Ezekiel 10:20 kjv
This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
Ezekiel 10:20 nkjv
This is the living creature I saw under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew they were cherubim.
Ezekiel 10:20 niv
These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim.
Ezekiel 10:20 esv
These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim.
Ezekiel 10:20 nlt
These were the same living beings I had seen beneath the God of Israel when I was by the Kebar River. I knew they were cherubim,
Ezekiel 10 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 1:10 | Four faces, as I had seen the vision… man, lion, ox, eagle | Echoes description, establishes consistency |
| Ezekiel 10:14 | Face of an ox was the first face; the face of a man the second… | Reinforces the specific order of faces mentioned |
| Revelation 4:7 | First living creature was like a lion; second like an ox; third a man; fourth like a flying eagle. | New Testament parallel, reinforces attributes |
| Isaiah 6:2 | Seraphim had six wings… Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts. | Links cherubim's worship with seraphim’s adoration |
| Psalms 18:10 | He rode on a cherub and flew. | Highlights cherubim as vehicles of God's presence |
| Psalms 80:1 | Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! | Emphasizes cherubim as dwelling place of God |
| 1 Samuel 4:4 | And they carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. | God's presence associated with cherubim |
| Exodus 25:18-22 | God instructs Moses to make two cherubim of gold for the Ark of the Covenant. | Foundation for cherubim's presence and symbolism |
| Numbers 7:89 | When Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from off the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony. | Specific place of God's communication |
| Ezekiel 1:5-11 | Detailed description of the living creatures, including the four faces. | Comprehensive foundation for the Ezekielian vision |
| Revelation 7:11 | And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures. | Universal presence of celestial beings |
| Revelation 14:3 | ...and the voice which I heard was like harpers playing on their harps. | Celestial worship, implied presence of living creatures |
| Genesis 3:24 | So He drove out the man, and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden… | Cherubim guarding the way to the tree of life |
| Hebrews 9:5 | Above it were the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat… | Cherubim's role over the Ark's atonement |
| 2 Samuel 6:2 | ...with all the people who were with him… to bring up the ark of God. | Cherubim context within Israel's worship |
| Ezekiel 28:14 | You were a [anointed] cherub who covers; I established you. | Lucifer identified as a cherub in pre-fall state |
| 1 Kings 6:23-28 | Cherubim overlaid with gold placed in the Most Holy Place of Solomon's Temple. | Tangible representation of God's presence |
| Acts 7:43 | ‘Yea, you [Israel] took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship them; | Warning against idolatry, God's distinctiveness |
| Colossians 2:18 | Let no one disqualify you, insisting on false humility and worship of angels… | Caution against the worship of celestial beings |
| Jeremiah 17:13 | O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame. | Consequence of forsaking the true God |
Ezekiel 10 verses
Ezekiel 10 20 Meaning
The Cherubim, a celestial being, had four faces: one like a man, one like a lion, one like an ox, and one like an eagle. These specific descriptions represent a progression of attributes. The man's face symbolizes intelligence and reason. The lion's face represents courage and strength. The ox's face signifies diligence and service. The eagle's face embodies far-sightedness and swiftness. This combination of faces portrays a perfect, well-rounded nature essential for their role in God's divine presence and service.
Ezekiel 10 20 Context
Ezekiel chapter 10 is a continuation and elaboration of the vision of God's glory and the cherubim presented in chapter 1. The prophet Ezekiel is receiving this vision in exile in Babylon, signifying God's departure from the Temple in Jerusalem, which has been defiled and is soon to be destroyed. This verse, Ezekiel 10:20, specifically details the distinctive appearances of the living creatures previously described. Understanding these descriptions is crucial for comprehending the nature of God's majestic, multifaceted, and dynamic presence, as well as the beings that attend Him in His celestial court. The repetition of the four faces across different visions emphasizes their foundational symbolic meaning concerning divine attributes.
Ezekiel 10 20 Word analysis
- וְאֵלֶּה (v'eleh) - "and these." This particle introduces a further explanation or listing. It connects the subsequent description directly to what has already been stated about the living creatures.
- מַרְאֵה (mar'eh) - "appearance," "sight," "vision." Refers to the visual manifestation of the living creatures. It's a key term in Ezekiel's visionary experiences.
- הַחַיּוֹת (haChayot) - "the living creatures." The definite article "ha" emphasizes these specific, identified beings previously described. "Chayot" is the plural of "Chayah" (living being, animal).
- הָאֶחָד (ha'echad) - "the one." Specifies that this description pertains to the first identified living creature.
- כְּמַרְאֵה (k'mar'eh) - "like the appearance of." A simile indicating similarity but not exact identity. The cherubim resemble these earthly creatures in certain aspects.
- אָדָם (adam) - "man," "human being." Symbolizes intelligence, reason, and humanity.
- וּלְבֶאֱרוֹ (ule'varo) - "and to its ox." The "u" is a conjunction meaning "and," connecting it to the previous face. "Le" means "to," and "bar" signifies "cattle," specifically "ox," representing strength, service, and patience.
- אַיִּל (ayil) - "ram," "strong one." Here used in the sense of an ox's face, suggesting the powerful, hardworking nature of a bull or ox. The Septuagint translation renders it as "bos," the ox.
- וּפְנֵי (ufney) - "and the faces of." "U" for "and," "fney" is the construct state of "panim" (faces), indicating possession or association.
- אַרְבַּע (arb'a) - "four." Explicitly states the number of faces on each living creature.
- לָהֶם (lahem) - "to them," "for them." Possessive pronoun, referring back to the living creatures.
Group of words analysis:
- "The face of a man was the first face, and the face of an ox was the second face for the four." - This phrase emphasizes the structured nature of the description. The order matters, with "man" first (intellect) and "ox" second (service). The number "four" reiterates the totality of the four faces for each of the four living creatures.
- "each had four faces" - Reinforces the uniformity of appearance across all four living creatures within the vision, each mirroring the complete set of faces.
- "its faces" - Possessive, indicating these distinct faces belong to a single, unified being, the cherub.
- "The appearance of the living creatures" - Refers to the entire composite form and its defining characteristics as perceived by Ezekiel.
- "the lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle" - Though verse 20 specifically names man and ox in relation to their position, the full set of faces, established earlier (Ezekiel 1:10) and later mirrored in Revelation 4, includes the lion and eagle. This verse functions as a focused recapitulation within the context of specific features.
Ezekiel 10 20 Bonus section
The imagery of the Cherubim in Ezekiel is strongly tied to the concept of God's mobile throne. The description in Ezekiel 1, leading to chapter 10, is of God's glory departing from Jerusalem because of its sin. The Cherubim, as carriers of God's presence and symbols of His throne, move with Him. The multifaceted faces can also be seen as representing the universality of God's dominion and His awareness over all aspects of creation and humanity. The New Testament parallel in Revelation 4 connects these figures directly to the praise and worship in the heavenly throne room, confirming their eternal role as guardians and worshippers in God's presence. The selection of these specific animals isn't arbitrary; they were powerful and symbolic creatures in the ancient Near East, but their association here with God elevates them to a divine context, setting them apart from any pagan associations.
Ezekiel 10 20 Commentary
This verse clarifies the symbolic makeup of the Cherubim. The composite nature—man for intellect, ox for patient service, lion for courageous leadership, and eagle for swift and far-reaching vision—represents a complete and perfectly balanced divine service. Each Cherub embodies these distinct attributes in unity. This fusion highlights that true divine service requires not just power or speed, but also wisdom, diligence, courage, and foresight. The description serves as a profound theological statement about the character of beings in God's direct presence, reflecting attributes essential for upholding His righteous kingdom and purposes, as they constantly surround His throne and carry out His will.