, the fire, the movement, and the glory all belong together. Ezekiel is being shown that the God of Israel is not trapped in the temple. He is enthroned above the cherubim. His glory can appear in Babylon, move in Jerusalem, depart from the temple, and later return according to His own covenant purpose.

The chapter is therefore both terrifying and theologically rich. It shows judgment coming from the presence of God Himself. The coals of fire used against the city come from among the cherubim, from the throne area of divine glory. Jerusalem’s burning will not merely be a Babylonian military act. It will be the outworking of the Lord’s righteous judgment.

A. The Vision of God’s Glory at the Temple

1. Ezekiel 10:1 through 2, The Likeness of a Throne

Ezekiel begins, “Then I looked.” He is still in the same vision that began in Ezekiel 8. He now sees above the cherubim a firmament and above that something like a sapphire stone, “as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.” This language recalls Ezekiel’s first vision by the river Chebar.

Ezekiel 1:22, “And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.”

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 10 deliberately echoes Ezekiel 1. The same throne-chariot vision seen in Babylon is now seen at the temple in Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 1, the beings are called living creatures. In Ezekiel 10, they are identified as cherubim. This makes sense in the temple setting because cherubim were associated with the holy of holies, the ark, and the throne presence of God.

1 Kings 6:23 through 28, “And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high. And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub:, from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. And the other cherub was ten cubits:, both the cherubims were of one measure and one size. The height of the one cherub was ten cubits,, and so was it of the other cherub. And he set the cherubims within the inner house:, and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims,, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall,, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall;, and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.”

Solomon’s temple had artistic and sculptural representations of cherubim, but Ezekiel now sees the living heavenly realities that those temple images represented. The cherubim are not decorations. They are mighty heavenly beings associated with the throne, glory, and movement of God.

The throne is described carefully as “the appearance of the likeness of a throne.” Ezekiel does not speak carelessly. He describes what he saw in visionary language. The glory of God exceeds human language, so the prophet uses words such as likeness and appearance. This is reverent restraint.

In verse 2, the One associated with the throne speaks to “the man clothed with linen.” This is the same figure from Ezekiel 9 who marked the faithful remnant.

Ezekiel 9:3 through 4, “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;, And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem,, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.”

In Ezekiel 9, the man clothed in linen marked the faithful. In Ezekiel 10, he receives fire for judgment. The same heavenly servant is involved in both preservation and judgment, according to God’s command.

He is told, “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.” This is terrifying. The fire that will be scattered over Jerusalem comes from among the cherubim, from the throne area of the Lord’s glory. The destruction of Jerusalem by fire is not merely a political accident or military tragedy. It is divine judgment.

The historical fulfillment came when Babylon burned Jerusalem and the temple.

2 Kings 25:8 through 9, “And in the fifth month,, on the seventh day of the month,, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,, came Nebuzaradan,, captain of the guard,, a servant of the king of Babylon,, unto Jerusalem:, And he burnt the house of the LORD,, and the king’s house,, and all the houses of Jerusalem,, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire.”

The Babylonians lit the physical fires, but Ezekiel 10 shows that the judgment originated from the throne of God. Jerusalem was burned because the Lord had judged her abominations.

This fire also creates a contrast with Isaiah’s vision. In Isaiah 6, a coal from the altar was used to cleanse the prophet. In Ezekiel 10, coals from among the cherubim are used to judge the city.

Isaiah 6:6 through 7, “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,, having a live coal in his hand,, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:, And he laid it upon my mouth,, and said,, Lo,, this hath touched thy lips;, and thine iniquity is taken away,, and thy sin purged.”

Fire from God may purify or destroy, depending on the object and purpose. The same holy God cleanses the repentant and consumes the wicked.

Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Jerusalem had become like Sodom in its corruption and would be treated with fiery judgment.

Genesis 19:24, “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;”

Ezekiel 10 does not mean Jerusalem was identical to Sodom in every detail, but it does show that covenant privilege did not exempt Judah from judgment when she persisted in abomination.

The verse ends, “And he went in in my sight.” The man clothed with linen obeys immediately. Heavenly servants do not argue with the Lord’s command. They act according to His word.

2. Ezekiel 10:3 through 5, The Cloud of God’s Glory

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.”

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.”

The cherubim stood “on the right side of the house.” This places them on the south side of the temple, opposite the northern approach of the judgment figures in Ezekiel 9. Ezekiel’s attention now focuses on the glory, the cloud, and the movement of the Lord’s presence.

Verse 3 says, “the cloud filled the inner court.” This cloud is the visible manifestation of the glory of God, often associated with the Lord’s presence among His people. The glory cloud appeared repeatedly in Israel’s history.

The Lord guided Israel by the cloud in the wilderness.

Exodus 13:21 through 22, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud,, to lead them the way;, and by night in a pillar of fire,, to give them light;, to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day,, nor the pillar of fire by night,, from before the people.”

The Lord revealed His glory in the cloud.

Exodus 16:10, “And it came to pass,, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel,, that they looked toward the wilderness,, and,, behold,, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.”

God met Moses in the cloud.

Exodus 19:9, “And the LORD said unto Moses,, Lo,, I come unto thee in a thick cloud,, that the people may hear when I speak with thee,, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.”

Exodus 24:15 through 18, “And Moses went up into the mount,, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai,, and the cloud covered it six days:, and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud,, and gat him up into the mount:, and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”

The cloud stood at the tabernacle.

Exodus 33:9 through 10, “And it came to pass,, as Moses entered into the tabernacle,, the cloudy pillar descended,, and stood at the door of the tabernacle,, and the LORD talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door:, and all the people rose up and worshipped,, every man in his tent door.”

The cloud filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34 through 35, “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation,, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation,, because the cloud abode thereon,, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

The Lord appeared in the cloud over the mercy seat.

Leviticus 16:2, “And the LORD said unto Moses,, Speak unto Aaron thy brother,, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat,, which is upon the ark;, that he die not:, for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.”

The cloud filled Solomon’s temple.

1 Kings 8:10 through 11, “And it came to pass,, when the priests were come out of the holy place,, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud:, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.”

In the New Testament, cloud and glory language also appears in connection with the incarnation, transfiguration, ascension, and return of Christ.

Luke 1:35, “And the angel answered and said unto her,, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:, therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Luke 9:34 through 35, “While he thus spake,, there came a cloud,, and overshadowed them:, and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud,, saying,, This is my beloved Son:, hear him.”

Acts 1:9, “And when he had spoken these things,, while they beheld,, he was taken up;, and a cloud received him out of their sight.”

Luke 21:27, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Revelation 1:7, “Behold,, he cometh with clouds;, and every eye shall see him,, and they also which pierced him:, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so,, Amen.”

The cloud is therefore a major biblical sign of divine glory and presence. In Ezekiel 10, the tragedy is that the glory cloud fills the temple even as the glory is preparing to depart.

Verse 4 says, “Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house.” The glory is moving. It does not immediately vanish. It pauses at the threshold. This pause is deeply solemn. It shows the Lord’s unwillingness to depart quickly, yet His determination to depart because of the abominations of the people.

The temple and court are filled with glory, “the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’S glory.” The glory is not weak. It is radiant. Yet the people in Jerusalem did not see or care. In Ezekiel 8, their eyes were for idols, images, Tammuz, and the sun. Ezekiel alone is shown the true glory.

This is a serious spiritual lesson. Men may stand near holy things and still be blind to the glory of God. The priests and elders were near the temple, but their hearts were dark. Ezekiel, in exile, saw what they did not see.

Verse 5 says, “the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.” The movement of the cherubim is loud, majestic, and terrifying. The sound reaches even the outer court. It is compared to the voice of Almighty God.

The title “Almighty God” emphasizes power and sovereignty. The Lord’s glory is not passive. The cherubim’s wings suggest movement, readiness, and the departure of the divine presence from the defiled temple. The sound itself announces that something monumental is taking place.

3. Ezekiel 10:6 through 8, The Fire from Among the Wheels

Ezekiel 10:8, “And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.”

The command is repeated, “Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims.” The repetition stresses the origin of the fire. This judgment fire comes from the throne-chariot of God, from the place associated with His glory, holiness, and sovereign rule.

The man clothed in linen obeys, but he does not take the fire directly. Verse 7 says, “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.” This shows order and reverence in the heavenly scene. Even the angelic messenger receives the fire through the appointed cherub.

The cherubim are described with “the form of a man’s hand under their wings.” This detail had appeared in Ezekiel’s earlier vision.

Ezekiel 1:8, “And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides;, and they four had their faces and their wings.”

The human-like hand suggests capacity for action and service. The cherubim are not abstract symbols. They are living heavenly beings who serve the purposes of God.

The fire represents the coming burning of Jerusalem, but it is not uncontrolled rage. The wrath of God is never sinful passion. It is holy, measured, just, and directed against evil. God’s fire harms nothing unjustly. It consumes what His righteousness condemns.

This is why the judgment of Jerusalem must be understood as righteous judgment. The city had been given covenant privilege, prophetic warning, temple worship, priesthood, law, and mercy. Yet it persisted in idolatry, violence, and abomination. The fire from the cherubim is terrible because God is holy.

B. The Appearance of the Cherubim

1. Ezekiel 10:9 through 13, The Wheels Associated with the Cherubim

Ezekiel 10:10, “And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.”

Ezekiel 10:11, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:12, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:13, “As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.”

Ezekiel now describes the wheels associated with the cherubim. He sees “four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub.” This again connects Ezekiel 10 to Ezekiel 1.

Ezekiel 1:15 through 21, “Now as I beheld the living creatures,, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures,, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl:, and they four had one likeness:, and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they went,, they went upon their four sides:, and they turned not when they went. As for their rings,, they were so high that they were dreadful;, and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went,, the wheels went by them:, and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth,, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go,, they went,, thither was their spirit to go;, and the wheels were lifted up over against them:, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 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.”

The same wheels seen by the river Chebar are now seen at the temple. This confirms that Ezekiel is seeing the same throne-chariot of God. The Lord who appeared in Babylon is the Lord whose glory is departing Jerusalem. He is not bound to one location. He is sovereign over land, exile, temple, and nations.

The wheels appear “as the colour of a beryl stone.” Beryl was a precious stone that could appear in different colors, including a greenish brilliance. The point is beauty, value, and heavenly splendor.

The wheels are described as “a wheel in the midst of a wheel.” This suggests complex motion and the ability to move in any direction without turning aside. The movement is free, ordered, and responsive to the direction of the living creature. There is no confusion, hesitation, or disorder.

Verse 11 says, “they turned not as they went.” Their movement is direct. The throne-chariot of God does not stumble, wander, or reverse in confusion. It moves according to divine purpose. God’s plans are not thwarted.

Verse 12 adds that “their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about.” In Ezekiel 1, the wheels were full of eyes. Here, the cherubim themselves are described as full of eyes. This speaks of awareness, perception, watchfulness, and heavenly intelligence. Nothing is hidden from the Lord’s throne.

The imagery is strange to modern readers because it is visionary and symbolic. Ezekiel is not describing an earthly machine. He is describing a heavenly reality with language that strains under the weight of glory.

A similar description appears in Revelation.

Revelation 4:6 through 8, “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:, and in the midst of the throne,, and round about the throne,, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 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. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him;, and they were full of eyes within:, and they rest not day and night,, saying,, Holy,, holy,, holy,, Lord God Almighty,, which was,, and is,, and is to come.”

The living beings around God’s throne are full of eyes and connected with worship, holiness, and divine rule. Ezekiel 10 belongs to that same heavenly throne category.

Verse 13 says, “As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.” The wheels are named or addressed in Ezekiel’s hearing. The scene is alive with heavenly motion, command, sound, fire, and glory. God is not inactive. His throne moves. His servants obey. His judgment proceeds.

2. Ezekiel 10:14 through 17, The Faces and the Movement of the Cherubim

Ezekiel 10:15, “And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.”

Ezekiel 10:17, “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.”

Ezekiel describes the faces of the cherubim. Each has four faces, “the face of a cherub,” “the face of a man,” “the face of a lion,” and “the face of an eagle.” This is very close to the description in Ezekiel 1, though there the list included an ox rather than a cherub.

Ezekiel 1:10, “As for the likeness of their faces,, they four had the face of a man,, and the face of a lion,, on the right side:, and they four had the face of an ox on the left side;, they four also had the face of an eagle.”

There are several possible explanations for the difference. The face of a cherub may be associated with the face of an ox. Ezekiel may use the term cherub here because he is now identifying the living creatures in temple language. Some also suggest a textual issue in transmission. Whatever the precise explanation, Ezekiel clearly states that these are the same living creatures he saw by the river Chebar.

The four faces suggest completeness and heavenly strength. The man suggests intelligence and representation. The lion suggests majesty and power. The ox or cherub suggests service, strength, and priestly-throne association. The eagle suggests swiftness and heavenly height. These are not idols. They are heavenly servants around the throne of the true God.

Verse 15 says, “And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.” Ezekiel directly connects the visions. This is important because the glory that appeared to Ezekiel in exile is the same glory now departing the temple. The Lord is not a local deity trapped in Jerusalem. He is the God of Israel, the God of heaven, the God of history, and the God who rules even in exile.

The movement of the cherubim and wheels is perfectly coordinated. “When the cherubims went, the wheels went by them.” When the cherubim lifted their wings, the wheels did not turn away. When one stood, the other stood. When one lifted, the other lifted. The reason is given, “for the spirit of the living creature was in them.”

This shows unity, order, and responsiveness. There is no conflict in the heavenly throne movement. Everything acts in perfect harmony with the Spirit-directed purposes of God. The throne-chariot moves exactly as God wills.

This has deep theological significance. The departure of the glory is not accidental. The judgment of Jerusalem is not chaotic. The movement of the cherubim is not random. God’s purpose is orderly, holy, and unstoppable.

3. Ezekiel 10:18 through 19, The Glory of the LORD and the Cherubim at the Door of the Temple

Ezekiel 10:18, “Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.”

Verse 18 is one of the saddest statements in Ezekiel, “Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house.” Earlier, the glory had moved to the threshold. Now it departs from the threshold and stands over the cherubim. The departure is progressing.

The people of Judah assumed God could not depart from His temple. They thought the building itself guaranteed His favor. But the Lord is not bound to a defiled sanctuary. When the temple ceases to function as His holy house and becomes a place of idolatry, He will abandon it.

Jeremiah had warned against trusting in the temple as a religious charm.

Jeremiah 7:4 through 11, “Trust ye not in lying words,, saying,, The temple of the LORD,, The temple of the LORD,, The temple of the LORD,, are these. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings;, if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;, If ye oppress not the stranger,, the fatherless,, and the widow,, and shed not innocent blood in this place,, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:, Then will I cause you to dwell in this place,, in the land that I gave to your fathers,, for ever and ever. Behold,, ye trust in lying words,, that cannot profit. Will ye steal,, murder,, and commit adultery,, and swear falsely,, and burn incense unto Baal,, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;, And come and stand before me in this house,, which is called by my name,, and say,, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house,, which is called by my name,, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold,, even I have seen it,, saith the LORD.”

Judah had trusted the temple while defiling the temple. Ezekiel sees the result, the glory departs.

Verse 19 says the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in Ezekiel’s sight. The wheels went beside them, and they stood “at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house.” The glory moves from the inner sanctuary area toward the east gate, leaving the temple.

This is especially striking because the previous vision showed men facing east to worship the sun.

Ezekiel 8:16, “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.”

Those men looked east and saw the created sun. Ezekiel sees the true glory of God moving toward the east gate. Their eyes were captured by a created light while the true glory was departing. That is the blindness of idolatry. It dazzles men with creation while blinding them to the Creator.

The glory stands at the east gate but has not yet fully left the city. The departure is staged, slow, and solemn. It is as if the Lord pauses before leaving, yet the direction is clear.

The tragedy is profound. The glory of the God of Israel should have rested in Israel. The temple should have been filled with His worship. Instead, His glory is moving away because the house has been defiled.

Yet this is not the final word in Ezekiel. Later, Ezekiel sees the glory return from the east.

Ezekiel 43:2 through 5, “And, behold,, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east:, and his voice was like a noise of many waters:, and the earth shined with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw,, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city:, and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar;, and I fell upon my face. And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up,, and brought me into the inner court;, and,, behold,, the glory of the LORD filled the house.”

This future return should be read literally in the context of Israel’s restoration and the future temple vision. The glory departs because of judgment, but the glory will return in connection with restoration. God’s covenant purposes for Israel are not canceled by exile.

From a premillennial and dispensational viewpoint, Ezekiel’s future temple vision belongs to the future restoration of Israel under Messiah’s kingdom. The glory that departs from the east will return from the east. God will complete His promises.

4. Ezekiel 10:20 through 22, The Connection with the Vision of the Cherubim Recorded in Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel 10:20, “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.”

Ezekiel 10:21, “Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.”

Ezekiel 10:22, “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.”

Ezekiel closes the chapter by confirming the identity of the beings. “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.” What he saw in Ezekiel 1 is what he sees here. The living creatures are cherubim.

This identification is important because it links the opening vision of Ezekiel’s ministry to the temple judgment vision. The same enthroned God who commissioned Ezekiel by the river Chebar now shows him the departure of glory from Jerusalem. The God of Israel is present with His prophet in exile while leaving the defiled temple in the land. This is a crushing reversal of Judah’s assumptions. The exiles were not outside God’s reach, and Jerusalem was not safe merely because the temple stood there.

Verse 21 repeats the details, “Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.” Ezekiel wants the reader to understand that this is not a different vision of different beings. These are the same heavenly throne attendants.

Verse 22 says, “their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.” The chapter ends with the direct, undeviating movement of the cherubim. They go straight forward. They do not turn aside. This final note emphasizes the certainty of God’s purpose. His glory is departing. His judgment is coming. His plan cannot be frustrated.

This is both frightening and comforting. It is frightening because no one can stop the Lord’s judgment once He has decreed it. It is comforting because no one can stop the Lord’s restoration once He has promised it. God’s purposes go straight forward.

Isaiah 46:9 through 11, “Remember the former things of old:, for I am God,, and there is none else;, I am God,, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning,, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,, saying,, My counsel shall stand,, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east,, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country:, yea,, I have spoken it,, I will also bring it to pass;, I have purposed it,, I will also do it.”

Ezekiel 10 is a visible demonstration of this truth. The Lord has spoken. He will bring it to pass. His counsel shall stand.

Doctrinal and Practical Summary

Ezekiel 10 teaches that the glory of God is holy and cannot be presumed upon. Judah had the temple, priesthood, sacrifices, history, and covenant privileges, but they had polluted the sanctuary with idolatry and violence. Therefore, the glory of the Lord began to depart. Religious privilege without obedience becomes greater judgment, not protection.

The chapter also teaches that God’s judgment comes from His own throne. The fire scattered over Jerusalem comes from among the cherubim, from the place of divine glory. Babylon would be the earthly instrument, but the judgment was from the Lord. This means Jerusalem’s destruction was not random history. It was covenant judgment from the holy God.

Ezekiel 10 also shows that the Lord is not confined to buildings. The people assumed the temple guaranteed God’s presence, but Ezekiel saw the glory move. God’s presence cannot be controlled by architecture, tradition, or religious language. The Lord dwells where He chooses and departs when His sanctuary is defiled.

The chapter further reveals the majesty and order of the heavenly throne. The cherubim, wheels, eyes, wings, fire, cloud, and throne all show that God’s rule is active, aware, mobile, and unstoppable. The wheels do not turn aside. The cherubim move in perfect coordination. God is never confused, surprised, delayed, or defeated.

Ezekiel 10 also fits the larger biblical story of glory lost and glory restored. The glory filled the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple. In Ezekiel, the glory departs because of Israel’s abominations. In the person of Jesus Christ, the glory of God comes among men in a greater way.

John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh,, and dwelt among us,, and we beheld his glory,, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,, full of grace and truth.”

Christ is the true and greater manifestation of God’s glory. The temple could be defiled and abandoned, but in Christ the fullness of deity dwells bodily.

Colossians 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

For Israel, Ezekiel 10 is not the end. The glory that departs in judgment will return in restoration. Ezekiel 43 shows the glory returning from the east into the future temple. God’s covenant purposes for Israel remain literal and future. The departure of the glory proves His holiness. The return of the glory will prove His faithfulness.

For believers today, this chapter warns against dead formalism, secret idolatry, and presuming on the presence of God. A church, family, or individual may retain religious language while grieving the Lord through sin. The right response is not to cling to outward symbols while tolerating inward corruption, but to repent, cleanse the idols, and seek the Lord Himself.

The glory of the Lord is the treasure. The temple without glory is empty. Religion without God is judgment waiting to happen. The only safe place is humble obedience before the holy God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Clayton Taylor https://taylorbiblestudy.com