Bible Study: Ezekiel 10:1-22

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Ezekiel continues the account of the vision in Jerusalem.

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Ezekiel Chapter 10
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​Lessons from the text

The Four Cherubims
This was the second time that Ezekiel saw the four cherubims.  He first saw them at the river of Chebar, and here he saw them at the temple of Jerusalem.  These cherubims seem directly connected to the glory of God; wherever God’s glory went, these four creatures went.  They were present at the river of Chebar because God in all of His glory was going to call Ezekiel to be a prophet.  They were present in the holy temple because God’s glory had been in the temple since Solomon dedicated it (I Ki. 8:10-13).  God’s glory was there because the ark of the covenant was there.  This is particularly noteworthy because statues of cherubims were placed on the covering of the ark.  These cherubims are so vital in God’s ministry to humanity that God required Moses to have a physical representation of them accompany the ark.

In both the temple and at there river of Chebar, God’s glory was above the cherubims (Exo. 25:22).  These creatures are therefore the covering, or guardian, of the divine glory.  (A cherub was placed in charge of guarding the garden of Eden from Adam and Eve - Gen. 3:24.)  As such, they have a peculiar ministry to God that no other spirit has, which is perhaps why they were allowed to retrieve a coal from God’s holy altar.  Described as having four faces each and always being accompanied by wheels within wheels, these cherubims are unusual creatures; nonetheless, they have a very elevated role in the heavens and, as such, deserve our attention.

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​Verse by Verse Commentary

1  Ezekiel sees God’s throne.  Compare with Ezekiel 1:26-28.

​2-7  God commands one of the five spirits to go gather coals from the fire of the brazen altar.  This is the same servant who went through Jerusalem to mark those who are faithful to God (Ezekiel 9:2-4). 

References for Cherub/Cherubim

The creatures themselves:
Genesis 3:24
Ezekiel 10:1-9
Ezekiel 10:14-20
Ezekiel 11:22
Revelation 4:6-8


As decorations in the tabernacle:
Exodus 25:18-20
Exodus 26:1
Exodus 26:31
Exodus 36:8
Exodus 36:35
Exodus 37:7-9
2 Chronicles 5:7-8


God’s glory is above them:
Exodus 25:22
Numbers 7:89
1 Samuel 4:4
2 Samuel 6:2
2 Samuel 22:11
1 Kings 8:6-7
2 Kings 19:15
1 Chronicles 13:6
Psalm 18:10
Psalm 80:1
Psalm 99:1
Isaiah 37:16
Ezekiel 9:3
Hebrews 9:5


As decorations in the temple:
1 Kings 6:23-35
1 Kings 7:29
1 Kings 7:36
1 Chronicles 28:18
2 Chronicles 3:7-14


In the future temple:
Ezekiel 41:18-25

Satan is a cherub:
​Ezekiel 28:13-19

First, he marked who would be spared from God’s wrath; now, he is to sprinkle holy ashes over the city, which is a sign of purging and forgiveness (Isa. 6:5-7).  He has to pass through the cherubims that guard the glory of the Lord to receive the coal.  Noteworthy is that a cherubim has to retrieve the coal for him; even this ministering spirit does not have the authority to take from God’s holy altar.

8  It is unclear whether this verse is stating that the cherubims have hands that look like human hands or that Ezekiel sees another hand appearing from inbetween the creatures, which implies that it is the hand of God; this passage could be pointing to the truth that God works from between the cherubims as they guard His holy throne.

9-17  Ezekiel repeats the description from the river of Chebar (Eze. 1:4-25).  Note how he is grasping at words; the prophet is having difficulty finding words to accurately describe what he sees.  Also noteworthy is that he adds that the creatures are full of eyes within and without; compare with Revelation 4:6-8.

18  The glory of the Lord leaves the temple in Jerusalem.  This has two possible meanings.  First, since God’s glory departed, the temple is now vulnerable to being destroyed; God is no longer giving it divine protection.  Second, this correlates to the destruction of the temple; God’s glory leaves the temple at the moment the ark is taken away by the Babylonians.  Since Ezekiel is seeing this in a vision, time is not constant; there is no guarantee that Ezekiel is seeing past, present, or future events.  Also noteworthy is that the glory departs from the eastern gate.  This corresponds to Adam, who was created in the image of God, leaving Eden through the eastern gate (Gen. 1:27, 3:23-24).

20-22  See note at verse 9.

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