Ezekiel 10:5 kjv
And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
Ezekiel 10:5 nkjv
And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even in the outer court, like the voice of Almighty God when He speaks.
Ezekiel 10:5 niv
The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
Ezekiel 10:5 esv
And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
Ezekiel 10:5 nlt
The moving wings of the cherubim sounded like the voice of God Almighty and could be heard even in the outer courtyard.
Ezekiel 10 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 3:24 | ...placed cherubim... to guard the way to the tree of life. | Cherubim as guardians of holiness. |
| Exod 25:20-22 | ...cherubim... facing each other, covering the mercy seat... | Cherubim associated with God's presence, mercy seat. |
| 1 Sam 4:4 | ...Ark of the covenant... where the LORD of hosts who sits between the cherubim dwells. | God's throne often depicted with cherubim. |
| 2 Sam 22:11 | He rode on a cherub and flew; He swooped on the wings of the wind. | Cherubim associated with divine movement. |
| Psa 18:10 | He rode on a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. | Reiterates cherubim as vehicles for God's action. |
| Psa 29:3-9 | The voice of the LORD is over the waters... shatters cedars... | God's voice as a powerful, natural force. |
| Psa 68:33 | ...He whose voice thunders, mighty voice! | Magnificence and power of God's voice. |
| Job 37:4-5 | After it, a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice... | God's voice associated with awe-inspiring power. |
| Ezek 1:24 | When they went, I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of mighty waters... | Parallel description of the cherubim's sound. |
| Ezek 1:25 | ...there came a voice from above the expanse... | Sound of God's presence above the cherubim. |
| Ezek 10:1-4 | Description of the cherubim... God's glory leaving. | Immediate context of the cherubim's action. |
| Ezek 11:22 | Then the cherubim lifted up their wings... glory of God of Israel was above them. | Movement of cherubim carrying God's glory. |
| Exod 6:3 | I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty (El Shaddai). | Introduction of El Shaddai to the patriarchs. |
| Num 24:4 | ...he hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty. | Balaam's encounter with El Shaddai. |
| Job 22:25 | If the Almighty is your gold... | El Shaddai associated with power and abundance. |
| Joel 1:15 | For the day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. | El Shaddai associated with divine judgment. |
| Hab 3:3-4 | God comes... His glory covered the heavens... rays flashed from His hand. | Manifestation of God's glorious power. |
| Rev 1:15 | His voice like the sound of many waters... | Divine voice, echoes Ezek 1:24. |
| Rev 6:1 | ...one of the four living creatures said, "Come!" like a roar of thunder. | Living creatures (cherubim) with powerful voices. |
| Rev 16:17 | ...a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done!" | God's voice from the temple for judgment. |
| Jer 25:30 | The LORD will roar from on high and utter His voice from His holy habitation. | God's voice as an impending judgment/call. |
| Zeph 1:14-16 | The great day of the LORD is near... a day of sound... | God's active presence marked by overwhelming sound. |
Ezekiel 10 verses
Ezekiel 10 5 Meaning
Ezekiel 10:5 describes the immense, reverberating sound produced by the wings of the cherubim. This sound was so powerful and far-reaching that it penetrated even the outer court of the temple complex in Jerusalem. The verse then uses a vivid simile to convey its intensity, comparing the sound to the authoritative, awesome, and majestic voice of Almighty God Himself when He speaks. It signifies the imminence of divine action, particularly the movement of God's glory, and a profound, awe-inspiring manifestation of His presence and power.
Ezekiel 10 5 Context
Ezekiel 10 is part of Ezekiel's prophetic visions concerning the impending destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. The chapter continues the terrifying imagery of God's glory departing from the temple, initiated in chapter 9, marking His withdrawal before the Babylonian destruction. The cherubim are central to this vision, acting as the carriers and guardians of God's portable throne-chariot.
The immediate literary context of Ezekiel 10:5 follows the command given for fiery coals to be taken from between the cherubim (Ezek 10:2) to bring judgment upon the city. The cherubim's movement is thus directly linked to the execution of divine judgment. This sound is a preamble to their ascent and the final departure of the Lord's glory from the temple proper (Ezek 10:18).
Historically and culturally, the Jewish exiles would understand this vision as profoundly disturbing. The temple was believed to be God's dwelling place. The visible, tangible movement and thunderous sound of the cherubim, carrying God's glory, meant His physical withdrawal, leaving the city vulnerable. The powerful sound signifies the momentous, catastrophic nature of this event, serving as a polemic against the false assurance of those in Jerusalem who believed God would never abandon His temple or His chosen people despite their sins. Their pagan neighbors' gods were confined and passive; Israel's God was dynamic, powerful, and mobile, moving both to judge and to redeem.
Ezekiel 10 5 Word analysis
- And the sound (קוֹל - qol): More than mere auditory vibration; qol frequently denotes a voice, thunder, noise, or report, often associated with the manifestation of God's power. It conveys significance and communicates divine presence or action. In other biblical contexts, "the voice of the Lord" can shake the wilderness (Psa 29:8). Here, it's a sound that commands attention and inspires awe/fear.
- of the wings (כְּנָפַיִם - k’nafayim): Signifies movement, speed, and divine activity. Wings in biblical imagery also denote protection (Psa 91:4) and carrying divine messages or presence. Here, the sound emanating from them points to the colossal scale and power required for these celestial beings to move.
- of the cherubim (הַכְּרוּבִים - hakeruvim): These are hybrid celestial beings, frequently depicted as guardians of holiness (Gen 3:24), associated with God's throne-chariot (Ezek 1:5-28), and a visible aspect of God's glory (kavod). Their movement directly signals God's movement or impending action.
- was heard (נִשְׁמַע - nishma’): Passive voice, implying the overwhelming nature of the sound. It didn't merely "make noise," but was so potent it demanded to be heard. The emphasis is on the recipients and the pervasiveness of the sound.
- even to the outer court (חָצֵר הַחִיצוֹנָה - chatser ha'chitsonah): This detail is crucial. The outer court was the most accessible area of the temple, open to all Israelites. The fact that the sound reached even this far indicates the extraordinary magnitude of the sound and the extensive reach of God's present glory and judgment, extending beyond the sanctuary proper to every part of His people's worship space. It signifies that no corner, not even the common areas, would be untouched by the Lord's imminent departure or judgment.
- as the voice (כְּקוֹל - k'qol): Introduces a simile, explaining the nature of the qol from the wings. It likens it to God's own direct address, indicating not just loudness but immense power, authority, and intrinsic divine significance.
- of Almighty God (אֵל שַׁדַּי - El Shaddai): This is a powerful, ancient divine name. "El" is a general term for God, and "Shaddai" emphasizes God's omnipotence, overwhelming power, self-sufficiency, and sovereign ability to judge and to bless. It means "God the Almighty" or "God All-Sufficient." When His qol is manifested, it is utterly sovereign, impactful, and without peer, a declaration of His absolute control over creation and history.
- when He speaks (בְּדַבְּרוֹ - b'dab'ro): Further underscores the authority and purposefulness of the sound. God does not speak idly; when El Shaddai speaks, His words carry the force of His being and always accomplish His will. This phrase clarifies that the comparison isn't just to God making noise, but to God communicating His will with supreme power and finality.
Ezekiel 10 5 Bonus section
The comparison to El Shaddai speaking highlights the distinctiveness of the God of Israel compared to the localized, often silent or ritually manipulated deities of surrounding cultures. El Shaddai is a God whose power is not only mighty but is also verbally articulated and executed. This verbal component of divine power (His voice), as embodied in the thunderous movement of the cherubim, leaves no room for doubt concerning the active, conscious will behind the cataclysm unfolding in Jerusalem. It reminds the exiles and future readers that divine actions, however overwhelming, are not random occurrences but purposeful expressions of God's sovereign authority and just judgment.
Ezekiel 10 5 Commentary
Ezekiel 10:5 paints a picture of terrifying majesty. The immense, thunderous sound from the wings of the cherubim, not merely a sound, but a manifestation of qol—the powerful, communicative voice associated with divinity—was felt throughout the entire temple precinct. Its reach to the outer court is a stark visual (and auditory) indicator that God's glory was making a pervasive statement, impacting the entire community, from the most sacred to the most common spaces. The simile comparing it to the voice of Almighty God (El Shaddai) when He speaks elevates the significance, conveying an absolute, sovereign power that demands awe and attention, and which heralds momentous divine action, in this case, a prelude to judgment and departure. It underscores the uncontainable nature of God's glory and His ultimate control over His creation, even His sacred dwelling.