Ezekiel 10 19

Ezekiel 10:19 kjv

And 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.

Ezekiel 10:19 nkjv

And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

Ezekiel 10:19 niv

While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

Ezekiel 10:19 esv

And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.

Ezekiel 10:19 nlt

And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the east gate of the LORD's Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them.

Ezekiel 10 verses

Ezekiel 10 19 Meaning

Ezekiel 10:19 vividly describes the penultimate stage of God's glory departing from the Jerusalem Temple. The cherubim, bearing the divine throne, majestically lift off from the Temple courts, observed by Ezekiel. They then come to a deliberate stop at the East Gate of the Lord's house, with the glory of the God of Israel visibly hovering above them. This act symbolizes God's sovereign judgment on His people's idolatry and the temporary withdrawal of His tangible presence from a defiled sanctuary, while affirming His unwavering power and mobility.

Ezekiel 10 19 Context

Ezekiel 10:19 takes place within the first major vision of the prophet Ezekiel (chapters 8-11). The setting is Jerusalem, though Ezekiel is in Babylonian exile, receiving divine visions. The preceding chapters detail the extensive idolatry and abominations committed by the leaders and people within the very Temple complex (Ezek 8), leading to God's command for judgment on the city (Ezek 9). Chapter 10 describes the progressive departure of the kěvod Yahweh (the glory of the Lord), represented by the chariot-throne carried by cherubim, from the Holy of Holies (v.4) to the threshold of the Temple (v.4), then the East Gate of the Temple (v.19), and eventually out of the city entirely (Ezek 11:23). This departure underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His holiness, which cannot dwell in a polluted sanctuary, demonstrating His judgment but also His freedom to be present elsewhere, even among His exiled people. Historically, this vision predates the actual destruction of the Temple by Babylon (586 BC) by a few years, serving as a prophetic warning and explanation for the impending disaster. The polemical point is that unlike pagan gods confined to their temples, Yahweh, the God of Israel, is sovereign over His dwelling place and can choose to abandon it, refuting any belief in His static, localized power.

Ezekiel 10 19 Word analysis

• And the cherubim (וְהַכְּרוּבִים - wěhakkĕrûvîm): These are not mere creatures but living beings intimately connected to God's throne and presence (Ezek 1; Exod 25). Their movement signifies the physical relocation of God's manifest presence.
• lifted up (וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ - vayyiśʾû): Implies deliberate action of elevation, suggesting authority and power in their movement.
• their wings (כַּנְפֵיהֶם - kanpêhem): Wings are symbols of swiftness, mobility, and sometimes protection or carrying (Ps 91:4). Here, they are instruments of departure.
• and mounted up (וַיֵּעָל֥וּ - vayye‘ālû): An act of ascending or rising, reinforcing the vertical movement away from the earth.
• from the earth (מִן־הָאָ֖רֶץ - min-hāʾāreṣ): From the physical ground of the Temple complex, emphasizing a detachment from the earthly realm.
• in my sight (לְעֵינָ֑י - ləʿênāy): Ezekiel's personal, direct witnessing of the event. This validates the authenticity and divine nature of the vision to both the prophet and his audience.
• as they went out (בְּצֵאתָ֔ם - bəṣêṯām): Marks the clear, unmistakable act of departure, separating themselves from the Temple.
• with the wheels (וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים - wəhāʾôpannîm): The wheels are an integral part of the cherubim-throne chariot, moving in perfect unison (Ezek 1:15-21; 10:9-13). This highlights the coordinated, majestic departure of the divine complex.
• beside them (לְעֻמָּתָֽם - ləʿumāṯām): Indicates proximity and synchronized movement.
• and they stood (וַיַּעֲמֹ֙ד֙ - vayyaʿamōd): A deliberate pause. This isn't a continuous movement but a momentary halt, indicating a significant boundary point.
• at the door (אֶל־פֶּ֙תַח֙ - ʾel-petaḥ): A threshold, a transition point between inside and outside.
• of the east gate (שַׁ֤עַר הַקָּדִ֙ימָה֙ - šaʿar haqqādîmâ): The specific gate on the eastern side of the Temple. Symbolically significant as it's often associated with divine entry and departure (Ezek 43:1-5).
• of the house of the LORD (בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה - bêṯ YHVH): The Temple, the focal point of God's presence among His people, now being abandoned.
• and the glory (וּכְבוֹד - ûḵĕvôd): The visible manifestation of God's divine presence, His weighty splendor (Exod 24:16; 40:34-35).
• of the God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ʾĕlōhê yiśrāʾēl): Emphasizes that this is the particular covenant God of Israel, despite His departure due to their unfaithfulness.
• was over them (עֲלֵיהֶם - ʿălêhem): Indicates that the glory, though moving, remained intimately connected and sovereignly positioned above the cherubim and wheels, as part of the divine throne.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth": This describes the initiation of God's physical departure from the Temple grounds. The deliberate act of lifting wings signifies not a chaotic retreat, but an ordered, sovereign removal of God's presence. The term "mounted up" indicates an upward and outward movement, stressing God's transcendence even as He moves.
• "in my sight as they went out, with the wheels beside them": Ezekiel's eyewitness account verifies the event, reinforcing its divine origin and significance. The synchronized movement with "the wheels" (referring to the accompanying Ophannim of the chariot-throne) highlights the celestial nature and perfect coordination of God's majestic departure.
• "and they stood at the door of the east gate of the house of the LORD": This describes a pause at a critical boundary. The "East Gate" has particular theological weight in Ezekiel, being the direction from which God's glory will eventually return (Ezek 43:1-5). The temporary halt signifies a poignant moment, a linger before complete withdrawal from the city, and also marks the border between the Temple precinct and the wider city, setting the stage for the final exit.
• "and the glory of the God of Israel was over them": This confirms that the manifest presence of Yahweh Himself, not merely symbolic representations, was intimately connected with and resting upon the moving cherubim and wheels. His glory continued to superintend their movement, indicating that even in judgment and departure, God remains the God of Israel.

Ezekiel 10 19 Bonus section

The progressive movement of the kěvod Yahweh in Ezekiel is often seen as mirroring a "de-consecration" of the Temple. What was once the most sacred space, filled with God's presence, is systematically emptied as God's glory withdraws, thereby legitimizing the coming destruction of the Temple by Babylon. This gradual departure emphasizes God's patience and warning before the final, irreversible judgment. The sequence from the cherub over the ark (9:3) to the Temple threshold (10:4), then the East Gate (10:19), and finally the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem (11:23), is a profound theological statement. It signals that God's dwelling place is not merely geographical but spiritual, dependent on the spiritual condition of His people. The "East Gate" location is especially rich with symbolism; not only is it the path of return for glory in the prophetic future (Ezek 43), but historically it could also be viewed as the general direction of exile towards Babylon. God's glory, therefore, moves with His people into exile, rather than being confined and lost with the destroyed Temple, assuring them of His continued presence, albeit differently manifested. This contrasts starkly with the vulnerability of pagan gods, whose existence was often tied to their physical shrines and territorial claims.

Ezekiel 10 19 Commentary

Ezekiel 10:19 marks a poignant and somber moment in Israel's history—the divine exodus from the defiled Temple. It portrays the tangible manifestation of God's presence, His kěvod Yahweh, not as an immovable idol, but as dynamic, mobile, and utterly sovereign. The cherubim, functioning as the bearers of His throne-chariot, elevate from the earthly Temple courts. This vertical ascent from the ground underscores God's transcendent nature, unbound by human structures, and His resolute separation from the pervasive idolatry within the "house of the LORD."

Their subsequent pause at the East Gate is highly significant. This isn't a final flight but a deliberate halt, a border crossing before the ultimate departure from the entire city in Ezekiel 11:23. The East Gate served as a critical entry and exit point of the Temple; its association with the rising sun often linked it to God's presence and judgment. The lingering presence of "the glory of the God of Israel" atop the cherubim here emphasizes that the departure is an act of divine judgment specific to Israel's sin, yet still executed by their covenant God. This pause foreshadows a future hope; this same East Gate is prophesied to be the return path for the Lord's glory to a restored Temple (Ezek 43:1-5), implying that even in judgment, God retains His redemptive plan.

Practically, this verse reminds believers that God's presence is not guaranteed by physical structures or traditions alone; true presence is conditioned on holiness and faithfulness. It also illustrates God's freedom and sovereignty: He is not contained or controlled by human efforts or places, but moves according to His perfect will and righteousness. This divine mobility means His presence can withdraw from unfaithfulness but can also extend to wherever His people are, offering hope even in exile or desolation.