The Departure of God's Glory from the Temple
Ezekiel 10:1-22
Eze.10.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואראה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,com,sg
- והנה: ADV
- אל: NEG
- הרקיע: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- ראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכרבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- כאבן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ספיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כמראה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דמות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נראה: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:26-28 (verbal): Directly parallels the earlier throne-vision language—'likeness of a throne'/appearance of a throne over the living creatures and the same brilliant, throne-like imagery.
- Ezekiel 11:22-23 (thematic): Continues the temple-glory motif: the glory of the LORD moves to/above the cherubim and the throne and then departs, echoing the setting of a throne over the cherubim.
- Exodus 24:10 (verbal): Uses sapphire/paved-stone imagery under divine feet—'like a pavement of sapphire'—linking the throne/platform imagery and the precious-stone motif.
- Revelation 4:2-3 (allusion): Apocalyptic throne-vision with brilliant, jewel-like description of the throne (jasper, carnelian) and a heavenly throne set above attendant beings—an intertextual echo of Ezekiel's throne-sapphire motif.
- Isaiah 6:1-4 (thematic): Royal heavenly vision with God on a sublime throne attended by heavenly creatures (seraphim); thematically parallels Ezekiel's throne-above-attendants and the overwhelming divine splendour.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I looked, and behold — above the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared something like a sapphire stone, the appearance of a throne-form upon them.
- I looked, and behold—above the vault that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared something like a sapphire stone, the semblance of a throne on it.
Eze.10.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לבש: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- הבדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- בינות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לגלגל: PREP
- אל: NEG
- תחת: PREP
- לכרוב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומלא: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg
- חפניך: NOUN,f,pl,poss,2,m,sg
- גחלי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מבינות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לכרבים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וזרק: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cons
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:4, 15-21 (structural): The same vision- vocabulary of cherubim and ‘wheels’ (wheel-within-a-wheel) appears here; Ezekiel 10 revisits and develops the mobility and function of the living creatures first described in ch. 1.
- Ezekiel 9:2 (verbal): The ‘man clothed in linen’ appears again as a heavenly agent sent into the city—same figure and similar commissioning, though there he is given a marking task and here coals to cast.
- Isaiah 6:6-7 (thematic): A seraph takes a live coal from the altar and touches the prophet’s lips to purify/commission him—parallel motif of sacred coal taken from a holy place and used in divine action (purging/judgment or consecration).
- Revelation 8:5 (allusion): An angel fills his censer with fire from the altar and throws it to the earth—echoes the image of sacred fire/coals taken from the divine vicinity and cast down as an act of judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to the man clothed in linen, "Come between the wheels, beneath the cherubim, and fill your palms with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city." And he went in my sight.
- And he said to the man clothed in linen, “Come between the wheels, beneath the cherub; and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” And he came into my sight.
Eze.10.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והכרבים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- עמדים: VERB,qal,part,3,m,pl
- מימין: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cns
- בבאו: PREP+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והענן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלא: ADJ,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- החצר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הפנימית: ADJ,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 40:34-35 (verbal): The cloud covering and filling the sacred space: Exodus describes the cloud filling the tent of meeting and the glory of the LORD filling the tabernacle, paralleling 'the cloud filled the inner court.'
- 1 Kings 8:10-11 (verbal): At Solomon's dedication the cloud filled the house and the priests could not stand to minister — language and motif echo the cloud/glory filling the temple area in Ezekiel 10:3.
- Ezekiel 1:4-28 (structural): Ezekiel's original vision introduces the cherubim, wheels, and cloud/glory imagery; Ezek 10:3 reprises that same complex of motifs (cherubim at the house, cloud filling the court).
- Ezekiel 9:3 (allusion): Earlier in Ezekiel a man clothed in linen and the movement of the glory from the cherubim are narrated; 10:3 alludes to these contiguous scenes of divine presence, movement, and the positioning of heavenly beings around the house.
- Isaiah 6:1-4 (thematic): Isaiah's temple vision features heavenly creatures before the divine throne and the overwhelming presence filling the temple — thematically parallel to cherubim standing by the house and the cloud filling the inner court in Ezekiel.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now the cherubim stood at the entrance to the house when the man came; and the cloud filled the inner court.
- When the man entered, the cherubim stood at the entrance of the house on the right, and the cloud filled the inner court.
Eze.10.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כבוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מעל: PREP
- הכרוב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- מפתן: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וימלא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- הענן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והחצר: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def
- מלאה: ADV
- את: PRT,acc
- נגה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כבוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 9:3 (verbal): Same scene motif and language: the glory of the LORD departs from over the cherub/house (the glory 'went up from the cherub'), linking the movement of divine glory in the Jerusalem temple vision.
- Ezekiel 11:22-23 (verbal): Repeated Ezekiel motif: the cherubim lift up and the glory of the LORD rises and leaves the city/temple, explicitly describing the departure of Yahweh’s presence from Jerusalem.
- Exodus 40:34-35 (thematic): The cloud covering the sanctuary and the glory of the LORD filling the tabernacle parallels Ezekiel’s language of the house being filled with cloud and the court with the brightness of God’s glory (divine presence filling sacred space).
- 1 Kings 8:10-11 (verbal): Solomon’s temple dedication: the cloud and the glory of the LORD filling the temple—priestly imagery and wording closely parallel Ezekiel’s description of the temple/court being filled and overwhelmed by the divine glory.
- Isaiah 6:1-4 (thematic): Heavenly vision language: the throne/temple is filled with overwhelming divine radiance and attendants (seraphim), echoing the theme of transcendent divine glory filling sacred space and provoking a prophetic response.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the glory of the LORD lifted from above the cherubim to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD.
- Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim to the threshold of the house; the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of the LORD.
Eze.10.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וקול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כנפי: NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- הכרובים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- נשמע: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- החצר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- החיצנה: DET+NOUN,f,sg,def
- כקול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- שדי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בדברו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:24-25 (verbal): Near-identical language and scene: the noise/sound of the cherubim's wings is heard to the outer court and is compared to the voice of the Almighty in Ezekiel's earlier vision.
- Psalm 29:3-4 (thematic): Speaks of the voice of the LORD as powerful, thundering and full of majesty—parallels Ezekiel’s simile likening the cherubim-wing sound to the voice of God.
- Isaiah 6:2-3 (thematic): Heavenly, winged creatures (seraphim) call out around God's throne; echoes the motif of winged beings whose vocalization marks the divine presence.
- Revelation 4:8 (allusion): The four living creatures with six wings continually worship before God's throne; New Testament imagery that echoes Ezekiel’s cherubim and the link between their wings/sound and God's presence.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the sound of the Almighty when he speaks.
- And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of the Almighty when he speaks.
Eze.10.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בצותו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לבש: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- הבדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- קח: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מבינות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לגלגל: PREP
- מבינות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לכרובים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ויעמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אצל: PREP
- האופן: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:15-21 (verbal): Same wheel (ophan) imagery beside the living creatures/cherubim; establishes the original throne‑chariot context for the wheels mentioned in Ezekiel 10:6.
- Ezekiel 9:2-3 (verbal): Another appearance of the 'man clothed in linen' who carries out a divine commission in the temple, linking the figure and his priestly/ministerial role across the visions.
- Ezekiel 10:2-4 (structural): Immediate context within the same chapter: the command to take burning coals from between the cherubim and the action of the man in linen — these verses form the direct narrative parallel to 10:6.
- Revelation 4:6-8 (thematic): Heavenly throne scene with living creatures around the throne who continually serve/attend God; thematically parallels Ezekiel's cherubim and the throne‑chariot vision.
- Isaiah 6:1-3 (thematic): Vision of exalted heavenly attendants (seraphim) around God’s throne, thematically akin to Ezekiel’s cherubim imagery and the portrayal of divine attendants executing God’s will.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, "Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim." So he went and stood beside the wheel.
- When he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim,” he came and stood beside the wheels.
Eze.10.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הכרוב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מבינות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לכרובים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אל: NEG
- האש: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בינות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- הכרבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וישא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- חפני: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- לבש: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- הבדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 10:2-4 (structural): Immediate context and continuation of the same scene: commands about taking fire from between the cherubim and the movements of the cherubim/wheels are described in these verses.
- Ezekiel 9:2-3 (verbal): Introduces the 'man clothed with linen' who appears again in Ezekiel 10 and is involved with marking and handling actions in the city—textual repetition and shared actor.
- Isaiah 6:6-7 (thematic): A seraph takes a live coal from the altar to cleanse Isaiah's lips; thematically parallels sacred coal used for purification/atonement taken from the holy place.
- Leviticus 16:12 (thematic): On the Day of Atonement Aaron takes burning coals from the altar into the holy of holies—parallel ritual motif of removing sacred coals from the sanctuary for a holy purpose.
- Exodus 25:20-22 (allusion): The divine presence is said to dwell 'between the cherubim' on the mercy seat; Ezekiel's 'fire between the cherubim' echoes and reinterprets this locus of God's presence.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim; and he took and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen. He took it, and went out.
- Then the cherub reached out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen; and he took it and went out.
Eze.10.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לכרבים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- תבנית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תחת: PREP
- כנפיהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff
Parallels
- Ezek.1.8 (verbal): Nearly identical description earlier in Ezekiel’s vision: 'the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings' — same verbal motif applied to the cherubim.
- Isa.6.2 (thematic): Seraphim with multiple wings who cover themselves and fly — parallels the motif of winged heavenly creatures attending God's throne.
- Exod.25.20 (structural): Instruction for cherubim on the mercy seat whose wings overshadow the ark — shared iconography of cherubim with outspread wings in temple/temporal contexts.
- Rev.4.8 (thematic): The four living creatures around the heavenly throne, each with wings and continual praise — New Testament parallel of winged throne-attendants in apocalyptic vision.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I saw the form of a human hand under their wings.
- The cherubim saw the form of a human hand under their wings.
Eze.10.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואראה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,com,sg
- והנה: ADV
- ארבעה: NUM,card,m,sg
- אופנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אצל: PREP
- הכרובים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אופן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- אצל: PREP
- הכרוב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- ואופן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- אצל: PREP
- הכרוב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- ומראה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האופנים: DET+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כעין: PREP
- אבן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תרשיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:15-21 (verbal): An earlier, parallel vision in Ezekiel that introduces the same wheels beside the cherubim (including the ‘wheel within a wheel’ motif) and describes their appearance and movement—essentially the same imagery as 10:9–13.
- Ezekiel 1:16 (verbal): Explicitly describes the appearance of the wheels as like the color of beryl/chrysolite (Heb. תרשיש), the same descriptive phrase used in 10:9.
- Ezekiel 10:13 (structural): Later verse in the same chapter that explains the functional relationship between the wheels and the cherubim—‘the wheels were beside them’ and the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels—clarifying the movement implied in 10:9.
- Revelation 4:6-8 (thematic): A New Testament throne-vision with four living creatures surrounding God’s throne; while Revelation omits wheels, the four-creature motif, rich visionary throne-imagery, and emphasis on many-eyed creatures allude to Ezekiel’s cherubim and wheeled vision.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I looked, and behold — four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a tarshish gem.
- I looked, and behold—four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of beryl.
Eze.10.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומראיהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- דמות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- לארבעתם: PREP+NUM,card,pl,suff
- כאשר: CONJ
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- האופן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בתוך: PREP
- האופן: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:16 (verbal): Uses the identical motif “wheel within a wheel” and describes the strange wheels associated with the living creatures — near-verbatim imagery.
- Ezekiel 1:19-21 (structural): Explains how the wheels moved with the living creatures and had rims full of eyes, paralleling 10:10’s linking of wheels and the cherubim’s movement.
- Ezekiel 10:9-13 (verbal): Immediate context repeating and expanding the same wheel-appearance language, tying the wheels directly to the cherubim and the departure of the divine glory.
- Revelation 4:6-8 (allusion): John’s four living creatures around the throne, full of eyes and continually praising God, echo Ezekiel’s cherubim imagery and may allude to the visionary motifs of wheels and fourfold creatures.
Alternative generated candidates
- Their whole appearance was alike, as if each wheel was within a wheel.
- Their appearance and structure was the same for all four of them—like a wheel within a wheel.
Eze.10.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בלכתם: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- ארבעת: NUM,card,pl,cstr
- רבעיהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- יסבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- בלכתם: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- המקום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יפנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחריו: PREP,3,m,sg
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- יסבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- בלכתם: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:9 (verbal): Contains virtually the same wording about the living creatures: “they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward,” matching the movement language of 10:11.
- Ezekiel 1:20–21 (structural): Describes the wheels and living creatures moving together—'whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went'—paralleling the idea that they went straight where their head faced and did not turn aside.
- Ezekiel 10:9–10 (verbal): Immediate context in the same chapter describing the cherubim and wheels; echoes the same movement motif and language about going toward the four quarters and not turning.
- Revelation 4:6–8 (allusion): John’s four living creatures before the throne echo Ezekiel’s cherubim imagery (fourfold creatures, continuous activity and readiness), thematically reflecting the same divine-mobility motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they went, they went in the direction of any one of their four faces; they did not turn as they went, but went straight in the direction their heads faced.
- When they went, they went toward any of the four directions; they did not turn as they went, but to whichever of the four they faced they went without turning as they went.
Eze.10.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- בשרם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- וגבהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- וידיהם: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs+3mp
- וכנפיהם: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,suff,poss:3mp
- והאופנים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- מלאים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- עינים: NOUN,f,du,abs
- סביב: ADV
- לארבעתם: PREP+NUM,card,pl,suff
- אופניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:18 (verbal): Same visionary motif: the wheels (or rims) are described as being full of eyes round about — a near verbal repetition of the image in Ezek.10:12.
- Ezekiel 1:6-8 (structural): Earlier in Ezekiel’s inaugural vision the living creatures’ bodies, hands and wings are described (hands under wings, wings touching one another), providing the structural context for the similar catalogue of body-parts in 10:12.
- Revelation 4:6-8 (verbal): John’s throne-vision echoes Ezekiel’s living creatures: four living beings with multiple wings and eyes 'round about' (full of eyes before and behind), combining the winged-creature and many-eyes imagery.
- Revelation 5:6 (thematic): The Lamb is described as having 'seven eyes' (symbols of perfect sight/knowledge), echoing the biblical theme of many eyes as a symbol of divine awareness found in Ezek.10:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all of them — their flesh, their backs, their hands, their wings — and the wheels were full of eyes all around the four of them.
- Their whole bodies, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes round about—for all four of them.
Eze.10.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לאופנים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- קורא: VERB,qal,ptcp,NA,m,sg
- הגלגל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- באזני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:15 (verbal): The initial appearance of 'a wheel' beside the living creatures—same visual element and terminology as in 10:13 (the wheels associated with the cherubim).
- Ezekiel 1:18 (verbal): The wheels are described as having high rims and being 'full of eyes'—a close verbal parallel to the wheel imagery continued in Ezekiel 10. 10:12–13 echo this language and detail.
- Ezekiel 1:20 (structural): States that the wheels moved where the spirit would go, showing the same functional relationship between the living creatures and the wheels that is affirmed in Ezekiel 10's vision.
- Revelation 4:6–8 (allusion): John's vision of four living creatures 'full of eyes' (before and behind) and their continuous worship echoes Ezekiel's cherubim-and-wheels imagery; Revelation adapts Ezekiel's motifs for its heavenly throne scene.
- Zechariah 6:1–5 (thematic): Vision of four chariots (wheels/chariots of heaven) driven by the spirits of the heavens—a thematic parallel to Ezekiel's heavenly wheeled chariot/cherubim vision representing divine movement in the heavens.
Alternative generated candidates
- And in my hearing the wheels were called, 'Wheel.'
- As for the wheels, I heard them called “the wheel” in my hearing.
Eze.10.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וארבעה: CONJ+NUM,card,m,sg
- פנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לאחד: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- האחד: PRON,indef,sg,m
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הכרוב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ופני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- השני: ADJ,m,sg,def
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והשלישי: CONJ+NUM,m,sg,def
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אריה: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- והרביעי: CONJ+NUM,m,sg,def
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- נשר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:10 (verbal): Nearly identical four‑faced description in Ezekiel’s initial vision (cherub, man, lion, eagle); the same verbal motif repeated.
- Ezekiel 10:20-21 (structural): Immediate context in Ezekiel identifying these beings as the cherubim and reiterating the four‑face motif, linking the visions together.
- Revelation 4:7 (allusion): John’s throne vision names four living creatures with faces like a lion, ox (calf), man, and eagle—an obvious New Testament echo of Ezekiel’s fourfold imagery.
- Isaiah 6:2 (thematic): Isaiah’s throne‑room vision features attendant heavenly beings around God’s throne, paralleling Ezekiel’s heavenly court setting and cultic/adorational context.
- Exodus 25:18-20 (thematic): Cherubim placed on the ark’s mercy seat link the cherubim motif to divine presence and worship in Israel’s cultic symbolism, resonating with Ezekiel’s portrayal of cherubim as throne‑attendants.
Alternative generated candidates
- And each of the four had one face: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
- Each had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Eze.10.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירמו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- הכרובים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- החיה: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- בנהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- כבר: ADV
Parallels
- Ezekiel 10:20 (verbal): Direct repetition of the formula—“these were the living creatures that I saw by the river Chebar,” explicitly identifying the cherubim in chapter 10 with the living creatures of Ezekiel’s original vision.
- Ezekiel 1:5-14 (structural): The opening vision’s full description of the living creatures/cherubim (faces, wings, wheels) which chapter 10 reuses and develops; establishes the original sight at the river Chebar.
- Ezekiel 1:19-21 (verbal): Language about the movement of the living creatures and the wheels—‘wherever the spirit went, they went’—parallels 10:15’s note of the cherubim lifting themselves up and moving.
- Revelation 4:6-8 (thematic): John’s four living creatures around the throne echo Ezekiel’s cherubim imagery (living creatures, continuous worship, symbolic features), showing a New Testament appropriation of the Ezekielic throne-room motif.
- Isaiah 6:2 (thematic): Isaiah’s winged heavenly beings (seraphim) attending God’s throne form a related throne-room tradition of winged celestial attendants, thematically comparable to Ezekiel’s cherubim.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the cherubim rose up — it was the same living creatures that I had seen by the river Chebar.
- When the cherubim rose up, it was the living creature that I had seen by the river Chebar.
Eze.10.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובלכת: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הכרובים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- האופנים: DET+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אצלם: PREP,3,m,pl
- ובשאת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הכרובים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- את: PRT,acc
- כנפיהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- לרום: VERB,qal,inf
- מעל: PREP
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- יסבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- האופנים: DET+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- גם: ADV
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- מאצלם: PREP,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:19-20 (verbal): Almost identical language about the wheels going beside the cherubim and the wheels' movement being governed by the spirit of the living creatures — the same visional motif repeated earlier in ch. 1.
- Ezekiel 10:17 (structural): Immediate contextual parallel/continuation: repeats and amplifies the association of the wheels with the cherubim as they lift up their wings.
- Revelation 4:6-8 (allusion): Apocalyptic reworking of Ezekiel’s throne/creature imagery: four living creatures with wings, full of eyes, constantly around the throne — echoing the cherubim and wheel symbolism.
- Isaiah 6:2 (thematic): Throne-room vision with winged heavenly beings (the seraphim) attending God — a related Israelite motif of winged creatures in divine presence/transport imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to soar from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them.
- When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the earth, the wheels did not turn away from beside them.
Eze.10.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בעמדם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+suff:3mp
- יעמדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- וברומם: PREP,3,m,pl
- ירומו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אותם: PRON,3,m,pl,obj
- כי: CONJ
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- החיה: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 10:20 (verbal): Very close verbal and narrative parallel in the same chapter: the cherubim lift their wings, mount up from the earth, and the movement is governed by 'the spirit of the living creature'—language and motif repeated.
- Ezekiel 1:20-21 (verbal): The earlier vision of the living creatures and wheels uses the same technical phrase 'for the spirit of the living creature' and describes corresponding movement/standing of the creatures and wheels, echoing Ezekiel 10:17's dynamics.
- Isaiah 6:2 (thematic): Isaiah's seraphim are winged beings whose posture and motion (standing, covering, flying) resonate with Ezekiel's winged creatures—shared imagery of angelic beings using wings to express presence and movement before God.
- Revelation 4:8 (allusion): John's four living creatures with multiple wings and perpetual worship recall Ezekiel's cherubim; Revelation reworks Ezekielic language and the motif of living creatures animated by a divine spirit.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they stood, they stood; and when they rose, they rose with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
- When they stood, they stood; and when they rose, they rose—for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
Eze.10.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כבוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מעל: PREP
- מפתן: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויעמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- הכרובים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Ezekiel 9:3 (verbal): Uses nearly the same vocabulary about the glory moving between the cherubim and the threshold—9:3 records the glory going from the cherub to the threshold, paralleling 10:18's movement (inverse direction) and shared phrasing.
- Ezekiel 8:4 (verbal): Earlier in the same vision the 'glory of the God of Israel' is observed at the entrance/threshold of the house, providing the immediate context for the departure described in 10:18.
- Ezekiel 11:22-23 (thematic): Continues the motif of the divine glory leaving the temple/city—11:22–23 describes the glory rising from the city and standing on the eastern mountain, a narrative continuation of the departure in 10:18.
- Ezekiel 1:26-28 (thematic): Shared throne‑and‑cherubim imagery: Ezekiel's initial vision places the glory above the living creatures/cherubim, establishing the theophanic framework that 10:18 invokes when the glory stands over the cherubim.
- 1 Kings 8:10-11 (thematic): Describes the 'glory of the LORD' filling the temple at its dedication; thematically contrasts the presence‑of‑God motif—entering/filling the sanctuary versus God’s departure as narrated in Ezekiel 10:18.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim.
- Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the house and stood above the cherubim.
Eze.10.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- הכרובים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- את: PRT,acc
- כנפיהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- וירומו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- מן: PREP
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- בצאתם: PREP+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- והאופנים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- לעמתם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ויעמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הקדמוני: ADJ,m,sg,def
- וכבוד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- מלמעלה: ADV
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:19-28 (verbal): The opening vision of Ezekiel contains the same cluster of images—cherubim with lifted wings, the wheels beside them, and the shining likeness of the glory of God above—providing the original formulation echoed in 10:19.
- Ezekiel 11:22-23 (structural): Continues the narrative of the divine glory departing Jerusalem: the glory lifts up from the city and stands on the mountain east of it, paralleling the movement of the cherubim and the glory in 10:19.
- Exodus 25:20-22 (verbal): The cherubim over the ark are described with wings outstretched and God's presence (the place of meeting) between them—similar spatial language linking cherubim and the locus of divine glory.
- Isaiah 6:2-4 (thematic): Isaiah's vision of winged heavenly creatures (seraphim) attending God's throne and proclaiming his holiness echoes the broader theme of winged attendants in a theophany surrounding the divine glory.
- Revelation 4:6-8 (allusion): The four living creatures with many eyes and six wings who continuously worship before God's throne allude to Ezekiel's living creatures/cherubim imagery and the attendant presence of God's glory in the heavenly throne-vision.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the cherubim lifted up their wings and rose from the earth before my eyes when they went out; the wheels were beside them, and they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
- And the cherubim lifted up their wings and rose from the earth before my eyes as they went out; with the wheels beside them, they stood at the opening of the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
Eze.10.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- החיה: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- תחת: PREP
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כבר: ADV
- ואדע: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- כי: CONJ
- כרובים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:5-11 (verbal): The initial vision of the 'living creatures' (cherubim) with four faces and wings—same imagery and terminology as recalled in 10:20.
- Ezekiel 1:20-21 (verbal): Speaks of the movement and characteristics of the living creatures (their wheels and motion), reinforcing the identification of the beings Ezekiel saw by the Chebar.
- Ezekiel 10:15-17 (structural): Immediate context in chapter 10 that repeats and expands the identification of the beings as the living creatures/cherubim seen earlier by the river Chebar.
- Exodus 25:18-22 (allusion): Description of two cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat where God's presence dwells—parallels the association of cherubim with the divine presence 'under the God of Israel.'
- Genesis 3:24 (thematic): Cherubim portrayed as living, attendant creatures set at Eden's entrance—a broader biblical motif of cherubim as divine attendants/guardians related to Ezekiel's vision.
Alternative generated candidates
- This was the living creature that I had seen by the river Chebar; I knew that they were cherubim.
- This is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar under the God of Israel—I knew that they were cherubim.
Eze.10.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ארבעה: NUM,card,m,sg
- ארבעה: NUM,card,m,sg
- פנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לאחד: PREP
- וארבע: CONJ,NUM,card,f,sg
- כנפים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לאחד: PREP
- ודמות: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ידי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תחת: PREP
- כנפיהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:6-8 (verbal): The initial vision that closely matches 10:21: the living creatures are described as having four faces, four wings, and the likeness of a human hand under their wings — near-verbatim material repeated later in ch.10.
- Ezekiel 1:11 (verbal): Explicit statement that each creature had four faces (and the same four-fold set of faces), echoing the same formula found in 10:21.
- Ezekiel 10:14 (verbal): Within the same chapter this verse lists the four faces (cherub/man/lion/eagle) associated with the cherubim imagery that 10:21 summarizes.
- Revelation 4:6-8 (allusion): The four living creatures around the throne each have multiple wings and distinct faces (lion, ox/ox-like, man, eagle), a clear New Testament allusion to Ezekiel’s four-faced cherubim.
- Isaiah 6:2 (thematic): Isaiah’s seraphim are winged heavenly beings (covering face and feet, flying) — thematically parallel as cultic, winged creatures in the divine presence, though details (number of wings, faces) differ.
Alternative generated candidates
- Each had four faces, and each had four wings; and the form of a man's hand was under their wings.
- Each had four faces and each had four wings, and the likeness of a man’s hands was under their wings.
Eze.10.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ודמות: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- המה: PRON,3,m,pl
- הפנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- על: PREP
- נהר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- כבר: ADV
- מראיהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss3mp
- ואותם: PRON,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פניו: NOUN,m,pl,cons+3,m,sg
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 1:10 (verbal): Uses the same language about the likeness of their faces and the fourfold facial imagery first introduced in the initial Chebar‑vision.
- Ezekiel 1:12 (verbal): Describes the same straight‑forward movement of the living creatures—'they went every one straight forward'—echoed in 10:22.
- Ezekiel 10:20 (structural): An immediate internal cross‑reference identifying these beings as the same living creatures seen by the river Chebar, explicitly linking the two scenes.
- Revelation 4:7 (allusion): Topical echo of four living creatures with faces of man, lion, ox (calf) and eagle—New Testament allusion to Ezekiel's cherubic imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- The likeness of their faces was the same faces that I had seen by the river Chebar — their appearance; and they went every one straight forward.
- The likeness of their faces was the same as those that I had seen by the river Chebar; each one went straight forward in the direction of his face.
And I looked, and behold, on the expanse above the heads of the cherubim there appeared to be a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne upon them. And he said to the man clothed in linen, "Come between the wheels, beneath the cherubim; fill your hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city." And he went in my sight. Now the cherubim stood at the right side of the house when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court.
Then the glory of the LORD rose up from above the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of the LORD. And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of the Almighty when he speaks. And he commanded the man clothed in linen, "Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim." So he went and stood beside the wheel. And one of the cherubim stretched out his hand to the fire that was between the cherubim and took and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen; and he took it and went out. Now I saw the likeness of a human hand under the wings of the cherubim. And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim—one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a beryl (tarshish) stone.
Their appearance and their work was like the work of a wheel within a wheel.
When they went, they went toward any of the four directions; they did not turn as they went; each went straight forward in the direction that his face was set.
All of them had rims full of eyes round about—the four of them: their bodies, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around.
As for the wheels, the name in my hearing was "wheel." And the four had the same likeness: the face of a cherub was the first face, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubim—this was the living creature that I had seen by the River Chebar.
When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them.
They stood still; they rose up together, for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
Then the glory of the LORD departed from above the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim.
The cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight as they went out; the wheels were beside them, and they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
This was the living creature that I had seen under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.
Each had four faces, and each had four wings, and the likeness of a man's hands was under their wings.
Their faces were the same faces that I had seen by the River Chebar; each one went straight forward in his course.