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Ezekiel 10

22 verses

TL;DR

Ezekiel 10 describes the divine vision of cherubim with wheels ascending from the temple, symbolizing the departure of God's glory and the impending judgment on Jerusalem.

Summary

In this chapter, Ezekiel sees a vivid depiction of cherubim—angelic beings with multiple faces and wings—accompanied by wheels that have eyes all around. A man clothed in linen is commanded to gather coals of fire from between the wheels and scatter them over the city, signifying purification or judgment. The cherubim stand on the right side of the house as the cloud fills the inner court, and the glory of the Lord ascends from the cherubim to the threshold, filling the house with brightness. The cherubim move in a fixed direction, following where their heads look, while the wheels remain beside them and turn not. The cherubim are lifted, the wheels accompany them, and the Lord's glory departs from the threshold, leaving the cherubim above the east gate of the Lord's house. The vision ends with a reminder that the cherubim are the living creatures seen by the prophet at the river of Chebar, emphasizing their consistent appearance and the divine presence associated with them.

Outline
  1. The vision of cherubim and wheels and the man with fire coals.
  2. Movement of cherubim and wheels, the departure of the Lord's glory.
  3. Conclusion linking the vision to the earlier sight at Chebar and the symbolic meaning of the cherubim.
Themes
Divine majesty and holinessAngelological symbolismJudgment and purification
Keywords
cherubimwheelsgloryfire coalscloudfour facessapphireberylChebareast gate
People
Ezekielman clothed with linen
Places
Chebarriver of Chebareast gate of the Lord's house
Things
cherubimwheelssapphire stoneberyl stonefire coalscloudgloryfour faceshands of a man
Key Verses
  • Ezekiel 10:1: Introduces the striking imagery of the cherubim and the sapphire-like throne, setting the tone for the vision.
  • Ezekiel 10:5: Highlights the audible presence of the cherubim's wings, emphasizing the overwhelming holiness of the Lord.
  • Ezekiel 10:11: Shows the cherubim's motion—moving in a fixed direction—illustrating divine purpose and control.
  • Ezekiel 10:14: Describes the four faces of each cherub, a key symbolic element connecting angelic description to later prophetic imagery.
  • Ezekiel 10:18: Marks the departure of the Lord's glory from the temple threshold, signaling the onset of judgment.
Questions
  • What is the significance of the cherubim having four faces and how does that relate to their role?
  • Why does the vision focus on the movement of the cherubim and wheels in a fixed direction?
  • How does the departure of the Lord's glory from the temple reflect the impending judgment on Jerusalem?
Sentiment

neutral
The passage conveys awe at divine majesty while also depicting judgment and the departure of God's presence.