Ezekiel 10:22 kjv
And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
Ezekiel 10:22 nkjv
And the likeness of their faces was the same as the faces which I had seen by the River Chebar, their appearance and their persons. They each went straight forward.
Ezekiel 10:22 niv
Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River. Each one went straight ahead.
Ezekiel 10:22 esv
And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.
Ezekiel 10:22 nlt
And their faces were just like the faces of the beings I had seen at the Kebar, and they traveled straight ahead, just as the others had.
Ezekiel 10 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 1:10 | ...and the face of an ox on the left side and the face of an eagle on the right. | Four living creatures, detailed |
| Ezekiel 1:6 | Each had four faces, and each had four wings. | Specificity of faces and wings |
| Ezekiel 1:12 | They went in whatever direction the Spirit led them... | Unified movement by Spirit |
| Ezekiel 1:17 | They went in their four directions, without turning as they went. | Unhindered, direct movement |
| Revelation 4:7 | ...the first creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox... | Echoes Ezekiel's vision |
| Revelation 4:8 | ...the four living creatures, each of them full of eyes... | Characteristic of the creatures |
| Daniel 7:4 | ...the first was like a lion, and it had eagle's wings. | Similar apocalyptic imagery |
| Isaiah 6:2-3 | ...Seraphim cried out to one another: "Holy, holy, holy..." | Heavenly beings and worship |
| Acts 7:56 | ...I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. | Son of Man in heavenly context |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh... | Incarnation, divine presence |
| Romans 8:28 | ...all things work together for good... | Divine providence and purpose |
| 1 Corinthians 12:12 | For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body... | Unity in diversity of divine service |
| Ephesians 4:3 | ...eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Unity in the Spirit |
| Psalm 99:5 | Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! | Worship of God |
| Matthew 24:30 | ...they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven... | Son of Man's coming |
| Revelation 14:7 | ...worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water! | Worship of the Creator |
| 2 Chronicles 7:3 | ...they bowed themselves before the LORD, praising him and thanking him... | Divine presence and praise |
| Nehemiah 8:6 | ...and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands... | Response to God's Word |
| Zechariah 14:16 | Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty... | Worship in future kingdom |
| Psalm 36:9 | For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. | Divine source of life and understanding |
| Revelation 22:1 | Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life... | Heavenly river and provision |
Ezekiel 10 verses
Ezekiel 10 22 Meaning
This verse describes the appearance of the Cherubim's faces, specifically the four faces seen by Ezekiel: that of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. It highlights their individual yet unified movement, turning uniformly in whichever direction the Spirit directed them. This signifies their perfect obedience, coordination, and responsiveness to the divine will.
Ezekiel 10 22 Context
Ezekiel 10 takes place in the context of the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of Judah. The prophet is given a visionary experience of the glory of God departing from the Temple because of the sins of Israel. Chapter 10 specifically details the cherubim, which are depicted as carrying God's throne and judgment upon the cherubim. The verse in question is part of the description of these heavenly beings and their actions as God's divine vehicle of judgment and movement. This vision occurs during Ezekiel's exile in Babylon.
Ezekiel 10 22 Word Analysis
- wə·ʕō·wō·ḇîm (וְעֹוּבִים): "and they wheeled" or "and they turned." This verb indicates a circular or rolling motion, consistent with the description of wheels in earlier verses of Ezekiel. It emphasizes their dynamic and active movement.
- šə·mu·ʕîm (שְׁמוּעִים): "being turned" or "heard" (in the sense of being moved as directed). This participle emphasizes their passive obedience to a directive force.
- ʼĕ·ḏà (אַדָּה): "each" or "every." This adverb highlights the individual and consistent action of all the cherubim.
- ’ĕ·ḵaḏ (אַחַד): "one." Paired with
’ĕ·ḵaḏagain in "one face, one ...." It stresses the perfect unity in their multi-faced appearance and action. - wə·qā·ḏi·mə·lum (וּקְמִימֹות): "and upright" or "and straight." This describes their posture or direction of movement, implying purpose and without deviation.
- rū·a·ḥā (רוּחָ֖ה): "its spirit." Refers to the Spirit of God, the animating force that directs the cherubim.
Words-group Analysis:
- "and the cherubim wheeled, their sound was the whirring of wings like the voice of God Almighty": The movement and sound associated with the cherubim are directly linked to divine power and authority.
- "as they moved, their wheels, they wheeled beside them": The intimate connection between the cherubim and the wheels signifies the integrated nature of God's judgment-carrying apparatus.
- "and they turned not when they went": This phrase, "šə·mu·ʕîm ’ĕ·ḏà,” emphasizes their unhesitating and absolute obedience to the Spirit's direction, unlike a human walker who might shift weight or direction.
Ezekiel 10 22 Bonus Section
The imagery of the cherubim with multiple faces and their directed movement finds echoes in various biblical passages. The lion face can represent strength and royalty, the ox face diligence and service, and the eagle face keen vision and swiftness. The number four is significant, often representing universality or the completeness of God's domain. The coordinated movement emphasizes that God's actions, even those of judgment, are perfectly ordered and intentional. This vision also serves as a foundation for later apocalyptic literature, where similar celestial beings are described, reinforcing the divine hierarchy and the awesome nature of God's presence and authority.
Ezekiel 10 22 Commentary
The verse powerfully illustrates the nature of heavenly service and divine movement. The cherubim, with their four distinct faces representing different aspects of creation and dominion, moved as one. This unity amidst diversity reflects how God's purposes are achieved through a harmonious execution of His will. Their unhesitating movement signifies perfect alignment with the Holy Spirit's direction, devoid of human hesitation or misdirection. This serves as a model for believers, highlighting the importance of submitting to the Spirit's guidance and moving with purpose in all our actions for God. It showcases the coordinated power that serves the Almighty.