Ezekiel 10:15-22 · Bible study
Ezekiel 10:15-22 Commentary: God's Glory Leaves the Temple
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Ezekiel identify the cherubim with the living creatures of Chebar? This passage marks the tragic departure of God's glory from the temple.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The solemn departure of God’s glory from the temple, identified with the same glory seen at Chebar.
- Key words: “Cherubim” (symbols of divine presence), “Glory of the Lord” (manifest presence), “Spirit of the living creature” (divine direction).
- Main debate: Whether the “spirit” refers to God’s Spirit or to an inherent life principle.
- Theological theme: God’s holiness, judgment, and his sovereignty over exile.
- Best use: Preaching on God’s presence and departure; understanding the temple; connecting to Christ as the new temple.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
15Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the River Kebar.
16When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them, and even when they spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not veer away from their side.
17When the cherubim stood still, the wheels also stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
18Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim.
19As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the ground, with the wheels beside them as they went. And they stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, with the glory of the God of Israel above them.
20These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.
21Each had four faces and four wings, with what looked like human hands under their wings.
22Their faces looked like the faces I had seen by the River Kebar. Each creature went straight ahead.
WEB World English Bible 2000
15The cherubim mounted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
16When 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.
17When they stood, these stood. When they mounted up, these mounted up with them; for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18Yahweh’s glory went out from over the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim.
19The cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went out, with the wheels beside them. Then 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.
20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
21Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. The likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves. They each went straight forward.
KJV King James Version 1769
15And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
16And 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.
17When 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.
18Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
19And 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.
20This 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.
21Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22And 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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
15And the cherubim mounted up: this is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
16And 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.
17When they stood, these stood; and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18And the glory of Jehovah went forth from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
19And 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.
20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
21Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22And 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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
15And the cherubs are lifted up, it is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
16And in the going of the cherubs, the wheels go beside them; and in the cherubs lifting up their wings to be high above the earth, the wheels turn not round, even they, from being beside them.
17In their standing they stand, and in their exaltation they are exalted with them: for the living spirit is in them.
18And go forth doth the honour of Jehovah from off the threshold of the house, and standeth over the cherubs,
19and the cherubs lift up their wings, and are lifted up from the earth before mine eyes; in their going forth, the wheels also are over-against them, and he standeth at the opening of the east gate of the house of Jehovah, and the honour of the God of Israel is over them from above.
20It is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar, and I know that they are cherubs.
21Four faces are to each, and four wings to each, and the likeness of the hands of man is under their wings.
22As to the likeness of their faces, they are the faces that I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; each straight forward they go.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
15And the cherubim mounted up. This was the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
16And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
17When they stood, these stood; and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18And the glory of Jehovah departed from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
19And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight, when they went out; and the wheels were 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.
20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
21Each one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I had seen by the river Chebar — their appearance and themselves: they went every one straight before them.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
15And the cherubims were lifted up: this is the living creature that I had seen by the river Chobar.
16And when the cherubims went, the wheels also went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings, to mount up from the earth, the wheels stayed not behind, but were by them.
17When they stood, these stood: and when they were lifted up, these were lifted up: for the spirit of life was in them.
18And the glory of the Lord went forth from the threshold of the temple: and stood over the cherubims.
19And the cherubims lifting up their wings, were raised from the earth before me: and as they went out, the wheels also followed: and it stood in the entry of the east gate of the house of the Lord: and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
20This is the living creature, which I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chobar: and I understood that they were cherubims.
21Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings: and the likeness of a man's hand was under their wings.
22And as to the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces which I had seen by the river Chobar, and their looks, and the impulse of every one to go straight forward.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this passage emphatically identifies the cherubim seen in the temple vision with the “living creatures” of Ezekiel 1. Adam Clarke notes that the word “cherubim” is already plural (Hebrew -im), and the repetition confirms the identity. Barnes explains that the wheels move in perfect unison with the cherubim, showing they are “pervaded by one will”, the spirit of the living creature. Calvin argues the chief point is that God has deserted the temple. The Cambridge Bible adds that the prophet now recognizes the full meaning of his Chebar vision, as the glory actually departs. Gill emphasizes this confirmation was necessary because the people were “dull and perverse.” The identification is not mere repetition but a solemn declaration: the same God who appeared in exile is leaving His house.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Confirming the vision: Barnes and Cambridge: the repetition helps Ezekiel and the readers recognize that the same God who appeared at Chebar is now leaving the temple.
- Addressing unbelief: Gill and JFB: the people are ‘dull and perverse,’ so Ezekiel must repeat the vision to establish its truth against their skepticism.
What is clear: The glory of the Lord departs from the temple and moves to the east gate, carried by cherubim, and Ezekiel identifies them as the same beings from the Chebar vision.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'living creatures' with cherubim | Ezekiel explicitly identifies them as the same beings; he “knew that they were cherubim” (v. 20). | Clarke questions whether the cherubim themselves are the best interpretation of the living creatures, and he doubts the traditional Trinitarian reading. |
| The nature of 'spirit of the living creature' | It is the unifying principle that coordinates cherubim and wheels. | Calvin sees it as God’s Spirit directing all; the margin of some translations reads “spirit of life,” allowing for a created life force. |
| Permanence of God’s departure | God actually leaves the temple due to sin. | Some traditions emphasize that the departure is conditional and eventually reversed (Ezekiel 43); others see it as a one-time historical judgment. |
| Meaning of the wheels | The wheels move in perfect harmony with the cherubim, symbolizing divine control. | Wesley sees them as representing the providence of God; Barnes argues they are part of one living creature, not merely a vehicle. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Ezekiel was a priest deported to Babylon in 597 BC. The temple in Jerusalem still stood, but was polluted by idolatry (Ezekiel 8). In chapter 1, he saw a vision of God’s glory by the river Chebar, four living creatures with wheels, a moving chariot-throne. Now in chapters 8, 10, he is transported to Jerusalem and shown the abominations. The glory of the Lord begins to depart in stages. First it moves to the threshold (Ezekiel 9:3), then to the cherubim (10:18), then to the east gate of the outer court (10:19). This slowly retreating presence shows God’s reluctance, as Calvin observed. The east gate is significant: the glory will later return through it in the new temple (Ezekiel 43:4).
The wheels and cherubim together form a divine chariot (the merkabah). The repeated phrase “the spirit of the living creature was in them” (v. 17) indicates the entire movement is directed by one will, God’s Spirit. Even in judgment, God’s presence is not confined to the building. He is with His people even in exile, as the Chebar vision confirmed. The tragedy is real: God leaves the temple because of sin. Yet the same glory that departs is the glory Ezekiel already saw among the captives. God does not abandon His people entirely; He goes with them.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentator excerpts do not discuss any textual variants for this passage. The text is stable across the major witnesses.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, this vision fed into Merkabah mysticism, focusing on the chariot-throne and the heavenly hierarchy. Early Christian writers interpreted the departure as God leaving the rebellious temple, a foreshadowing of the destruction of Jerusalem. Some saw the four faces as pointing to the four Gospels. Reformation theologians like Calvin used the passage to warn against trusting in external religion. The repeated identification of the living creatures with cherubim shaped later iconography of the four living creatures in Revelation. Throughout church history, this passage has served as a sobering reminder that God’s presence cannot be presumed upon, and as a comfort that He is with His people even when the visible structures fail.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s glory cannot be taken for granted. The temple was the place of God’s presence, but when the people filled it with idols, He left. The departure was slow, a final call to repent.
- God’s presence is not tied to a building. The cherubim are a mobile throne. The same glory that filled the temple is now on the move, and it goes to the east gate, toward the exiles.
- The vision confirms the message. By identifying the cherubim with the living creatures of Chebar, Ezekiel tells the exiles that the God they see leaving Jerusalem is the same God who has been with them all along.
Five-point outline
- The setting: God’s glory at the threshold (v. 1, 5).
- The move: glory rises to the cherubim (v. 6, 8).
- The departure: cherubim lift wings, wheels follow (v. 9, 17).
- The stillness: the whole manifestation stops at the east gate (v. 18, 19).
- The recognition: “I knew they were cherubim” (v. 20, 22).
Illustration hooks
- A family member who packs slowly before moving out, each step a chance for reconciliation, yet each step final.
- A church that has all the right programs but no sense of God’s presence. The building is full, but something is missing.
- A storm approaching: first the sky darkens, then the wind picks up, then the rain comes. God’s judgment often moves in stages.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do we know if God’s presence is still with us as a church?
- Does God ever leave a person or a people permanently?
- What does it mean that the same glory appears in exile? Is there hope in that?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows both the heaviness of God’s departure and the hope that He is not absent from His people in exile. The repeated identification of the cherubim with the living creatures from Ezekiel 1 is a key to understanding the whole vision. Read the passage together and discuss:
Discussion questions
- What details from chapter 1 does Ezekiel repeat here? Why do you think he repeats them?
- Why does the glory of the Lord leave the temple in stages? What might that say about God’s character?
- In verse 17, what does “the spirit of the living creature” mean? How does it connect to the wheels?
- The cherubim stand at the east gate of the Lord’s house. Look up Ezekiel 43:1, 5. What happens at the east gate later? How does that give hope?
- How does the fact that Ezekiel saw this same glory by the river Chebar change the way the exiles would hear this message?
- What does it mean for us today that God’s presence is not limited to one building or location?
- If you felt that God’s presence had “departed” from a situation in your life, how would this passage encourage you to respond?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Ezekiel 1:3 | Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and Yahweh’s hand was there on him. |
| Ezekiel 1:5 | Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man. |
| Ezekiel 1:13 | As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches. The fire went up and down among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning went out of the fire. |
| Ezekiel 1:14 | The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. |
| Ezekiel 8:6 | He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they do? Even the great abominations that the house of Israel commit here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? But you will again see yet other great abominations.” |
| Ezekiel 11:22 | Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels were beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was over them above. |
| Ezekiel 43:3 | It was like 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 on my face. |
| Hosea 9:12 | Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them, so that not a man shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from them! |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke insists that the plural of cherub is cherubim, not cherubims, since the Hebrew -im already marks plurality. He also rejects the common view that this vision represents the Holy Trinity, calling it unproven conjecture. For him, sound interpretation must account for every detail of the vision.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that only in this departure of the Lord's glory from the temple does Ezekiel first grasp the full meaning of his earlier vision. The glory has left the holy of holies, been enthroned on the four living creatures, and departed with them, confirming that these are the cherubim in whose midst the Lord dwells.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary notes that Ezekiel's claim to "know" the living creatures were cherubim likely came from the third vision itself, not from being told. It suggests the prophet's reflection on temple imagery and the storm-cloud shaped this understanding, and that the word "knew" may not imply he learned it for the first time.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva notes highlight that Ezekiel recognizes these cherubim as identical to those he saw at the river Chebar. Their four faces, four wings, and human hands are exactly the same, and the wheels move in perfect unison, confirming they are the same beings.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights that God's departure from the temple is slow and reluctant, marked in distinct stages. The repeated vision of the cherubim compensates for the loss of the temple by giving the exiled people knowledge of its mysteries, preparing them for a future restoration of the covenant.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange's main concern is
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry draws attention to the wheels full of eyes, which he interprets as a symbol of God's all-seeing providence. The wheels move in perfect harmony with the cherubim because the same spirit is in both, showing that every part of God's providential plan is unified and directed by one divine will.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees a perfect harmony where every second cause serves God's purpose, contrasting blind fortune with providence's watchful wheels. The cherubim and wheels all stood still, granting a respite before judgment. He reads the prophet's knowledge as either special assurance or comparison with earlier temple visions.