Ezekiel 10 4

Ezekiel 10:4 kjv

Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory.

Ezekiel 10:4 nkjv

Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory.

Ezekiel 10:4 niv

Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the LORD.

Ezekiel 10:4 esv

And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD.

Ezekiel 10:4 nlt

Then the glory of the LORD rose up from above the cherubim and went over to the entrance of the Temple. The Temple was filled with this cloud of glory, and the courtyard glowed brightly with the glory of the LORD.

Ezekiel 10 verses

Ezekiel 10 4 Meaning

Ezekiel 10:4 describes a pivotal moment in the prophet's vision, where the visible manifestation of God's presence, the glory of the Lord, actively moves from its resting place on the cherubim to the threshold of the temple. This movement signals a crucial stage in the divine abandonment of the temple, a precursor to its eventual destruction. As the glory relocates, its overwhelming power and majesty are physically manifest, filling the inner house with a profound cloud and the outer court with brilliant radiance, underscoring both its imminent departure and its continued, albeit withdrawing, divine presence. This movement confirms God's sovereignty and His response to the unfaithfulness within the sacred precincts.

Ezekiel 10 4 Context

Ezekiel 10:4 is situated within a series of visions given to the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile (around 592 BC). The immediate context begins in Ezekiel 8, where God takes Ezekiel in a vision to Jerusalem and reveals the pervasive idolatry and wickedness practiced within the temple courts and even by the elders. This unholiness profanes God's dwelling place. Chapter 9 describes a divine judgment enacted upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, beginning with those who practiced idolatry in the temple. This verse, Ezekiel 10:4, directly follows the command for judgment and serves as a transitional stage in the visual narrative of the kavod YHWH (glory of the Lord) gradually departing from the temple (Ezekiel 9:3 describes its initial lift-off from the cherubim over the threshold of the inner court, now in chapter 10 it makes a definitive move from the cherubim to the main temple threshold). The impending departure of God's glory from the temple signifies the withdrawal of His divine presence and protection, paving the way for Jerusalem's and the temple's destruction by the Babylonians, an event seen as God's righteous judgment against His unfaithful people. Historically, this event justifies the Babylonian invasion as God's direct act, rather than a failure on His part to protect His people or dwelling.

Ezekiel 10 4 Word analysis

• Then: This conjunction marks a clear sequence of events within the vision, indicating a new, decisive stage in the glory's movement. It connects this specific action to the preceding events of judgment and prior movements of the glory.

• the glory of the Lord: (Hebrew: כְּבוֹד יְהוָה, kavod YHWH) This term refers to the visible, weighty manifestation of God's presence, majesty, and power. It often appears as a brilliant light, fire, or dense cloud. Its movement signifies divine action and authority. In this context, it represents God's active disengagement from His desecrated sanctuary.

• went up: (Hebrew: עָלָה, 'alah) This verb denotes ascension or movement from a lower point to a higher one, or more generally, movement from a specific location. Here, it signifies the departure or detachment of the glory from its current position on the cherub. It's a purposeful relocation.

• from the cherub: (Hebrew: מֵעַל הַכְּרוּב, me'al hakkeruv) The cherubim are celestial beings associated with God's throne-chariot (Ezek 1, 10). They are depicted as carrying or serving as a platform for God's glory. The glory moving "from the cherub" means it has left its immediate and intimate resting place or vehicle within the Holy of Holies, the place of closest divine proximity.

• and stood over: (Hebrew: וַיַּעֲמֹד עַל, vayya'amod 'al) This phrase indicates a halt or pause. The glory doesn't simply pass through; it deliberately positions itself at this specific location, making a statement. This temporary resting point emphasizes the significance of the "threshold."

• the threshold of the temple: (Hebrew: מִפְתַּן הַבַּיִת, miftan habbayit) This refers to the main entranceway or doorstep of the temple structure. Symbolically, it's a liminal space—a boundary between the interior (sacred but now profaned) and the exterior (court and world). By standing here, the glory is still in the temple area but is no longer deeply within the sacred confines of the Holy of Holies, marking an outward progression of departure. It’s a point of no return.

• and the house: (Hebrew: הַבַּיִת, habbayit) This term specifically refers to the main temple building, the inner sanctuary which contained the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. It distinguishes the structure from the surrounding court.

• was filled with the cloud: (Hebrew: וַיִּמָּלֵא אֶת הֶעָנָן, vayyimale he'anan) The cloud is a traditional manifestation of God's presence, often indicating both mystery and judgment. Here, its filling of the house intensifies the dramatic moment, yet it also suggests a veiling, a final obscuring of the once-gracious divine presence before departure.

• and the court: (Hebrew: וְהֶחָצֵר, vehehâṣēr) This refers to the outer open areas surrounding the temple building, accessible to the broader Israelite populace. Its mention signifies that God's presence, even in its departing glory, was visibly overwhelming the entire sacred precinct, not just the inner sanctuary.

• was full of the brightness: (Hebrew: מָלְאָה מִנֹּגַהּ, mâlĕ'â minnōgah) (Hebrew: נֹגַהּ, nogah) This signifies dazzling radiance, glowing light, or effulgence. The court being filled with this brightness emphasizes the overwhelming visual spectacle of God's majesty, even as He withdraws. This bright, awe-inspiring presence becomes a testament to His nature, seen even by those furthest from the inner sanctum.

• of the Lord's glory: (Hebrew: כְּבוֹד יְהוָה, k'vod YHWH) This phrase reiterates that the source of the brightness filling the court is undeniably the divine glory itself, ensuring the vision's ultimate attribution to Yahweh.

• The glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the temple: This group of words describes the precise movement and new location of the kavod YHWH. It is a solemn, deliberate, and staged departure. Moving from the cherub, God's immediate throne, to the temple's outer threshold is a symbolic but drastic distancing. This action suggests a period of transition, a final pause before total abandonment of the entire temple area, a warning sign.

• and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory: This pair of clauses describes the immediate, widespread impact of the glory's movement. The filling of both the "house" (inner sanctuary) and "court" (outer area) emphasizes that God's magnificent presence overwhelms the entire physical structure, leaving no doubt about the source of the phenomenon and its immense power, even in departure. The contrast of "cloud" (obscuring, mysterious) in the house and "brightness" (revealing, radiant) in the court suggests how different parts experienced His withdrawing majesty.

Ezekiel 10 4 Bonus section

The progressive stages of the glory's departure are a significant structural and theological element in Ezekiel. It doesn't leave abruptly but in a measured, intentional sequence:

1. From above the cherubim in the Holy of Holies to the threshold of the inner court (Ezek 9:3).
2. From the cherubim (back on the cherubim here, as it "went up from" again) to the threshold of the temple building itself (Ezek 10:4, the present verse).
3. From the threshold of the temple building to the east gate of the temple complex (Ezek 10:18-19).
4. From the east gate to the Mount of Olives, completely outside Jerusalem (Ezek 11:22-23).

This step-by-step movement emphasizes the tragic reality of God's separation from His people due to their persistent sin. Each stage marks an increasing distance, reinforcing the severity of the impending judgment. The contrast between the familiar Tabernacle/Temple dedications (Ex 40; 1 Ki 8), where God's glory enters and fills for His dwelling, and this departing glory highlights the stark reversal of divine blessing due to Israel's unfaithfulness. The idea of God being sovereign and mobile, not confined to a specific geographical temple, directly refutes contemporary pagan beliefs where gods were tied to their physical cult images and local temples. YHWH freely chooses to depart from a polluted sanctuary.

Ezekiel 10 4 Commentary

Ezekiel 10:4 presents a crucial stage in the solemn and dramatic departure of God's glory from the temple in Jerusalem. Having previously indicated its initial stirrings in Ezekiel 9:3, this verse now shows the kavod YHWH explicitly separating from its sacred chariot-throne on the cherubim, a vehicle often signifying divine mobility and omnipresence, not localized confinement. This move signifies that God is not bound to a physical building or cultic system that has become defiled by human idolatry and sin (Ezek 8).

The deliberate halt "over the threshold of the temple" is pregnant with symbolism. The threshold represents a boundary, a liminal space. It is a step outside the Holy Place but not yet entirely beyond the temple complex. It can be seen as God's last stand within His once-sacred dwelling, a poignant pause before His full abandonment. This "staging post" might imply a final moment for repentance, though given the surrounding narrative of relentless idolatry and impending judgment, it ultimately serves as a stark visual testament to His departure.

The filling of "the house with the cloud, and the court with the brightness of the Lord's glory" speaks volumes. The cloud, historically a manifestation of God's presence, signifying both His gracious nearness and His mysterious otherness (Ex 40:34; 1 Ki 8:10), here likely carries an ominous undertone. While dazzling, this is no longer the welcoming cloud of covenant; it's the cloud of an active withdrawal and impending judgment, overshadowing a now condemned space. The brightness filling the court means this withdrawal was not a secret act; God’s glory powerfully and unmistakably filled the public area of the temple, ensuring that His people witnessed the magnitude of His departure, demonstrating that He was leaving them for their transgressions. This withdrawal sets the stage for the temple's inevitable destruction by the Babylonians, understood not as a military defeat of Israel's God, but as divine judgment orchestrated by the sovereign Lord Himself. The vision powerfully counters any false sense of security derived from the physical presence of the temple (Jer 7:4), highlighting God's freedom and holy indignation.