Ezekiel 10:17 kjv
When 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.
Ezekiel 10:17 nkjv
When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when one was lifted up, the other lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
Ezekiel 10:17 niv
When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
Ezekiel 10:17 esv
When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
Ezekiel 10:17 nlt
When the cherubim stopped, the wheels stopped. When they flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
Ezekiel 10 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 1:15 | Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw one wheel upon the earth beside each living creature… | Linked description of cherubim & wheels |
| Ezekiel 1:19 | When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them… | Cherubim and wheels moving together |
| Ezekiel 1:20 | Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went, as they had the Spirit in the wheels. | Spirit guiding their movement |
| Ezekiel 1:21 | When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those lifted off the earth, the wheels lifted off beside them… | Synchronized movement |
| Ezekiel 10:9 | And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub… | Reiteration of wheel presence |
| Ezekiel 10:11 | When they went, they went in all four directions without turning as they went… | Unhindered movement |
| Ezekiel 10:13 | As for the wheels, I heard them called in the uproar, O wheel. | Wheels with sound/activity |
| Ezekiel 10:16 | When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them. When the cherubim lifted themselves up from the earth, the wheels also lifted themselves up. | Consistent action of wheels |
| Ezekiel 10:17 | When they stood, these stood; and when they moved, these moved; and when they lifted off the earth, the wheels lifted off beside them. | Unified motion |
| Ezekiel 10:18 | Then the glory of the LORD went up from the threshold of the house… | Departure of God's glory |
| Ezekiel 10:19 | The cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes… | Cherubim ascending |
| Exodus 25:22 | There I will meet you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim… | Cherubim as God's dwelling symbol |
| 1 Kings 6:23 | And in the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood… | Cherubim in the Temple |
| Psalm 80:1 | To the choirmaster: according to “Lilies of Testimony.” A Psalm of Asaph. O Shepherd of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, give ear… | God enthroned on cherubim |
| Isaiah 37:16 | O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth… | God's sovereignty and presence |
| Hebrews 9:5 | Beyond it, the cherubim of gold were overshadowing the mercy seat. … | Cherubim associated with atonement |
| Revelation 4:6 | Around the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes from behind and before. | Living creatures around the throne |
| Revelation 4:7 | The first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. | Description of living creatures |
| Revelation 4:8 | And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come!” | Constant praise by living creatures |
| Revelation 5:8 | And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb… | Worship and submission of living creatures |
| Revelation 14:3 | and they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. | Singing a new song |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… | God dwelling among His people |
Ezekiel 10 verses
Ezekiel 10 17 Meaning
This verse describes the departure of the cherubim's hands, which were situated under their wings, accompanied by the appearance of wheels moving alongside them. It signifies a movement initiated by divine beings, indicating God's presence is in transition. The presence of the cherubim and wheels underscores the active and mobile nature of God's glory.
Ezekiel 10 17 Context
Ezekiel chapter 10 continues the visionary experience from chapter 1. The prophet is in exile and witnesses the glory of the Lord departing from the Temple in Jerusalem. This specific verse highlights the dynamic movement of the cherubim and the wheels accompanying them. The broader context of Ezekiel's prophecy is one of judgment upon Israel for its sins, but also the assurance that God's presence, though departing from an unfaithful people and Temple, ultimately remains and is sovereign. This scene powerfully illustrates that God is not confined to a physical structure but is in control of His movements, ultimately leading to restoration.
Ezekiel 10 17 Word Analysis
- וּבְלֶכְתָּם (u-və-leḵ-tām): "And when they went." This emphasizes the action and movement. It highlights the active, carrying aspect of the cherubim.
- עָמָדוּ (ʿā-mō-dū): "they stood." Refers to the cherubim becoming stationary.
- אֵלֶּה (ʾēl-leh): "these." A demonstrative pronoun referring back to the cherubim.
- וּבְהֵעָמְדָם (u-və-hə-ʿā-mō-dām): "and when they stood." Marks a cessation of movement, a moment of rest or stillness.
- וּבְהִטָּּלָם (u-və-hîṭ-ṭāl-ām): "and when they lifted themselves up." This signifies ascending or being raised. It shows their voluntary or directed movement upward.
- מִן־הָאָרֶץ (min-hā-ʾā-reṣ): "from the earth." Indicates their separation from the earthly plane.
- נִשְּׂאוּ (niś-śə-ʾū): "they were lifted." A passive form, implying they were borne up, perhaps by a power greater than themselves.
- הָאוֹפַן (hā-ʾō-p̄ān): "the wheel." A singular definite form of wheel, emphasizing its presence.
- לְיָדָם (lə-yā-dām): "beside them." Shows the close association and proximity of the wheels to the cherubim.
- בְּצִדָּם (bə-ṣid-dām): "beside them" (another phrase, reiterating the closeness).
Words Group Analysis:
- "When they went, these stood; and when they stood, these moved": This paradoxical pairing (while the original text has it reversed from ch.1, it denotes the consistent relationship of simultaneous movement or stillness) signifies absolute synchronization between the cherubim and the wheels. Wherever the cherubim were, the wheels were either alongside moving or standing still. This is further supported by the reference to the Spirit in Ezekiel 1:20, indicating a divine directive for this unified movement.
- "and when they lifted themselves up from the earth, the wheels lifted up beside them": This reinforces the idea of a coordinated, upward ascent. The "wheels" here are connected to the movement of the living creatures. The lifting "beside them" suggests the wheels were not merely attached, but companions in their ascension, again pointing to the active mobility of the divine entourage.
Ezekiel 10 17 Bonus Section
The imagery of the cherubim and wheels, particularly their synchronized movement, has been a subject of much theological interpretation. Scholars suggest it represents the fullness of God’s presence, his power, his omnipresence, and the means by which His will is executed throughout creation. The description often points to the mobility and immanence of God’s throne, which is not bound to one location. It’s a vision that contrasts with static conceptions of deity, emphasizing that God actively engages with and moves through history according to His divine plan, even through judgment and eventual restoration. This imagery finds echoes in New Testament descriptions of heavenly worship and divine administration, suggesting continuity in God’s ultimate dominion.
Ezekiel 10 17 Commentary
Ezekiel 10:17 details the obedient responsiveness of the wheels to the cherubim. They mirror the cherubim’s every movement—standing when they stand, moving when they move, and ascending when they lift off. This perfect coordination is not an accident but a direct result of the Spirit guiding them (Ezekiel 1:20). The "hands" under the wings, moving them, indicate a purposeful mechanism. This verse powerfully portrays God's glory, not as static, but as actively mobile and sovereignly directed, ready to move as His purposes dictate, even away from His dwelling place when provoked by sin. The "wheels" symbolize a dynamic power and agency accompanying the cherubic beings, suggesting that God's presence and power are not limited by earthly constructs or stationary positions. This unity of action between the cherubim and wheels reflects the cohesive nature of God’s operative power.