Ezekiel 10 18

Ezekiel 10:18 kjv

Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.

Ezekiel 10:18 nkjv

Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.

Ezekiel 10:18 niv

Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.

Ezekiel 10:18 esv

Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.

Ezekiel 10:18 nlt

Then the glory of the LORD moved out from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim.

Ezekiel 10 verses

Ezekiel 10 18 Meaning

Ezekiel 10:18 describes a critical stage in the departure of God's manifest presence, the kavod YHWH (Glory of the Lord), from the Jerusalem Temple. Following earlier movements within the Temple complex, the divine glory now relocates from the outer threshold to hover above the cherubim, celestial beings associated with the divine throne. This verse signifies God's deliberate, yet sorrowful, disengagement from the sanctuary due to the rampant sin and idolatry of His people, prior to the Temple's imminent destruction. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and holiness, demonstrating that His presence is not bound to a physical structure apart from the covenant obedience of His people.

Ezekiel 10 18 Context

Ezekiel 10:18 is situated within Ezekiel's overarching vision of God's judgment upon Jerusalem and Judah, experienced by the prophet while in Babylonian exile. Chapters 8-11 describe the progressive, staged departure of the glory of God from the Temple. In Chapter 8, Ezekiel is shown the idolatries and abominations being committed within the Temple itself. This provokes divine wrath. Chapter 9 details the judgment on the inhabitants, but crucially, God's glory first moves from the innermost sanctuary to the Temple threshold. Chapter 10 then elaborates on the mechanism of this departure, depicting the glory of the Lord settling on the cherubim of His mobile throne-chariot. This specific verse (10:18) marks a key step in God’s intentional removal from the Temple structure, indicating that the sanctuary's defilement has reached a point where God will no longer inhabit it. Historically and culturally, this departure signified the ultimate abandonment of the Temple and the city to destruction, shattering the false belief that God would forever protect Jerusalem because of His Temple within it, regardless of the people's sins. It's a powerful polemic against religious formalism divorced from ethical and covenantal obedience.

Ezekiel 10 18 Word analysis

• Then (`wayyehi` וַיְהִי): A temporal marker, indicating a sequential action, linking this movement to previous events described in the chapter (e.g., 10:4). It signals a further development in the unfolding judgment.
• the glory of the Lord (`k'vod YHWH` כְּבוֹד יְהוָה): Refers to the visible, manifest presence and majesty of God. It's not God's essence, but His observable, tangible (though spiritual) manifestation, often associated with a bright cloud or fire. This signifies the presence that had initially filled the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple, now actively leaving.
• departed (`nasa'` נָסַע): The verb implies "to pull up stakes," "to journey," "to move along." It suggests a deliberate, organized movement, rather than a sudden, chaotic disappearance. It is a slow, methodical removal, underscoring the weight of the decision.
• from over the threshold (`mim'al lemiftan` מֵעַל לְמִפְתַּן): The threshold is the boundary between the inner sanctuary and the outer parts of the Temple complex. This location is significant because in 9:3 and 10:4, the glory had moved to this threshold. Its departure from this point signifies a further withdrawal from the structure itself, making way for the cherubim and their wheels.
• of the temple (`hab'bayit` הַבַּיִת): Specifically referring to the physical building of the Jerusalem Temple. The removal of God's glory from this central sacred structure implies its spiritual abandonment and coming physical desolation.
• and stood (`wayya'amod` וַיַּעֲמֹד): The verb implies halting, pausing, settling. It's a purposeful stop, suggesting that the glory took its position over the cherubim rather than continuously moving past them. This denotes preparation for the next stage of movement.
• above the cherubim (`'al hakeruvim` עַל הַכְּרוּבִים): These are the powerful, winged celestial beings that form the mobile throne-chariot of God (Ezek 1, 10). They were depicted in the Ark of the Covenant and in the Temple itself. The glory taking its place above them signals that God is activating His mode of transit, indicating a complete departure carried upon His divine retinue.

• "the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple": This phrase emphasizes the physical disengagement of God's presence from a defiled place. The threshold represents a barrier or entrance, implying that God's glory had reached this last internal boundary before external departure. It highlights God's choice to abandon a sanctuary desecrated by idolatry.
• "and stood above the cherubim": This indicates a deliberate repositioning. The `kavod` is not vanishing but taking its place upon its designated carriers, the cherubim, which are part of the divine chariot-throne. This sets the stage for the glory's eventual full exodus from the Temple and Jerusalem. It underscores God's control and ordered movement even in judgment.

Ezekiel 10 18 Bonus section

The concept of God "departing" is profoundly significant as it underscores the dynamic and volitional nature of the Divine presence. It shatters any notion of an automatic, static, or perpetually bound God. His glory does not merely fade but makes a deliberate, ordered movement, almost a procession. This sequential withdrawal suggests God's grief over the necessity of His departure, mirroring a parent slowly leaving a disobedient child after repeated warnings. The kavod YHWH in Ezekiel is intimately linked to the divine "chariot-throne" vision from Chapter 1. By relocating to "above the cherubim," the glory re-establishes its connection with its mobile throne, symbolizing God's complete freedom and independence from earthly structures. This prefigures the New Testament understanding where God's ultimate dwelling place is not a physical temple but within His people through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19) and in the heavenly realm (Rev 21:22). The methodical leaving also offers a subtle comfort; even in judgment, God is in control, orchestrating events according to His perfect will and righteousness. This precise movement lays the groundwork for the promise of a future return and the rebuilding of a new, purified temple or a spiritual one where His glory would again reside (Ezek 43:4).

Ezekiel 10 18 Commentary

Ezekiel 10:18 marks a pivotal, somber moment in the prophet's vision of God's judgment upon Jerusalem. It illustrates the next step in the systematic withdrawal of the Lord's glorious presence from a Temple that had become a locus of idolatry and sin (Ezek 8). The departure is not sudden but a measured, step-by-step process (9:3, 10:4, 10:18, 10:19, 11:22-23), revealing God's patience even amidst His impending judgment, but also the severity of the people's rebellion that necessitates such an act. By taking its position over the cherubim, the divine glory transitions from merely occupying the Temple space to mounting its celestial, mobile throne. This move makes the imminent destruction of the Temple inevitable, as its spiritual essence – God's indwelling presence – has now effectively vacated the premises. The verse serves as a profound warning that outward religious rituals and grand structures hold no spiritual value if they are not accompanied by true holiness and obedience to God's covenant. God’s presence is freely given but can also be withdrawn when His people persist in dishonoring Him. This departure foreshadows not only the physical desolation of Jerusalem but also prepares the way for a future new covenant where God's presence would dwell not in a physical temple, but in the hearts of His people (Jer 31:33, Ezek 36:26-27).For practical application, consider how our "temple" might be compromised. For example, when individuals or communities prioritize self-gain or worldly desires over genuine devotion, they might risk the withdrawal of God's manifest presence in their spiritual lives.