Ezekiel 10 15

Ezekiel 10:15 kjv

And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.

Ezekiel 10:15 nkjv

And the cherubim were lifted up. This was the living creature I saw by the River Chebar.

Ezekiel 10:15 niv

Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River.

Ezekiel 10:15 esv

And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal.

Ezekiel 10:15 nlt

Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the same living beings I had seen beside the Kebar River.

Ezekiel 10 verses

Ezekiel 10 15 Meaning

Ezekiel 10:15 serves as a crucial identification point within Ezekiel's visions. It unequivocally states that the celestial beings seen ascending from the Temple are the same "living creatures" that Ezekiel first encountered by the Chebar River. This verse solidifies the continuity between his initial vision of God's glory (Ezek 1) and the present vision of its departure, explicitly naming these majestic figures as cherubim.

Ezekiel 10 15 Context

Ezekiel 10 occurs within a series of visions given to the prophet concerning Jerusalem's impending judgment and destruction. Chapters 8-11 describe the progressive departure of the glory of the Lord from the Temple in Jerusalem. In chapter 9, an angelic execution began within the city, followed by the specific instruction in chapter 10 to gather coals of fire from beneath the cherubim's wings to scatter over the city, symbolizing its complete destruction by divine judgment.

Verse 15 provides a crucial interpretive key. Earlier in chapter 10, Ezekiel began describing "the living creatures" (Ezek 10:1-2), detailing their features anew. However, as the chapter progresses, especially from verse 9 onward, he increasingly uses the term "cherubim" to describe them. This verse bridges that linguistic shift, clarifying that the powerful, divine beings first encountered at Chebar – which were consistently termed "living creatures" in Ezekiel 1 – are, in fact, the cherubim associated with God's mobile throne and presence, now visibly departing from the defiled Temple. This continuity highlights that the same God who first appeared to Ezekiel in exile is the same God executing judgment upon Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 10 15 Word analysis

• And: (וְ – ve) Simple conjunction, but critical here for connecting the observation of their ascent with the subsequent identification. It implies immediate recognition.
• the cherubims: (הַכְּרוּבִים – hak'keruvim) A definite plural noun. Keruvim are angelic beings associated with God's glory, holiness, and throne. Their imagery originates from ancient Near Eastern motifs but is uniquely reinterpreted in biblical theology, particularly in guarding sacred spaces (Gen 3:24), on the Ark of the Covenant (Exod 25:18-22), and within Ezekiel's visions. The term is linked to an Akkadian root karabu (to pray, bless, intercede), though in Hebrew, it connects to a concept of guarding or covering. Here, they are the bearers of God's throne.
• mounted up: (נָשְׂא֖וּ – nasa'u) Piel perfect, third-person plural, meaning "to lift, carry, bear, take up, rise." The choice of nasa'u implies an intentional, dynamic movement upward. It emphasizes their power and agency in carrying the divine presence. The act signifies departure.
• This is: (הִיא – hi) Feminine singular pronoun, meaning "she/it/this." In this context, it functions as an emphatic identifying predicate, clearly stating, "This very one is..." or "These are..." resolving any ambiguity for Ezekiel.
• the living creature: (הַחַיָּה – hachayyāh) Definite feminine singular noun, meaning "living thing, beast, animal, creature." This term (plural: chayyot) was consistently used in Ezekiel 1:5ff to describe these celestial beings, emphasizing their vital, dynamic, and animate nature. The singular form chayyah here acts collectively or singularly to define the entire group's nature.
• that I saw: (אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֙יתִי֙ – asher-ra'iti) A relative pronoun (asher, "that/which") plus a perfect, first-person singular verb (ra'iti, "I saw"). This direct, personal testimony grounds the present supernatural phenomenon in Ezekiel's earlier, formative prophetic experience. It's a statement of self-validation for the prophet.
• by the river of Chebar: (אֶל־נְהַר־כְּבָֽר – el-nahar-kəvār) El ("to, at, by") + nahar ("river") + Kəvār (proper noun). This specifies the exact location of Ezekiel's initial calling and vision (Ezek 1:1,3). It confirms that the current spectacle is a re-manifestation of the divine glory he first witnessed as an exile in Babylon, highlighting God's omnipresence and faithfulness even in foreign lands.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the cherubims mounted up": This phrase signals a climactic movement. The nasa'u verb emphasizes not just ascension but active transportation, confirming that these cherubim are moving God's throne of glory, symbolizing its imminent departure from the Temple. This action is loaded with theological significance of judgment.
• "This is the living creature": This explicit statement by Ezekiel, perhaps an internal thought or divine confirmation, resolves a potential linguistic confusion for the prophet and his readers. It asserts a clear identification, establishing that the powerful, awe-inspiring entities previously called "living creatures" (emphasizing life and vitality) are indeed the well-known "cherubim" (emphasizing guarding and divine presence).
• "that I saw by the river of Chebar": This entire phrase reinforces the consistency of God's revelation to Ezekiel. It connects the current, frightening scene of God's glory departing Jerusalem with the prophet's initial, overwhelming encounter with God in exile. This continuity underscores the unity of God's plan, His character, and Ezekiel's unique role as witness to His acts.

Ezekiel 10 15 Bonus section

The shift in terminology from "living creatures" (chayyot) in Ezekiel 1 to predominantly "cherubim" (keruvim) in Ezekiel 10, culminated by this direct identification in verse 15, is significant. While "living creatures" highlights their vibrant, animate, and multi-faceted nature as cosmic operators, "cherubim" often denotes their specific role as guardians of God's holiness and throne bearers. Ezekiel 10:15 therefore offers a theological synthesis: these beings are both dynamically alive and distinctly functional in supporting the divine presence. The very consistency of this awesome vision across two geographically and contextually different settings (exile vs. Jerusalem Temple) also serves to validate Ezekiel's prophetic office, indicating that his revelations come from a singular, authoritative source – Yahweh Himself. This demonstrates that God's presence, though manifest, is mobile and not confined to any structure or human-made institution, allowing for judgment but also for new acts of revelation in different times and places.

Ezekiel 10 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 10:15 is a pivotal interpretive statement in Ezekiel's prophetic visions. After providing further elaborate details about the celestial beings in chapter 10, Ezekiel explicitly declares them to be the "cherubim," which he then unequivocally links to the "living creatures" from his initial call by the Chebar River (Ezek 1). This connection clarifies the identity of these awe-inspiring entities. Theologically, it signifies that the divine presence now actively withdrawing from Jerusalem, borne upon this mobile throne, is the very same glorious manifestation that appeared to Ezekiel in exile. This reinforces God's unchanging nature and His sovereignty over location and circumstance. The "mounting up" of the cherubim underscores the imminent and devastating judgment upon Jerusalem as God's presence, along with His protective power, departs. It is a moment of profound prophetic validation and a somber declaration of divine justice, demonstrating that God is not bound to a defiled sanctuary but is free to move, bringing both judgment and, ultimately, hope of a new dwelling.