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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ez 1:5-6 | From within it came the likeness of four living creatures... Each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. | Initial description of creature form. |
| Ez 1:8 | Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. | Origin of hands beneath wings detail. |
| Ez 1:10 | As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a human, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left side each had the face of an ox, and each had the face of an eagle. | Specific description of the four faces. |
| Ez 1:22 | The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like crystal, outspread above their heads. | God's throne platform. |
| Ez 1:24 | When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. | Sound and power of their wings. |
| Ez 10:1 | Then I looked, and behold, on the firmament that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire stone. | Cherubim beneath the divine throne. |
| Ez 10:14 | And each had four faces: the first face was that of a cherub, the second face that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle. | Redefinition/clarification of faces. |
| Ez 10:15 | These were the living creatures that I saw by the river Chebar. | Direct explicit link to the first vision. |
| Ez 10:20 | These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar, and I knew that they were cherubim. | Confirmation: "I knew they were cherubim." |
| Gen 3:24 | He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword. | Cherubim guarding divine presence/holiness. |
| Exod 25:18-20 | You shall make two cherubim of gold... with their wings spread upward... facing each other, and looking down on the mercy seat. | Cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant. |
| 1 Kgs 6:23, 27 | In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood... They stood with their wings spread. | Cherubim as part of Temple architecture. |
| 1 Kgs 8:6-7 | The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house... the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark. | Cherubim overshadowing God's dwelling. |
| Ps 18:10 | He rode on a cherub and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. | God using Cherubim as His chariot. |
| 2 Sam 22:11 | He rode on a cherub and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. | Parallel account of God's swift movement. |
| Isa 6:2 | Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. | Similar multi-winged celestial beings. |
| Dan 7:9 | His throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. | Imagery of a fiery, mobile divine throne. |
| Rev 4:6-8 | And before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures... each of them with six wings. | Similar living creatures around God's throne. |
| Rev 5:6 | And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and seven eyes... | Celestial beings witness God's redemptive plan. |
| Heb 9:5 | Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. | Cherubim representing God's glory. |
| Ps 8:5-6 | You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You gave him dominion over the works of your hands; you put all things under his feet. | "Human hands" hint at God's intelligent agents. |
| Ps 104:4 | He makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. | Angels as instruments of God's will. |
Ezekiel 10 verses
Ezekiel 10 22 Meaning
Ezekiel 10:22 serves as a direct and crucial confirmation that the powerful celestial beings assisting in the departure of God's glory from the Temple are precisely the same "living creatures" Ezekiel first encountered in his inaugural vision by the river Chebar (Ezekiel 1). Each of these creatures, now explicitly identified as Cherubim, possessed four distinct faces and four wings, enabling multifaceted understanding, universal presence, and swift movement. Furthermore, the presence of the "likeness of human hands" beneath their wings signifies an active, intelligent agency in executing divine commands. The verse's emphasis on their identical appearance, especially their faces, reinforces the consistency and reality of God's awesome presence and power, even as His judgment unfolds upon Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 10 22 Context
Ezekiel chapter 10 is part of a series of prophetic visions revealing the reasons for God's impending judgment on Jerusalem and the Temple. Preceding this chapter, Ezekiel witnessed the abominations within the Temple (Ez 8) and the subsequent divine command for judgment to begin with the city (Ez 9). Chapter 10 graphically describes the majestic chariot-throne of God – the kabod (glory/presence) – actively moving and preparing to depart from the defiled sanctuary. This departure signifies God's withdrawal and abandonment of His chosen dwelling place and people due to their pervasive idolatry and sin. Verse 22 functions as a critical moment of validation and recognition within this dire scenario, confirming for the prophet that these awe-inspiring beings are indeed the same powerful cherubim from his foundational vision in exile (Ez 1:5-28). Historically, Ezekiel received these visions while in Babylonian captivity, offering profound, albeit terrifying, explanations to the exiles for the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. It also subtly reassures them that God's presence and power are not confined to Jerusalem, but are active even in exile.
Ezekiel 10 22 Word analysis
Each (אִישׁ, 'ish): This highlights the individuality and distinct form of every single creature, emphasizing that the complex description applies uniformly to all.
had four faces (אַרְבַּע פָּנִים, 'arba` panim): The number four often symbolizes universality or the cardinal points, indicating a comprehensive nature. The multiplicity of faces (human, lion, ox/cherub, eagle) denotes various attributes: intelligence, royalty, strength, and swift discernment, collectively representing God's multifaceted character and all-seeing presence.
and four wings (וְאַרְבַּע כְּנָפַיִם, v'arba` kenafayim): Wings signify great speed, agility, the ability to soar, and reverence (by covering). They symbolize their role as swift agents of divine will and their worshipful posture.
and the likeness (וּדְמוּת, u'demut): This word indicates similitude, appearance, or pattern rather than exact, literal identity. It implies a representation that conveys meaning without being physically identical, maintaining the mystery of the divine and its attendants.
of the hands (יָדַיִם, yadayim): Hands universally convey capability, action, skill, and the capacity to carry out tasks. They signify the executive power and intelligent agency of these beings.
of a human (אָדָם, adam): Specifying "human" hands amidst angelic and animal features is significant. It implies an intelligent, rational capacity for service and the precise execution of God's will, relating to the human realm in God's plan.
were under their wings (תַּחַת כַּנְפֵיהֶם, tahat kanfeyhem): This phrase suggests that their active agency is integrated but perhaps concealed or discreet, operating under the overall cover and guidance of their divine assignment and reverent posture. It also might imply protection and direction for their work.
and the likeness of their faces was the same (וּדְמוּת פְּנֵיהֶם הִיא הַפָּנִים, u'demut pneyhem hi' happanim): This phrase unequivocally affirms the consistent appearance of the cherubim. The repetition underscores the unchanging nature of the vision, validating its divine origin.
as the faces of which I had seen by the river Chebar (אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי אֵצֶל נְהַר כְּבָר, 'asher ra'iti 'etzel nahar K'var): This crucial cross-reference grounds the current vision in Ezekiel's inaugural encounter with God's glory (Ez 1). It provides powerful confirmation for the prophet and for the exiled people that the God of their initial encounter remains actively present and consistent, even in this new context of judgment.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Each had four faces and four wings": This concisely defines the cherubim's comprehensive intelligence (four faces reflecting universal scope and diverse attributes) and their active, swift service to God (four wings for flight and covering). This structure portrays beings perfectly equipped for cosmic and reverent function.
- "and the likeness of the hands of a human were under their wings": This phrase illuminates the functional aspect of these mighty beings. Despite their celestial nature, the "human hands" beneath their wings suggest a discerning and purposeful capacity for execution. The placement "under their wings" could imply humility in their service, or that their operations are divinely protected and integrated within their very essence as agents of God.
- "and the likeness of their faces was the same as the faces of which I had seen by the river Chebar": This powerful reiteration serves as divine authentication. For Ezekiel and his audience, it confirmed that the same, unchanging God, whom he first encountered in a foreign land, was now bringing judgment to His chosen city, emphasizing the consistency of God's character and the reliability of His revelations.
Ezekiel 10 22 Bonus section
The progressive understanding of these celestial beings throughout Ezekiel's prophecy is noteworthy. Initially described simply as "living creatures" in Chapter 1, by Chapter 10, they are explicitly identified as "Cherubim." This development clarifies their elevated status and function within the heavenly hierarchy, associating them directly with the most holy aspects of God's presence and throne, as seen in Genesis 3 (guarding Eden), Exodus 25 (on the Ark of the Covenant), and 1 Kings 6-8 (in Solomon's Temple). The "river Chebar" as a point of reference is equally significant, highlighting that God's revelation and active presence were not confined to the land of Israel or the Temple. Rather, He manifested Himself to His prophet even in pagan Babylon, providing a theological lifeline to the exiled community, reassuring them that God had not forgotten them, even as He judged Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 10 22 Commentary
Ezekiel 10:22 marks a pivotal moment of identification within Ezekiel's visions of divine judgment. By explicitly stating that these fearsome, glorious beings around God's throne are identical to those he witnessed at the Chebar River, the verse brings a sense of continuity and profound validation. These aren't new entities; they are the same cherubim, celestial guardians of God's holiness, now presiding over the glory's departure from a defiled Temple. The detail of "four faces" speaks to comprehensive wisdom and ubiquitous presence, reflecting attributes of the God they serve. "Four wings" underscore their swift obedience and reverence in God's presence. Crucially, the "likeness of human hands" beneath their wings indicates intelligent, purposeful action and execution of divine commands. It suggests active, capable agency, even amidst their ethereal and majestic form. This continuity from the initial vision in exile to the unfolding judgment in Jerusalem served to reinforce Ezekiel's prophetic authority and assure the exiled community that God's sovereign power and character remained unchanged, despite the impending desolation of their homeland. The scene prepares for the complete withdrawal of God's presence, signifying total divine abandonment of a rebellious people.