Ezekiel 10: The Glory Begins to Leave
The glory of the LORD rises from the cherubim to the threshold and then to the east gate, as coals of fire are scattered over the doomed city.
Ezekiel 10 (WEB)
1 Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. He went in as I watched.
3 Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4 Yahweh’s glory mounted 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 Yahweh’s glory.
5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
6 It came to pass, when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim, that he went in, and stood beside a wheel.
7 The cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took of it, and put it into the hands of him who was clothed in linen, who took it and went out.
8 There appeared in the cherubim the form of a man’s hand under their wings.
9 I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like a beryl stone.
10 As for their appearance, the four of them had one likeness, like a wheel within a wheel.
11 When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn’t turn as they went, but to the place where the head looked they followed it; they didn’t turn as they went.
12 Their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes all around, even the wheels that the four of them had.
13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, the whirling wheels.
14 Every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third face the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15 The cherubim mounted up: this is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
16 When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels also didn’t turn from beside them.
17 When they stood, these stood; and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18 Yahweh’s glory went out from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
19 The cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went out, and the wheels beside them: and they stood at the door of the east gate of Yahweh’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
21 Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22 As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; they went every one straight forward.
Ezekiel 10 (KJV)
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.
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.
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
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.
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.
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.
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.
8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.
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.
10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
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.
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.
13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
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.
15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
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.
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.
18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
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.
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.
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.
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 10 (ASV)
1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 And he spake unto the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both thy hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
3 Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4 And the glory of Jehovah mounted 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 Jehovah’s glory.
5 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.
6 And it came to pass, when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim, that he went in, and stood beside a wheel.
7 And the cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed in linen, who took it and went out.
8 And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man’s hand under their wings.
9 And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like unto a beryl stone.
10 And as for their appearance, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been within a wheel.
11 When they went, they went in their four directions: they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
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.
13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing the whirling wheels.
14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the 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.
15 And the cherubim mounted up: this is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels also turned not from beside them.
17 When they stood, these stood; and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18 And the glory of Jehovah went forth from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went forth, and the wheels beside them: and they stood at the door of the east gate of Jehovah’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
21 Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22 And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; they went every one straight forward.
Summary
Ezekiel looks again and sees above the cherubim a sapphire-like throne, and God commands the man clothed in linen to go in among the whirling wheels beneath the cherub, fill his hands with coals of fire, and scatter them over the city—a sign of Jerusalem's coming destruction. As the man goes in, the cloud fills the inner court, and the glory of the Lord mounts up from the cherub and stands over the threshold of the temple, filling the house with the cloud and the court with the brightness of his glory. Ezekiel describes again the living creatures he had seen by the river Chebar: their four faces, their bodies and wings and wheels full of eyes, the wheels called the whirling wheels, all moving in perfect unison because the spirit of the living creature is in them. Then the glory of the Lord goes out from the threshold and stands over the cherubim, who lift their wings and rise from the earth, and they pause at the door of the east gate of the temple. This is the same glory Ezekiel had seen in exile, now in motion, departing by stages from the house it had filled. The chapter is a solemn, deliberate picture of God's presence withdrawing from the temple that his people have defiled.
Main Characters
- The glory of the LORD — The visible presence of God that rises from the cherubim to the temple threshold and then to the east gate, departing in stages from the defiled sanctuary.
- The man clothed in linen — The figure commanded to gather coals of fire from among the cherubim and scatter them over Jerusalem as a sign of its coming destruction.
- The cherubim — The living creatures Ezekiel had seen by the river Chebar, with faces, wings, and eye-covered wheels, who bear up the throne and lift the glory away.
Key Verse
Ezekiel 10:18 (WEB)
Yahweh’s glory went out from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
Lessons Learned
- God's presence is not bound to a building; when his people defile it, his glory can depart.
- The withdrawal of God's glory is gradual and reluctant, revealing his patience even in judgment.
- The same God who appears in exile is the God who governs the temple—his glory is one and sovereign over all.
- Fire scattered over the city shows that judgment proceeds from the holy presence the people had spurned.
- God's glory can depart. “Yahweh’s glory went out from over the threshold of the house” (Ezekiel 10:18, WEB). Persistent sin can drive away the presence we presumed upon.
- God moves by stages, not in haste. The glory lifts from the cherub to the threshold and toward the east gate (Ezekiel 10:4, 18-19). Even in leaving, God's patience lingers.
- Judgment flows from holiness. Coals of fire are taken “from between the cherubim” and scattered over the city (Ezekiel 10:2, WEB). The fire of judgment comes from God's own holy presence.
- God's glory is the same in every place. “This is the living creature that I saw… by the river Chebar” (Ezekiel 10:15, WEB). The God of the temple is the God who met Ezekiel in exile.
- What is the significance of the glory of the LORD departing from the temple in stages?
- Why does the fire of judgment come from among the cherubim, the place of God's presence?
- How does Ezekiel's recognition of the creatures from Chebar connect this vision to chapter 1?
- What does this chapter teach about the danger of presuming on God's presence?
- Where might you be treating God's presence as guaranteed rather than treasured, and how can you guard against that?
- The glory does not vanish instantly but lifts from the cherub to the threshold, then to the east gate (10:4, 18-19), pausing as if reluctant to go. The gradual departure reveals God's patience and grief even in judgment; he leaves the place his people have defiled slowly, giving every chance for repentance.
- The fire is gathered from among the cherubim, from the very throne-presence of God (10:2). Judgment is not separate from God's holiness but flows out of it. The same holy presence that blesses the faithful becomes a consuming fire against persistent, unrepentant sin.
- Ezekiel explicitly identifies these as “the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar” (10:15, 20). This links the temple vision to the opening vision in exile, underscoring that the God who is now leaving Jerusalem is the same God who had already appeared to his people far away—he goes with them.
- The temple's mere existence had become a false security; the people assumed God's presence regardless of their conduct. This chapter shatters that presumption. God's presence is a gift to be treasured and never taken for granted, not a possession guaranteed by ritual or location.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to examine where they may take God's nearness for granted—in worship grown routine, or grace presumed upon. As leader, encourage a renewed reverence and gratitude for God's presence, and a humble watchfulness over the heart.