Ezekiel 10:14 kjv
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.
Ezekiel 10:14 nkjv
Each one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 10:14 niv
Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 10:14 esv
And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 10:14 nlt
Each of the four cherubim had four faces: the first was the face of an ox, the second was a human face, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 10 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 1:10 | "As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle." | Previous description of faces, note 'ox'. |
| Eze 1:5 | "And from within it came the likeness of four living creatures..." | Introduction to the living creatures (cherubim). |
| Eze 1:26 | "And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne..." | God's throne above the cherubim. |
| Rev 4:6-7 | "And before the throne... four living creatures full of eyes... The first living creature was like a lion, the second like an ox, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle." | Similar celestial beings and faces in John's vision. |
| Rev 4:8 | "And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes around and within, and day and night without ceasing they sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty...”" | Continual worship and their comprehensive sight. |
| Gen 3:24 | "He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life." | Cherubim as guardians of holiness. |
| Exo 25:18-20 | "You shall make two cherubim of gold... The cherubim shall spread out their wings above..." | Cherubim imagery on the Ark of the Covenant. |
| 1 Ki 6:23-28 | "In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high." | Large cherubim guarding the Holy of Holies. |
| Psa 18:10 | "He rode on a cherub and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind." | God using cherubim as His transport. |
| Psa 80:1 | "Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth." | God's enthronement and leadership. |
| Psa 99:1 | "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!" | God's supreme authority. |
| Isa 6:2 | "Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings..." | Other angelic beings with specific roles. |
| Php 2:7 | "...but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." | Christ's servanthood (echoing 'ox' symbolism). |
| Rev 5:5 | "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered..." | Christ as the mighty Lion, royalty and power. |
| Col 2:3 | "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." | Christ as the embodiment of wisdom (human face). |
| Deut 32:11 | "Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its pinions," | God's swift care and providential guidance. |
| Isa 40:31 | "but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles..." | Strength and transcendence granted by God. |
| Rom 8:19 | "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God." | Universal dominion and future hope for creation. |
| Matt 28:18 | "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." | Universal authority of God, reflected in cherubim. |
| Psa 103:20 | "Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!" | Angels' active obedience to God's commands. |
| Heb 9:5 | "Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat." | Cherubim associated with God's glory. |
| Dan 7:4-7 | Describes four beasts representing world empires, symbolizing comprehensive worldly power. | Animalistic symbolism for dominion/power. |
Ezekiel 10 verses
Ezekiel 10 14 Meaning
Ezekiel 10:14 describes the specific configuration of faces possessed by each of the cherubim, divine beings associated with God's throne. Each cherub is depicted with four faces: one like a cherub (which was previously identified as an ox in Ezekiel 1), one like a man, one like a lion, and one like an eagle. This multifaceted imagery signifies the cherubim's comprehensive understanding, vast power, swift execution of God's will, and dominion over all creation, reflecting the universal attributes and pervasive presence of the Lord they serve.
Ezekiel 10 14 Context
Ezekiel 10:14 is part of a prophetic vision experienced by the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. The chapter continues the narrative from Ezekiel 8 and 9, depicting the stages of God's glory departing from the Jerusalem Temple due to the idolatry and wickedness of the people. This particular verse refines the description of the "living creatures" (cherubim) first encountered in Ezekiel chapter 1. While Ezekiel 1:10 identified one of their four faces as an "ox," Ezekiel 10:14 clarifies this to be the "face of a cherub." This vision provides assurance of God's transcendent sovereignty even as His presence symbolically withdraws from a defiled temple, moving with His divine throne-chariot. It assures the exiles that God's power and presence are not confined to the earthly temple but are mobile and all-encompassing.
Ezekiel 10 14 Word analysis
And every one had four faces:
- every one (כֻּלָּם - kullām): Emphasizes that this characteristic applies uniformly to all the cherubim, signifying their consistent nature and purpose.
- had (לָהֶם - lāhem): Possessed, indicative of an intrinsic quality.
- four (אַרְבָּעָה - ʾarbāʿāh): A number often symbolizing completeness, universality, or the four points of the compass. Here, it denotes comprehensive reach and universal representation of divine attributes.
- faces (פָּנִים - pānîm): Beyond mere appearance, "pānîm" often signifies presence, identity, and the ability to look in multiple directions, implying vast awareness and insight.
the first face was the face of a cherub:
- first (הָרֹאשׁוֹן - hāroʾšōn): Designates precedence in enumeration, but not necessarily in importance among the four.
- face (פְּנֵי - pənēy): Again, highlighting distinct identity and perspective.
- cherub (כְּרוּב - kəruv): This is the most significant change from Ezekiel 1:10 where it was "the face of an ox" (פְּנֵי שׁוֹר - pənēy šôr). The "cherub" face now defines their own unique, divine angelic nature and identity, subsuming the symbolism of the ox. It denotes their status as powerful, vigilant guardians and servants of God's holiness, reflecting a refined understanding of these beings. It shifts the emphasis from an animal type to their specific celestial order.
and the second face was the face of a man:
- man (אָדָם - ʾāḏām): Represents intelligence, wisdom, moral consciousness, dominion over creation, and perhaps a personal, relational aspect of divine interaction. It symbolizes God's knowledge and thoughtful design.
and the third face the face of a lion:
- lion (אַרְיֵה - ʾaryēh): Symbolizes strength, majesty, royalty, courage, and untamed power. It points to God's sovereignty, power, and judicial authority.
and the fourth face the face of an eagle:
- eagle (נֶשֶׁר - nešer): Represents swiftness, far-sightedness, transcendence, power in the heavens, and keen insight. It symbolizes God's providential oversight, omnipresence, and rapid execution of His decrees.
Ezekiel 10 14 Bonus section
The depiction of "four faces" in the cherubim has significantly influenced theological and artistic interpretations throughout history. One common tradition, though not explicitly stated in the Bible, links these four faces to the four Gospel writers and their respective emphases: Matthew (lion - Christ's royalty), Mark (ox - Christ's service/sacrifice), Luke (man - Christ's humanity), and John (eagle - Christ's divinity/heavenly perspective). While not a direct fulfillment, this illustrates how later generations have seen in these powerful symbols comprehensive depictions of divine truths. The use of prominent creatures from various domains (man - intelligent being, lion - wild beasts, eagle - birds, ox/cherub - domestic/heavenly beings) conveys that all creation, in its diverse forms, is subject to God and its highest forms represent aspects of His nature and power, served by these exalted celestial beings.
Ezekiel 10 14 Commentary
Ezekiel 10:14 offers a deeper, more refined description of the cherubim, highlighting their composite nature and symbolic representation of God's universal dominion and attributes. The shift from "face of an ox" in Ezekiel 1 to "face of a cherub" in chapter 10 is central. This modification likely indicates Ezekiel's developing understanding, emphasizing the unique, distinct identity of these divine beings. Instead of merely being compared to a powerful creature, one of their faces is explicitly their own cherubic identity, embodying their dedicated service, steadfastness, and proximity to God. The four faces—cherub (encompassing the ox's qualities of strength, service, and endurance), man (wisdom, intellect), lion (majesty, power, royalty), and eagle (transcendence, swiftness, keen sight)—collectively signify that God's presence, authority, knowledge, and execution of judgment extend over all creation, from the human realm to the wild, the domestic, and the aerial. These living creatures act as the active agents of the divine throne, visually declaring the immeasurable breadth and depth of God's being and sovereign control even amidst Israel's crisis of exile.