Ezekiel 10 2

Ezekiel 10:2 kjv

And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.

Ezekiel 10:2 nkjv

Then He spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, "Go in among the wheels, under the cherub, fill your hands with coals of fire from among the cherubim, and scatter them over the city." And he went in as I watched.

Ezekiel 10:2 niv

The LORD said to the man clothed in linen, "Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city." And as I watched, he went in.

Ezekiel 10:2 esv

And he said to the man clothed in linen, "Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city." And he went in before my eyes.

Ezekiel 10:2 nlt

Then the LORD spoke to the man in linen clothing and said, "Go between the whirling wheels beneath the cherubim, and take a handful of burning coals and scatter them over the city." He did this as I watched.

Ezekiel 10 verses

Ezekiel 10 2 Meaning

Ezekiel 10:2 describes a divine command given to a celestial figure, "the man clothed with linen," instructing him to collect burning coals directly from the space between the cherubim, which support the throne of God. These coals are then to be scattered over the city of Jerusalem. This act symbolizes a decisive, fiery judgment executed by God Himself upon the city due to its persistent sin and rebellion. Ezekiel is an eyewitness to this instruction and its immediate execution, lending authenticity to the prophecy of impending destruction.

Ezekiel 10 2 Context

Ezekiel 10:2 takes place within a vision experienced by the prophet Ezekiel while he is among the exiles in Babylon. This vision is a continuation of the events in Ezekiel 9 and builds upon the detailed descriptions of God's throne-chariot in Ezekiel 1. The chapter describes the departure of the glory of the Lord from the Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter 9 had depicted the divine judgment beginning with those in the city, sparing only the righteous marked for lament. Chapter 10 focuses on the source and execution of the final, all-encompassing destruction of the city itself. Jerusalem, despite its belief in inviolability due to the Temple (Jer 7:4), has been defiled by rampant idolatry (Eze 8), corruption, and injustice, leading to God's ultimate decision to withdraw His presence and instigate its devastation. The historical context is the Babylonian siege and imminent destruction of Jerusalem (circa 587/586 BC), with Ezekiel's vision providing the theological interpretation of these events: not merely military defeat, but divine judgment.

Ezekiel 10 2 Word analysis

• And he spake (וַיְדַבֵּר - va-y'dabber): Hebrew davar (to speak, declare). This refers to the voice or manifestation of the Divine Glory, implying authoritative communication. It directly links the command to God's presence.

• unto the man clothed with linen (אֶל־הָאִ֙ישׁ לְבֻ֣שׁ הַבַּדִּ֔ים - 'el ha-ish l'vush ha-baddim): The same celestial, angelic figure from Eze 9, initially tasked with marking the righteous. "Linen" (badim) symbolizes purity, often associated with priestly garments (Lev 16:4), indicating the sacred and just nature of the divine agent executing the judgment.

• and said (וַיֹּאמֶר֙ - va-yomer): Continues the direct divine communication.

• Go in (בֹּא֙ - bo): An immediate, imperative command to enter.

• between the wheels (אֶל־בֵּינ֣וֹת לַגַּלְגַּ֗ל - 'el benot la-galgal): The "wheels" (galgal - singular here, though implies the structure) are the "ophanim" from Eze 1:15-21, part of God's elaborate throne-chariot. This signifies entry into the immediate vicinity of God's glorious presence, emphasizing the judgment's divine origin.

• even under the cherub (אֶל־תַּ֤חַת לַכְּרוּב֙ - 'el takhat la-keruv): Further specifies the location to be directly beneath the cherubim (keruv - singular, collectively referring to the beings). Cherubim are celestial guardians of God's holiness (Gen 3:24) and bearers of His throne (Ps 18:10), making this source of fire intensely sacred.

• and fill thine hands (וּמַלֵּ֨א חָפְנֶ֜יךָ - u-m'le chapnecha): Command to actively collect. "Fill your hands" suggests gathering a substantial quantity, indicating the fullness of the impending judgment.

• with coals of fire (גַּֽחֲלֵי־אֵ֗שׁ - gachalei-'esh): "Live coals of fire." Fire (esh) is a potent biblical symbol for God's presence, purification, and wrath/judgment (Deut 32:22, Heb 12:29). These are no ordinary coals, but those infused with divine holiness and power for destruction.

• from between the cherubims (מִבֵּינ֖וֹת לַכְּרֻבִֽים - mi-benot la-keruvim): Reaffirms the origin from the very core of God's sacred, majestic throne. The space between the cherubim is profoundly holy; here, it dispenses judgment rather than blessing.

• and scatter them over the city (זְרֹ֥ק עַל־הָעִֽיר - z'rok 'al ha-'ir): Z'rok implies a deliberate, forceful spreading or casting. "The city" (ha-'ir) is Jerusalem, the object of this widespread and inescapable destruction.

• And he went in (וַיָּבֹ֥א - va-yavo): "And he came/entered." Denotes immediate and full obedience to the divine command.

• in my sight (לְעֵינָֽי׃ - l'eini): "Before my eyes." Ezekiel's personal eyewitness account confirms the reality and divine authorization of the event, reinforcing its prophetic significance for the exiles.

• "the man clothed with linen": This figure serves as God's instrument for both segregation (marking the righteous) and annihilation (distributing fire), illustrating that divine justice employs precise, holy agents even in the context of judgment. His priestly linen connects to sacrificial offerings, here transformed into a sacrifice of judgment for a polluted city.

• "between the wheels, even under the cherub / from between the cherubims": This sacred space, usually associated with God's dwelling and protection, becomes the direct source of destructive power. It vividly conveys that the judgment is neither random nor external, but precisely originates from God's own righteous presence within His Holy Temple.

• "fill thine hands with coals of fire": Signifies an active, direct collection and a full measure of judgment. The fire is not accidental but purposefully distributed, a symbol of cleansing and wrath directly from God.

Ezekiel 10 2 Bonus section

• Reversal of Expectation: Typically, fire from God's presence, particularly in the Temple context, would be for sacred rituals, the receiving of offerings, or purification. Here, it is explicitly for destruction, a powerful subversion of expectations. It communicates that God's holiness, when affronted by His people's persistent sin, can manifest in destructive judgment rather than protective presence.
• Cosmic Justice: The imagery of the divine chariot-throne (cherubim and wheels) connects God's immediate action in Jerusalem to His universal sovereignty. This destruction is not a local event but a demonstration of the cosmic Lord's just governance, highlighting that He oversees and ordains events, even the downfall of His own sacred city.
• Divine Departure in Stages: This command for fire scattering follows the glory of God moving from the Holy of Holies to the Temple threshold (Eze 9:3). It is part of a deliberate, step-by-step process of God's departure from His sanctuary (Eze 10:18-19; 11:22-23), illustrating His patience giving way to final judgment, emphasizing the gravity of Judah's unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 10 2 Commentary

Ezekiel 10:2 presents a chillingly precise picture of divine judgment. The instruction given to the "man clothed with linen" reveals that Jerusalem's impending fiery destruction is not a random act of war but a deliberate, just, and sacred decree emanating directly from the very presence of God. The coals, collected from between the cherubim—the holiest space of God's mobile throne—emphasize that the source of this judgment is not some distant wrath, but an intrinsic aspect of His holiness that cannot tolerate sustained sin within His covenant people. This fire signifies both consuming wrath against deep-seated idolatry and, implicitly, a fiery purification of the land, preparing the ground for future restoration. The direct visual nature for Ezekiel reinforces the unassailable truth of God's abandonment of the desecrated Temple and His sovereign execution of justice, providing an explanation and theological validation for the exiles of the tragic events unfolding in their homeland. It starkly communicates that God's justice prevails even over His chosen city.